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(All material on
Your Office Coach is copyrighted to Marie G. McIntyre. All rights
reserved.)
Odds & Ends
Office Insights:
Do you work with an explosive person?
Do you have a
boss or colleague who occasionally just “loses it”? Certain
otherwise normal people will suddenly and unpredictably fly into
a rage over fairly minor issues. Their dramatic explosions,
which seem all out of proportion to the supposed cause, can
seriously damage both work and personal relationships.
Recently, this
problem has been given a name: intermittent explosive disorder (IED).
People with IED follow an identifiable pattern. They allow
emotional tension to build until they are ready to explode. And
then they do, throwing a severe temper tantrum, which is
followed by regret and embarrassment. Studies have found that
younger people are more likely to have IED, so apparently we do
mellow as we age.
The good news is
that anger management training seems to help control the
problem. So if you or someone you know has anger issues, check
out the following link for some useful information:
“Controlling Anger” -
http://www.apa.org/topics/controlanger.html (Source:
APA Monitor, September, 2006)
Related information from Your Office Coach:
Conflict
Management Skills
from our “Coworker Relationships” section:
http://www.yourofficecoach.com/Topics/conflict_management_skills.htm
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Office Insights: Does music make you more productive?
According to a
recent Harris poll, almost one-third of U.S. employees listen to
music while they work. But is that a good idea? The answer is
not clear-cut. And your opinion may depend on your age, since a
musical generation gap appears to exist. Almost 90% of
employees between 18 and 39 felt that music improved their job
satisfaction or productivity, while only 25% of baby boomers
shared these sentiments.
The benefits of
music appear to vary with the situation. According to the AMA
Journal, surgeons who chose background music for their operating
rooms were often speedier and more accurate. On the other hand,
workers in industrial settings could be in jeopardy if music
masks the sound of warning alarms. And when noise-muffling
headphones are required for ear protection, it’s not safe to
substitute an IPod. You can’t protect yourself from noise with
more noise.
For employees
doing boring or repetitive tasks, music may make work more
enjoyable. But when the job requires interaction, having plugs
in their ears can make employees seem unapproachable. So if
you’re deciding whether to allow music on the job, you need to
consider employee morale, customer perceptions, coworker
relationships, productivity, and safety. (Source:
HR Magazine, April, 2008)
Related information from Your Office Coach:
§
“My Friend Won’t Stop Singing” from our
“Ask the Coach” Library:
http://www.yourofficecoach.com/YOCATCLibrary/ATC_coworkerrel.htm#wont%20stop%20singing
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Office Insights:
Do you have “grit”?
If you were asked
to name three predictors of career success, what would you say?
You might mention intelligence, talent, friendliness, or
responsibility. But would the word “grit” have occurred to
you? Researchers have recently found that “grit” is an
excellent predictor of achievement, possibly better than
aptitude or intelligence.
Grit is defined
as “determination to accomplish ambitious, long-term goals
despite inevitable obstacles”. This quality seems to combine
perseverance, passion, self-discipline, and optimism. But
interestingly, grit does not correlate with intelligence. Those
at all levels of intellectual ability can demonstrate grit – or
the lack of it.
In studies, grit
has been found to predict success in groups as diverse as West
Point cadets, real estate agents, and spelling bee winners.
People high on grit agree with statements like “I finish
whatever I begin”, but disagree with such statements as “My
interests change from year to year”.
So if you’re a
manager, look for evidence of grit the next time you hire an
employee. And if you’re a parent, the grit studies offer two
suggestions: 1) praise effort, not intelligence and 2) help
children find their passion by exposing them to a wide range of
activities. (Source: Monitor on
Psychology, November, 2007)
Related information from Your Office Coach:
§
“Six Strategies to Boost Your Career” from our “Career Insights”
section:
http://www.yourofficecoach.com/YOCOfficeInsights/OI_career.htm#six%20strategies
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Office Insights: Is interrupting bad for
your health?
Don’t you hate it
when people constantly interrupt? Turns out that this habit may
be worse for them than for you. Several university studies have
found that those who break into conversations are at greater
risk for heart problems. In one study, chronic interrupters
were seven times more likely to suffer from heart disease.
Of course, it’s
not simply the act of interrupting that’s harmful. Rather, it’s
the controlling and competitive personality traits of these
stress-prone individuals.
Interestingly,
however, learning to listen may help to reverse the problem.
One study found that when people practiced being silent while
others talked, both their blood pressure and stress hormone
level dropped. So the next time someone disrupts your train of
thought, tell them they may live longer if they learn to
listen! (Source: Bottom Line Health,
2008)
Related information from Your Office Coach:
“The Domineering
Coworker” in our Ask the Coach Library:
http://www.yourofficecoach.com/YOCATCLibrary/ATC_coworkerrel.htm#domineering%20co-worker
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Office Insights: Where Are The Germs in Your Office?
In the middle of flu
season, we’re all concerned about avoiding germs and staying healthy.
But how often do you think about the bacteria that may be lurking in the
places you frequent every day?
Several years ago,
Charles Gerba of the University of Arizona conducted a study called
“Germs in the Workplace”. When he tested for microbes in a variety of
work settings, the result was rather disturbing: office desks had 400
times more bacteria than the average toilet seat. Why such a surprising
difference? Possibly because bathrooms are cleaned more regularly than
office equipment. Or perhaps because germs are spread largely by
touching, and few people put their hands on a toilet seat!
The study found the
highest concentrations of bacteria in these five locations: phones,
desktops, water fountain handles, microwave door handles, and
keyboards. Phones were the clear winner (or loser) in the germ
competition, with 25,127 microbes per square inch. Keyboards had a mere
3295. By comparison, toilet seats were downright sanitary with only 49
microbes per square inch! So the next time you buy a box of
antibacterial wipes, you may want to get an extra one for the office.
(Source:
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, May, 2005)
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Office Insights: Are You a “Helicopter
Parent”?
After bringing up
children, disengaging from their lives can be difficult. Here’s an
example provided by one very angry mother: “My daughter was working
at a local business and not being treated fairly. When I questioned
this, the manager said that I didn’t work there, so it was none of my
business. After my daughter continued to complain about being treated
differently than her coworkers, I made a report to the store’s home
office. A few days later, her employment was terminated.”
The desire to protect
your child is a natural impulse. But when your baby enters the working
world, it’s definitely time to let go. Managers expect to deal directly
with their adult employees, so parents are simply not part of the
equation.
According to psychologist
Robert Epstein, “Parents’ most important task is to help young people to
become independent and autonomous. [Babying them can] stifle their
development.” But unfortunately, he says, “Parental involvement in the
lives of their offspring seems to be increasing every year.” (Source:
HR Magazine, May, 2007)
So when your kids
encounter bad bosses or stupid policies, don’t swoop in to fix the
problem like an avenging angel. Instead, think of yourself as a coach
and help them learn to handle these problems on their own. They don’t
need your interference, but they do need the wisdom of your experience.
Helpful links related to this topic on Your Office
Coach:
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