“Baby, it’s cold outside.”
Oct|29|2008
My office is about 12 degrees “warm” this afternoon. The sun is shining outside the window, but don’t be fooled. The winds are chilly. I believe winter has arrived; fall skipped (again).
While sitting here, nose and fingertips slightly numb, it occurred to me…
“Your work environment is as key to your productivity as a good night’s sleep.”
For as long as I can remember, I’ve heard, “Make sure you get a good night’s sleep so you can make it through the day tomorrow!”
What if I’m well rested, at 7 a.m., but completely put off by my surroundings once I’m in the office? Your home-away-from-home has to be inviting, relaxing and, dare I say, fun.
Here are a few of my favorite things…
My diplomas. They remind me of why I worked so hard at Murray State University; to get here.
My plants. When the stress is overpowering, they reassure me that life goes on.
My wooden sushi set. Who doesn’t need Velcro-fastened California rolls and ama ebi?
My family photos. Pictures of my husband and sons remind me that I work to live. I don’t live to work.
My thank you notes. Received from co-workers (and their children), these little notes remind me that random acts of kindness are important.
My 3-year-old son’s cloud mobile. It may just be paper, strings and a wire hanger, but it reminds me that there’s a higher power at work in my life.
My candy jar. It’s always nice when people wander in to say, “hello” (and swipe M&Ms).
What do you like about your office?
Traffic rules to live by
Oct|28|2008
1. Know your “power.” As Traffic Manager, you have the power to move deadlines. If you know there’s padding in a job’s timeline, move the deadline and let everyone involved know you did so.
2. Find Tasks that can be completed simultaneously. Don’t get caught in a linear rut. The more Tasks executed simultaneously, the shorter the job’s lifecycle.
3. Find out what employees need. It’s your job to ensure employees have the information they need to complete Tasks, not to simply hold them accountable when they aren’t finished on time.
4. Understand employees don’t “want” to miss deadlines. No one wakes up and thinks, “I’m going to miss three deadlines today and feel good about it.” Missed deadlines happen for a reason. It’s your job to ensure they don’t.
5. Be proactive, not reactive. When you become reactive to missed deadlines, rather than proactive in avoiding them, you become part of the problem… not the solution. Plot the workflow course.
6. Don’t play “gotcha.” It makes employees feel bad and, ultimately, can lead to decreased productivity. You’ll get a lot more done by being a partner, and sharing responsibility, than you will by being a hall monitor.
7. Let employees know you see them as people, not machines. Happy employees are productive. Establish connections with employees rather than constantly asking if they’ve gotten their work done.
Size does matter.
Oct|14|2008
I’m currently in Orlando, FL at the 2008 CREATE Chaos Conference and Expo. Our company, Developware, is exhibiting CurrentTrack.
The folks at Brahn Communications have done an exceptional job with strategic partnership development, advertising and media sponsorship, and overall logistics for the event. Sessions are clearly marked, lanyards and conference materials looks great, the bookstore is a nice touch, and the Expo hall is inviting.
If only the hotel was as “attendee-friendly.”
Don’t get me wrong; the Orlando World Center Marriott Resort & Convention Center is breath-taking. Especially when you’ve spent the last 20 min. walking down various corridors, through eateries and gift shops, riding the elevator, and circling the pool, all in a quest to find the conference.
I’m led to wonder, is it possible for a venue, or creative agency for that matter, to become too large? At what point does the comfortable and familiar become overwhelming? When is the cohesiveness of your team lessened? When is productivity decreased rather than increased?
Maybe Hansel and Gretel had the right idea — Breadcrumbs to help us find our way back.
What makes the world go ‘round?
Oct|9|2008
Cake.
Yep, cake.
Let’s think about this for a minute. Before you were even born, chances are someone organized a baby shower and served cake. On your first birthday, and nearly every birthday thereafter, you probably blew out a candle (or several) atop a cake. When you graduated from college, cake. When you got married, cake. Need I go on?
My biggest weakness, a huge slice of cake – preferably white with extra (and I mean extra) icing – is a great way to lift someone’s spirits.
Just yesterday, my co-worker was feeling a bit blue. It was her birthday and she’d been given an assortment of sweet treats. While she was certainly thankful, she was really craving a cupcake. I bought her one at a specialty shop nearby. She immediately had a smile on her face and a fork in her hand.
In an agency environment, there’s nearly always something to celebrate – someone turning “the big 4-0,” an engagement, the announcement of a baby-to-be, having landed a new Client, an exceedingly profitable month, the agency’s founding 25 years ago.
I recommend taking every opportunity to celebrate the things that bring you together as a team. Not only will it built a sense of “family” within your group, but it’ll foster a more light-hearted and, ultimately, more productive atmosphere.
Besides, who doesn’t work faster with a sugar rush?