As weird as it may sound, today, it dawned on me that the women's bathroom at my workplace periodically smells like fruity pebbles cereal.  And... I have not had Fruity Pebbles since I was a kid!  It really is a mood booster - I have to say.  It makes me think of psychedelic colors and tie dye and daisies. It is really weird. Then I start to think - what is it - is it the automatic air freshener that mists out on its timed schedule or is it the cleaning supplies our janitor uses, someones lotion or hairspray, I truly don't know - its a mystery.

Now it doesn't smell like that always - I don't have to go there. But another smell I recognize is jheri curl activator. What is that???  Maybe someone has a jheri curl here at work that I have not noticed. I don't know - but these thoughts led me to give out some workplace restroom etiquette tips.

Why?  You will most likely see the same people in the restroom, seeing that we are at work for anywhere from 8 to 10 hours a day.  Working in a office setting where you see the same people all the time, it turns into your home away from home.  Any woman who has lived with a male, remembers toilet seats being left up - I do thanks to my brother. So if you care about being a good customer of your office restroom keep reading:

• Wash your hands.  You would be surprised how many women I have witnessed leaving the stall and fleeing the bathroom.  That is not only wrong, but a hygienic risk.  Working in a area with LOTS of people = GERMS!  So, having touched files, pens, shaking hands of people you just met and to then not wash your hands..... YUCK!
• Leave the stall clean for others (you know what I mean) and not smelly. Someone in my department actually has an air freshener canister she takes to the bathroom with her. What class!
• If its a co-ed bathroom, make it gender neutral - not too frilly not to masculine. Ladies keep your personal items placed in covered receptacles or in cabinets.
• Don't use other people's products without permission.  In our restroom we have a cabinet where people store toothbrushes, toothpaste, hairspray, lotion, etc.  Me personally I have a problem with my personal items being out of my sight or personal space, but others don't.  So, if you start to feel like you need brush your teeth or need a feminine product, stop by CVS or Walgreens and stock up on your own items.  Now if the item belongs to your work bff and you have an understanding where you share things fine.  Really, you shouldn't be using the stuff of people you don't really know anyway.

If everyone would just follow these couple of tips the world of work should be not only be hygienically sound, but also a good patron of work restrooms. 

Jackpot - I quit!

Most people fantasize about winning the lottery and then quitting their jobs.  But, not just quitting, actually exiting the company in a fashion that includes flipping off your boss, turning desks, throwing files in the trash and pimp walking out of the building with your deuces in the air, like Chris Brown.  Well, maybe that's not everybody, but I have ran across some people who say that is exactly what they would do if they hit the mega millions.

Now, what would I do...hmmm...I know for sure I would not quit my job immediately.  I could see myself working for at least 6 more months after the win (and collection of funds of course) until I figure out what my next move would be.  Invest in a franchise, purchase investment property, I don't know but a plan would have be to made!  I probably wouldn't even want people to know I won, except for my mortgage company, because I would definitely be paying off my house!

One million dollars is not what it used to be and I've read that even millionaires are pinching their pennies.  So if you hit the power ball think twice before you utter those two words - "I quit". Today I ran across an article on Money.msn.com which highlights a couple (who has decided to remain anonymous - smart, right)who won the lottery and kept their 9 to 5 jobs.  Click on the link below and find out why they decided to keep working.

http://money.msn.com/saving-money/article.aspx?post=4173ee56-bbae-4e90-abae-79c9a2be2a60&gt1=33026

New Office Shorthand

Is it me or is this text message language creeping into the work world?  I find myself reading work emails in MS Outlook that contain LOL, OMG, LMAO or LMBO and even WTF.  I have not seen SMH yet (which by the way, I just learned what this meant not too long ago).

Not sure if I am more disturbed that my 62 year old boss is using those acronyms OR that they are being used in the workplace all together. Talk about merging worlds. There used to be work clothes and after work or weekend clothes, work voice and the after 5 o' clock voice, and now here I thought there was such a thing as work communication and terminology (which I blogged about years ago) and outside work lingo, but it looks like the inside and outside worlds have collided.  I must admit, I am guilty of no longer having work clothes, instead I have clothes I wear to work. I do draw the line with my minis, hot pants and skinny jeans - hey I do have ethics.  But, I do sashay into the office in my 4 1/2 inch leopard print pumps or python sling backs here and there aiming for my Carrie Bradshaw Sex in the City look. (I still love her to this day and watch the reruns on E!)

I digress - WTF why have we accepted these abbreviations as work appropriate.  I barely understand the abbreviations when my girls text them to me.  When I see colleagues doing this it makes me LOL, but not in a good way, I then SMH!  :o) Oh, but these smiley faces are used quite often.  I personally think these are okay.  :o)  But hey, a smiley face is universal - right?!

If you are like me and need a little help - here you go.
LOL - Laugh out loud
OMG - Oh my gosh/God
WTF - What the...
SMH - Shaking my head/shake my head
LMBO/LMAO - laugh my butt or ...off

Post Holiday/Vacation Snooze

Vacations and holidays are supposed to leave you feeling energized, refreshed and ready to get back to the grind of work.  Some people vow to turn over a new leaf and stop bad habits after a trip or time off.  And then other's have a renewed sense of patience and a calm zen about them aiding in their ability to work and cooperate more smoothly with their peers.

Well, I just returned not only from the Labor Day holiday weekend, but also a long overdue 10 day vacation ( yay me!) or "staycation" as they call it when you take off of work, but stay home or local instead of traveling.  This vacation was overdue because I hadn't taken not one day of my vacation all year.  When I realized that I had worked 8 months straight I knew I needed to take a break not only from work, but from the people I work with and the robotic routine I was stuck in.  Not to mention, my vacation days do not roll over, so I better had taken some days!  Don't be a victim of use it or lose it.  Use your days people!

Anyway, hopefully like others returning from the holiday (and end of summer milestone) I did go back to work energized, refreshed and ready to get back to the grind.  However, the new leaf I tried to turn over is still on one side as I snoozed my way from 6am to 7am this morning, but I still got to work on time and ready to rock and roll.  My alarm is set to 6am again, so wish me luck! 

You the boss!

While I have not professionally held the title of a manager, supervisor or as I call it "a boss" as a subordinate I have observed the do's and don'ts to managing others through being managed.  On top of being intelligent, ethical and being good at what you do I believe the next ten things wouldn't hurt to be good at being "a boss".

1 - Open Communication
You have to have an open line of communication in all aspects so that there is no guessing in the work relationship.  That goes from communicating performance to letting your employees know you aren't coming to work or are leaving early.  Today, my boss left the office early, leaving our team confused at where she was, if she was coming back and if and how we could reach her if an emergency occurred.  Literally, no one in my department knew where our boss went. 
2 - Empowerment
If you don't motivate your employees and instill confidence in them to do a great job, 9 out of 10 times your employees won't produce their best work.
3 - Transparency
While managers can't always tell their employees everything, like future plans not yet approved, the fact that an executive is retiring, etc.  However, if that is the nature of your job, as a boss, let your employees know that you will be as open and honest with them as their job allows.  Honest enough to share what you can, and honest enough to say when you can't.  When the economy was down back in 2008 my boss let me know early on, that there will not be any bonuses for me or anyone in the company and she was right.  It sucked, but she was honest.
4 - Approachable
Some bosses think that being a boss means to be mean, unapproachable and to have your employees intimidated by you.  This will cause resentment and actions driven by fear.  They will hate you and talk about you behind your back.  This one goes with number one, there will be no communication if you are unapproachable to begin with. 
5 - Engaged/Presence
If you don't care, they won't care.  Bosses who are detached or disengaged when it comes to the department they are managing run the risk of losing the focus of their employees.  A previous boss of mine seemed not to care if and when she came to work, when deadlines were approaching and if I was even doing my job.  At first I thought she just really trusted me, I mean I am a stellar employee, but then I began to notice that she was just not that into the job.  Maybe this was temporary, maybe she was going through something, whatever the case it led me to become resentful and overworked.  So, make sure as a manager, you stay tuned.
6 - Supportive
Employees need cheerleaders at work.  Support on projects, support during conflict and support in the growth of their career.
7 - Respectful
Disrespect does not yield positive results.  Again, this will get your employees talking about you behind your back.
8 - Secure/Confident
If a manager is not secure in their abilities they tend to hoard work and not work towards developing their employees to be successful.  Most times employees don't want to stay in their same position forever, they want to grow.  If the manager thinks that their subordinate will outshine them or pass them up in some way, they will be hesitant in providing opportunity.  If you feel like that, than you as a manager should take up a course to better your skill set instead of holding someone back.
9 - Lead by example
Do as I say, not as do, works best coming from a parent or guardian.  Coming from "a boss" ummm, not so much.  This will cause confusion and in my opinion lead to unethical behavior.  You mean to tell me that if you are a boss you act one way and if you aren't you act another - not good.  The reality is EVERYONE has a boss unless you own your business, so you will eventually have to answer to someone.  How about you just do the right thing and use your best judgement when in doubt and showcase good professional behavior to your employees.
10 - Human
You did not start your job as "a boss".  We all have to start somewhere, learn something and make a mistake along the way.  We are all human and that includes our bosses!