Web Site: The Bureau of Communication
Looking for a way to deliver just the right message, so there is no misunderstanding? The Bureau of Communication web site has a large selection of fill-in-the-blank stationary that you can use to send a formal apology, a statement of gratitude, a declaration of romantic interest, or an airing of grievance. The site allows you to fill in the details and then email it to someone. What better way to say “I love you”, then to send a formal document so there is no misunderstanding 
Do Your Own Reviews
Highly Effective Work Habits: Do Your Own Reviews
By this, I mean when it is that time of the year for your workspace review, perform a self-review rather than have someone else do it. If your department typically does not work this way, suggest it. I realize this is more work on you, but you are always your biggest critic. You will find that you are much more critical of yourself than someone else is. If you are truly interested in improving yourself over the course of your career, this is a great way to analyze your faults and to map out an action plan to resolve them.
In my own situation, this was forced upon me (rather than it being my choice). However, I have found it to be very valuable. Our department breaks down review goals into the following areas: “Business Alignment”, “Reliable and Secure Applications and Processes”, “Advancing in the role of <role here>”, “Technical Leadership within the Team”, “Quality Focus on all Job Aspects”, “Customer Focus”, “Professionalism and a Team Approach”, “Initiative, innovation, and risk taking”, and “accountability and dependability”. Sounds like a lot right? I’ve actually worked other places before that had quite a few more than this! So, it can take a bit of time to rate yourself across many categories, but it will help you in the long run. And, in a previous topic, remember when I recommended to keep track of your accomplishments? Here is a good time to bring them up as examples to support your self-rating. You’ve done all the work throughout the year to jot those down as you worked on projects. Here is where the payoff comes in – making your life easier during quarterly/annual reviews. Your boss will likely be impressed at the level of detail you start putting into your reviews.
Web Site: PIG Tones
Have a Garmin or TomTom GPS? PIG Tones (”Politically Incorrect GPS”) has some very funny voices you can download to your device at a small fee. They even provide a small program that installs it onto your device automatically. Their TomTom installations are apparently a bit easier than Garmin, but I own a Garmin and it was pretty easy for me (plus, Pig Tones is a Garmin authorized partner). They also have a lot of POI (Points Of Interest) Maps. Personally, I downloaded the Stewie, Yoda, Gollum, and Drill Sergeant voices and they are hillarious!
Keep Track of Your Accomplishments
Highly Effective Work Habits: Keep Track of Your Accomplishments
In many positions out there today, you will often have to multitask amongst several tasks each day. Over time, it will become more difficult to try and remember what you worked on and how well you did. It is important to keep track of your accomplishments for a couple of reasons:
- You can later transfer this information to your resume to keep it updated
- It can be leveraged for examples and/or supporting data during annual/quarterly reviews
I’ve been tracking this kind of information for years now. It definitely takes a level of discipline to keep it updated. But, once you get accustomed to doing it, it isn’t that bad. Here is an example of a spreadsheet that I came up with to keep track of everything. Feel free to use it, if you wish. The first tab “Project List” is a run-down of all the projects you have worked on in the past or are currently working on. I use the “B” column for color coding – green means an active project and red means a closed project. In the “C” column, I list each project name and make it a hyperlink to that specific project on the second tab. On the second tab, “Project Details” is where all the details are located. Here, I have a section for each project and track the effective dates, any skills I’ve gained or used, and details surrounding my role and accomplishments.
Trust me, this will save you a lot of effort when it comes to review time, job search, or any other time you need to dig up this type of information. I hope this is helpful for you!
Watch What You Say Around Your Colleagues
Highly Effective Work Habits: Watch What You Say Around Your Colleagues
Many people make friends on the job. There is nothing wrong with this at all. It makes coming to work more enjoyable and helps with team collaboration. However, you need to continuously sensor yourself and watch what you say, especially if one of your friends is your boss.
It is very easy to get into the gossiping habit with your friends and forget who you are talking to. You never know who is listening and you never know when your colleague might take something the wrong way. For example, if you are making fun of another employee to your friend, he or she may let it slip to that person or may actually be friends with that individual, unbeknownst to you. This gets more complicated with a boss-employee relationship. For instance, I’m on pretty good terms with my boss and I feel more open to discuss things with her that I might otherwise not. I always make it a point not to talk about others behind their backs or ramble on about someone or something I’m disgruntled about. Your reputation could be at stake here. You certainly don’t want your boss thinking less of you because of something you said, even if it was in confidence.
Here’ s an example of how this can end your career. I worked with someone in upper management not too long ago. He was not a very nice guy, but had a personality that could get things done, even if he rubbed everyone the wrong way in the process. One fateful day, he joked around with a senior member of the staff (member of the family who owns the company) and said something he shouldn’t have about that person’s significant other. Not too long after, he was fired. So, you never know how things you say can backfire on you.
Along these same lines, NEVER add coworkers to your favorite social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, etc, unless it has a business focus. If you have personal accounts, coworkers have no business being on there. It opens you up to be scrutinized for how you behave outside of work. Once your colleagues know what you are really like (assuming you have some behaviors you don’t want known on the job), your career could be at risk or, at a minimum, folks may not react to you in the same way anymore. This is exactly why you don’t want your social profile open up to the world. If you are looking for a job, believe me, recruiters are searching for you on the Internet to dig up any dirt on you. So, don’t give them any ammunition to keep you from getting a job.
So, the moral is definitely make friends on the job, just don’t be too open with them.
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