To Like or Not to Like...

I was tricked into attending a "social media" workshop today.  I am always up for a new task or project, so when I saw the invite pop up on my outlook calendar late last week, I promptly accepted it, overlooking the three and a half hour time commitment.  Maybe I will be part of a guinea pig type focus group or my opinion will be solicited on some already implemented web based branding tool, I thought.  I am good at listening, contributing my thoughts and playing devil's advocate - no biggie, I said.

Well - guess again.  Ironically, for a person with no Facebook or Twitter account, no i gadgets and limited Linked In skill, I was scheduled to be a part of a "social media" team that would brainstorm and recommend the need for our company's entry into the social media world.  As I read the agenda and scanned the room for familiar faces, I began to think "is this a joke", does anyone in the room, know my expertise ends with email and online shopping?  Not sure if I am hurting or helping this group right now.  But, after calming down a bit, I figured, just because I am not a user, I at least recognize the value in a company having a strong presence or brand and social media can help us do just that. 

After the ice was broken, I became a part of a very progressive conversation about how and why social media is being used from a major corporation standpoint.  It's not all about liking, following or tweeting one's every move or or thought, but about connecting with customers and clients and trying to better understand needs, build a rapport, and deliver great customer service. 

Now, this committee still has a long way to go, to actually identify the type of social media presence that would be beneficial to the company and our customers, followed by executive approval, but we did agree that social media can bring an updated twist to a long standing company philosophy: customer satisfaction.

Spring cleaning for your house and your workspace!

As spring draws to an end and summer on its way in - you still have time to unclutter your space, toss what you don't need and create an effective organizational system for home and work.

I work for a company that emphasizes lean workspaces, inventory, and processes - so while I am pretty neat and organized by nature, working at an organization that measures employee's efforts towards neat workspaces by recording and tracking through metrics, has definitely catapulted me to an extreme level of clean!  Label this, sort that, shred this, but file that...after 5 years of complying with this requirement, I work faster, more efficiently and my office is envied by my entire department!

Still not sold on spring cleaning your office space...Check out why with this article from MSN Careers:

http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Article/MSN-2981-Workplace-Issues-The-benefits-of-clearing-workspace-clutter/?SiteId=cbmsnhp42981&sc_extcmp=JS_2981_home1




  

Happy Memorial Day!

Not only a day off of work, BUT a day to remember the men and women who died while serving in the US Armed Forces and support those who are serving as we speak.

So, while you are BBQing, having fun at a water park, or just lounging mentally recharging in preparation to face work on Tuesday, take a minute to reflect on the meaning of Memorial Day. 

Workplace Must Have - Lint Roller!

Every working girl should have a lint roller in her desk.  I have the cutest fourteen pound kitty (no, his name is not Garfield, but he is orange) and his hair always finds his way in my eyes, in my hair and of course, on my clothes.  So, what that means for me is I have to keep a lint roller, at home, in my car, in my desk, and even a mini one for my purse....

But, keeping a lint roller in your desk is not just for pet owners whose homes have been overturned by pet hair.  Non pet-owners can also fall victim to linty clothing.  Didn't clean the lint tray in your dryer, your overcoat left particles on your blazer or cardigan, or that infamous kleenex residue, all can leave you looking a little dishelveled.  Please know I am speaking from experience here!

While many may debate what really pulls together an outfit (and I am by no means Tim Gunn), my two cents says if you are wearing that fab Power Suit from "The Limited" or your brand new black cardigan paired with the cutest pencil skirt (both which are still their pre-wash jet black), nothing can turn that outfit upside down, like a colony of lint!

So the next time you are out shopping, add a lint brush/roller to your list.  Hint: even if you don't have a pet, try the lint rollers designed specifically for pet owners, that paper is so sticky, one swipe and you're good!

Meanie McFeenie

My mom and I used to joke all the time about each of us at times being a "meanie mcfeenie". Basically, being insensitive, nonsupportive or down right sarcastic. I do have a little streak, I must admit and I know it comes from my lack of patience (which I pray everyday, that the trait develops). I do think I get that from my mother, but I have certainly taken it to the next level.  Whoops....
While both my mother and I can be short-fused, we are truly sweet, caring individuals and 9 out of 10 times recognize our overly mean 'tudes and adjust them. Thank goodness for that.
What is interesting is that in the February issue of HR Magazine there is an article titled "Don't be so rude: Quell workplace incivility". Incivility, hmmm, is what I initially thought. So, this is the fancy word for being "mean as hell". I like it.

For some reason, my work ethic does not allow my mean spirit to appear at work. Maybe because my sense of professionalism outweighs my desire and ability to be an "a-hole" between 8 and 5. I do believe there is a time and place for everything, and more so, I care about my professional reputation. In my last job and in my current I've encountered very mean-spirited people. It boggles my mind that people are so rude, and nasty at work. You clearly don't have to and most likely will not like all the people you work with - that's life. However, being cordial and tolerating others is more appropriate workplace behavior.

I've finally moved past the very mean people or those with negative dispositions at my job who stand right next to me in the elevator and wont respond to my hello, or someone not saying excuse me in the break room. I personally have tackled that by avoidance. If I see someone who is routinely mean to me waiting for the elevator, I choose to take the stairs and burn a couple calories instead, or if I choose to ride the elevator I pretend to talk on my cell phone or text. While, my own civility may come into question sometimes when I will push the close button on the elevator doors to prevent the mean person from entering the elevator with me - I'd rather call it meanness averted. Why subject myself to these people, if I don't have to, right?

The HR Magazine article said to prevent this type of toxic environment from forming or going to far, companies need to be clear and communicate the culture of the organization and what type of behavior is acceptable and what won't be tolerated.  We all know the saying, "misery loves company" or "monkey see monkey do" for that matter. Rudeness can be contagious. Just think...one mean girl or guy can start to rub off on the nice people, then you have a company full of mean people and even when you hire nice people they will either quit or turn mean - leaving the company a big pathetic mess.

So here's my two cents:

If you are a leader of an organization, be sure to include in your employee handbook or in your mission statement that "respecting others" also includes being courteous and putting forth your best efforts to present a positive disposition.

If you aren't in a leadership role, remember that you still have the opportunity to influence others, by not falling into the negativity when it comes your way and showing others that while everyday won't be perfect being mean or discourteous won't solve whatever is bringing them down.  My hopes is that the positivity will rub off on them.  If it doesn't, you can always try - avoidance!

President of Child-Rearing

Today a colleague stopped by my office to say her goodbyes as today was her last day at the company.  She has resigned from her sales job after 5 years to be a stay-at-home mom.  "How cool and how lucky you are" I beamed.  I immediately thought of all the crazy reports I've heard on poor conditions and carelessness at day care providers and I can see why my colleague would not want to leave their newborn with strangers.

While I was a little jealous, (not sure why, I don't have any kids yet) I wondered how many stay-at-home moms are out there and what they do everyday.  Well, I did find that the U.S. Census Bureau reported 5 million stay-at-home moms in 2010.  That's quite a bit, but it didn't mention what exactly stay-at-home moms do all day.  I don't have any close friends or family members who chose to give up working outside the home to stay at home with their kids; but when I hurriedly venture to Target on my lunch break, I always envy those mid-day shopping moms who get to leisurely peruse the aisles and comparison shop in peace.  Is that what my "stay-at-home mom to be colleague" will do?  But what else?  Feed, change and play with the baby or toddler can only take up a couple hours; housework all day, every day, I don't think so.  Well, maybe these SAHMs are using the time to start schooling their kids, so that they can be super-genius kids who are overly prepared for Pre-Kindergarten.  Or, maybe the majority of that 5 million is really running some sort of home-based business.  So technically they are working moms...

Whatever it is SAHMs do, good for you and more power to ya!  Who knows, I one day may start a Power Apron blog and I will at least know for sure what a SAHM does then!

Getting your foot in the door

Recently, I have been asked to assist with interviewing and selecting an HR intern to join our department for a couple months. I would have to say, I haven't interviewed someone since I replaced my old position last summer after my promotion, and then before that was back in my recruitment days as a full time recruiter. So, being asked to interrogate a hopeful job seeker put me back in my old stomping grounds. While I used to LOVE recruiting, I have acquired so many new skills, I can hardly stand the interview process anymore. Tell me about a time when you did this, elaborate on a time you did that...the art of getting to the bottom of someone's ability and potential now only leave me flustered. This coming from a previous die-hard recruiter is really disheartening, because I do believe that recruiting is a great skill to have personally and professionally.

What drove me to fluster is the dilemma my colleague and I have, experience or not - that is the question every time a recruiter or hiring manager has an opening and begins the interview process. If you ever hire someone for anything, housekeeper, nanny, administrative assistant for your own entrepreneur venture, or an HR intern, you will run into a crossroad - experience or none. Because candidates come in all experience levels, background of knowledge and personality, if you are lucky enough to narrow your pool down to 2 or 3 great people the dilemma begins. Luckily, our dilemma came to an end late this afternoon when one of the top two candidates decided to pull out of the selection pool, leaving us with our hire. Pheww....so glad it worked out like that!  It was going to be a very hard decision otherwise.

If you are hiring keep in mind:

- Do you need this person to hit the ground running OR is the job easy to pick up with some training

- Will the job at hand be challenging enough for the experienced or will they get bored overtime

- Reflect on how did you get your experience - someone gave you a chance, right?

If you are trying to gain experience:

- Do research on the job skill, take classes, webinars, seminar to familiarize yourself with the discipline, so that while you don't have the practical experience you will have the familiarity with the concepts and subject matter

- Prepare for the interview, like you are preparing for an exam; research and study the company and the position. Also - be prepared to discuss experiences that are similar or comparable to the job or internship you are seeking to get

- Don't give up, you will find someone, some company who will want to and is eager to welcome a newbie, give them a chance and help them get their foot in the door