“Custom, that Unwritten Law/By which the People keep even Kings in awe.” – Sir William Davenant, British poet. Every workplace has written policies and procedures but the more impactful rules are the ones unwritten. These informal codes of conduct reflect the harsh realities some have faced: work isn't a meritocracy after all, or that teamwork is important, but no one acts like it. In any workplace, you'll almost certainly find some things people take for granted but don't directly talk about—like these five common unwritten rules. When people are wearing earphones, they don't want anyone to bother them. This one's simple enough, these people are clearly trying to escape the outside world. This may be their way of blocking out distractions so they can focus on their work. Disturb … [Read more...]

“In 2016, on days they worked, 22 percent of employed persons did some or all of their work at home... 43 percent of workers with an advanced degree performed some work at home on days worked, compared with 12 percent of those with a high school diploma.” – 2016 American Time Use Survey, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On June 28, 2017, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the results of its 2016 American Time Use Survey (ATUS). For the second year in a row their press release emphasized the fact that workers are more likely to do some or all of their work at home. A new statistic added to 2016's survey revealed 43% of workers with advanced degrees work at least part of their day from home. In the wake of the electronics revolution, it's easier than ever to do our jobs away … [Read more...]

"One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self-confidence is preparation." – Arthur Ashe, professional American tennis player. Even if you're normally an upbeat person, it helps both you and your team when you do little things to boost your confidence. It all comes down to this: when you feel better physically and mentally, you're more confident, and that comes through in your performance. Recent studies have shown that confidence is just as important as ability in achieving tasks. So let's look at a few things you can do to pump up your confidence—some impromptu, some that take a little effort. 1. Get your coffee fix. Seriously. Nothing picks you up like a cup of coffee, especially when you're dragging. Drink a cup of water before or after, since too … [Read more...]

            Many of the most creative, productive conversations I’ve ever had started as spontaneous, unplanned interruptions. Sometimes we need to interrupt others if we have a customer on the line and need a fast response. If there’s an emergency, your team members must interrupt you; in fact, there are many instances that you want to be interrupted. If you’re a manager, you want your team members to feel welcome to talk with you about anything, and so you unwittingly institute an “open door” policy. Unfortunately, interruptions usually aren’t any of these forms—they are unimportant, extraneous, or simply a way for people not to forget something they are thinking about. If you say to yourself, “I can’t remember the name of that … [Read more...]

Instant Productivity: Just Add Coffee. – Humorous sign, author unknown Short of caffeine, there's no magic elixir you can take to make you productive, or we would all surely be addicted to it. But there are plenty of things you can do to ensure you start making money for the business in minutes after sitting down at your computer, rather than slowly getting up to speed. They range from the imminently practical to the slightly New Ageish, from background preparation to immediate action, but they all work—if you're willing to put them into action. And to borrow from Shakespeare: "Aye, there's the rub." 1. Take care of your health. This one may seem so obvious that it's not even useful. So why, then, do most of us fail so miserably at it? We know we feel better when we take care of … [Read more...]