Let "Us" Get Back in Business

Businesses are like big families. Everyone has their own chores to do and roles to play, and as such, they are all interdependent. But somehow, I don't often get that family feeling from the places in which I work. Perhaps it's the compartmentalization of different positions and departments that makes me feel this way. Sometimes, amidst all the "That's not part of my job description" talk, it's hard to really get that sense of TEAM.

Don't get me wrong. Departments serve their purpose; they organize duties so that each department is aware of their responsibilities. It's just that, sometimes those boundaries between departments are emphasized so much that we lose sight of how we all fit together (or are supposed to fit together). We are, after all, presumably working toward the same end goal - to sustain and grow the business and satisfy clients.

So how do we rid ourselves of the "Every man or woman for him/herself" mentality? How do we start to feel like a family? Well, let's start with what not to do.

DON'T...
... let your ego get in the way. Everybody plays an important role in the big picture. Everyone's contributions are valuable. Your project is not the only one with a deadline.


... overlook the insights of others not directly involved in your department, however small. Publicly recognize the difference their contributions made. Do not encourage taking credit for other people's ideas and work.


... turn down opportunities to help your fellow worker, just because it is not part of your job description. This will help foster valuable internal relationships. You never know when you will need a favour, yourself.
 

DO...
... be transparent. Encourage all departments and management to be transparent about what's going on with them, with the rest of the company. If one department has a success, the rest of the departments can also feel encouraged. If one department hits a snag, maybe someone outside of the department might come up with a solution. 


... encourage interdepartmental feedback. Fresh eyes may allow for better analysis of current procedures to see where improvement can take place and how.


... emphasize the common goal. Just as in a family, the chores/work of every department is for the common benefit of the entire company. When you help others, you are helping your company, which means you are helping yourself.

Fostering a team-centred work environment is not easy. It will take some practice, but will result in a better and more productive work environment. So let's work on putting "us" back in business. Go TEAM!

Nonverbalization Cubed

I watched a boy sitting across from his father on the GO Train. They were on their way home from Monday night’s Leafs game (They won, by the way!). Across the aisle from them, a couple of guys in Leafs jerseys noticed that the boy had a Rubik's Cube lying on the seat beside him, and with voices pumped up a few decibels too loud from their post-game energy, they demanded to know if the boy could solve it. The boy didn’t even look up from his laptop; he just nodded. He looked to be about 14 years old. 

The guys egged him on. Can you do it in under 1 minute? Again, without looking up, the boy nodded. How about under 20 seconds? The boy finally met their eyes. As he swiped his short red hair to the side, he picked up the Rubik's Cube and tossed it to one of them. Mix it up, he said. He solved it in 18 seconds. His father picked it up the completed cube, and casually tossed it back to the guys. Want to see him do it blindfolded? 

It took a few moments for the boy to memorize the position of the squares. When he was ready, he placed the Rubik's Cube behind his open laptop monitor so it was obvious that he couldn’t see his own hands. You could tell the boy was nervous. His hands were trembling, but his father kept him focused, maintaining eye contact and smiling every so often. His hands were a blur as he turned and twisted the little coloured squares to his will. He wasn’t blindfolded, but he certainly couldn’t see where the cube lay on the other side of his monitor. His only way of knowing if he was on the right track was his memory of the original coloured configuration, and his father’s little nods of encouragement. Without any verbal interaction at all, the boy’s father gave him the confidence he needed to succeed. After an amazing 40 seconds, the last coloured square found its place among its own. 

It’s not news that physical expressions and gestures play an important role in effective communication. I’ve heard it a thousand times in reference to the way I am to carry myself in interviews or presentations. Don’t stand with your arms crossed. When answering a question, look the person in the eyes. I searched the Internet in the hopes of finding references to the importance of nonverbal communication in the workplace, and there are a surprising number of resources on this topic. I would have never guessed it; I never really got the sense that people are all too concerned about how their interactions at work are affected by nonverbal cues. Sure everyone always focuses on posture and hand gestures when pitching an idea, making a presentation, participating in an interview or review, or trying to make a sale, but that’s because they're concerned about being evaluated, and so they want to look good. 

What about considering how body language influences the management, cohesion, and performance of a team? Think about the effect the father of the boy with the Rubik's Cube had on him, using only nonverbal cues. Nonverbal communication is a powerful tool, and is especially so in the workplace. The way we carry ourselves (posture, punctuality, facial expressions, choice of dress, etc.) can convey significant messages to our team or coworkers about whether we’re good at what we do, whether we can be trusted, whether we’re approachable. Judgments are made at the blink of an eye, before words ever have time to leave your mouth. The whole dynamic and environment at your workplace could be affected by something as simple as physical communication, and could influence the quality of interactions and productivity. It’s never been truer that actions do speak louder than words.

On Official Business





Office politics. It doesn’t seem like a huge deal. We joke about it all the time, don’t we? But when your work takes up close to 2/3 of your waking day, and most of that time is spent trying to make sense of and maneuver through all the power assertions, butt-kissing, back-stabbing, and credit-stealing, something has definitely got to give. Let’s just hope it’s not your sanity.

The term ‘Office Politics’ is usually used to describe the complex interactions between people who work together, especially as it relates to getting ahead and gaining status. I hope it doesn’t come as a surprise to anyone that these politics exist in most work environments to some extent. Let’s be honest, we all play a role in the development of these politics; most of us probably want to be recognized for our achievements, and we may do what it takes to obtain some upward mobility. The only problem is that everyone else has the same brilliant idea, and we get caught up in the competition. This is where problems arise, as everyone is probably too fixated on their own goals to be bothered with those of others. (But, wait a minute. Aren’t we all supposed to be working toward the common goals of the company?) If this becomes the culture within a workplace, the work environment can become filled with hostility and tension. Probably not the best ingredients for an enriching work atmosphere.

The key to any type of politics is effective communication. This is no different in the office. We’re social beings. Given that fact, you'd think we'd be good at communicating. Well, we are good at certain aspects of it. For instance, we're good at the talking part, and the making our own points part. But it seems that we often forget that communication is a two-way street. The neglected side of the road is the one that entails putting in a concerted effort to understand our communication partners, to make sure what we're saying is not lost on them, and what they are trying to convey, verbal or otherwise, is not completely lost on us.

That's where I come in. I believe it's important to analyze communication issues, especially in the workplace, in order to learn, grow, and become equipped with the understanding to deal with, or better yet, to prevent similar issues.

And just who am I?

Well, I’m not some elucidated, all-knowing communications expert. Certainly not. Not even close.

Who I am is someone who’s seen enough, who’s heard enough, who’s had enough of her fair share of experiences. And I’m here to listen. Got anything to say?