What gets you through the workday?

Rachel Zupek Farrell,

Distractions in the workplace are inevitable, and they happen for a multitude of reasons.

Perhaps you've been staring at the computer for two hours straight and need to tear your eyes away for a few minutes. Maybe it's nearing the end of a long day and you need to get outside for the first time. Or maybe you're trying to get work done, but all the people around you are making that impossible.

It's smart for workplaces to view distractions in two ways, says Rachel Permuth-Levine, Ph.D., senior director of human capital research and outcomes at the blog "toLive." 

"It is important to minimize distractions in the workplace and at the same time promote those 'pleasant' distractions that allow us to have a reprieve from the stressors of our job," Permuth-Levine says.

"Some types of distractions -- too much paperwork, multitasking, too much noise -- are harmful. They can lead to safety issues, lack of productivity or absenteeism. The pleasant distractions -- coffee break, taking a walk, talking to colleagues -- recharge us and help our health and performance on the job."

In a recent survey conducted by GSN Digital, the interactive division of the Game Show Network, nearly 80 percent of respondents who play online games during the workday said they feel more focused on work as a result of periodic mental breaks associated with game play.

Fifty-nine percent of those who play games at work play for 30 minutes or less. These respondents reported that taking just a few minutes off from work to play games helps them refocus, increases creativity and calms them down during stressful situations.

We asked our readers how they get through the workday. Here's what they had to say:

Completion is calming
"One thing that gets me through the day is to get paperwork or computer work 'completed' during whatever breaks I can get through the day. The feeling of 'completion' is important to me, and I actually feel it improves my overall attitude and effectiveness. When work piles up, I feel more stressed and very time sensitive." -- Len Saunders, public education teacher

White noise works
"White noise on my iPod has become my new best friend in the workplace. I changed jobs recently and the new company has an open office floor plan. The constant chatter in the office can be extremely distracting. Music tends to overstimulate and distract me as much as office chatter, but I find white noise at varying frequencies does the trick." -- Troy Adkins, director of marketing and membership, CoreNet Global Inc.

Soothing surroundings
"In a creative industry, it is super-critical to be able to keep the inspiration flowing and avoid workday burnout. Here are some of the things I do to make sure I stay focused and inspired: 'Bing' your favorite color. Surprisingly, a simple search can result in some gorgeous images to keep you smiling from the inside out. Fresh flowers on your desk make a huge difference; they not only add a lovely and fragrant element, but they greet everyone who walks into your office or work space. Take a few minutes to create a Pandora music channel that provides hours of your favorite music to keep you in a happy workplace rhythm. Watch a three-minute travel video to inspire you and have you looking forward to that well-earned vacation. Beautiful imagery and daydreams of that perfect vacation can keep you plugging away another day." -- Gina Samarotto, principal, The Samarotto Design Group

Working out stress
"The workplace distraction that gets me through my day is running at lunchtime. When I run, I can choose to sort out work items in my head or just zone out, not think and listen to music or my feet pounding the pavement. Running at lunch breaks up my day, and I come back for the afternoon energized and productive. Not only am I getting exercise, but my co-workers and clients are also benefiting from my workplace distraction." -- Jenika Scott, channel marketing manager, Hall Internet Marketing

Video game break
"My favorite workplace distraction is the on-site massage. Our company has an in-house masseuse that visits the office once a week. I make sure I am on her schedule, as the quiet down time helps keep me motivated throughout the day. On days when I don't have a massage, I find solace playing one of the many video games found in our office, as they help sidetrack my attention, if only for a few minutes. Pac-Man never gets old!" --Taryn Lomas, vice president of strategic accounts, Underground Elephant

 

Source: careerbuilder

Funniest workplace moments

By Kaitlin Madden,

Everyone has experienced embarrassing work moments that they'd rather forget: inopportune trips and falls, unfortunate typos, Freudian slips. But admit it. Once the initial humiliation wears off, workplace mistakes are actually kind of funny.

Still, while it's virtuous to be able to laugh at one's own embarrassing moments, it's much more fun to laugh at those of other people. To that end, six workers confess their or their co-workers' most humbling workplace moments. 

Sticky situation
"I was giving a speech onstage to a group of conservative bankers. I didn't want to perspire through my jacket, so I put self-stick panty liners in my armpits -- thinking they would stay and absorb.

"Turns out they aren't as sticky as they advertise. One crawled down my sleeve and fell on the floor. When I saw it, I immediately picked it up and scrunched it up, hoping no one noticed. Then the other side did the same thing. So I stopped mid-speech and asked if anyone saw. Some nodded yes with a perplexed look, so I explained what I had done and there was lots of laughter, deservedly, at my expense. I asked the audience, 'What did you think was going on?' and one man raised his hand and volunteered, 'I thought you were doing a magic trick.'

"We all had a good laugh; they appreciated my honesty and humanness. I proceeded with my speech. Years later I still occasionally see the man who said he thought I was doing a magic trick." -- Debra Benton, speaker and executive coach, Benton Management Resources

Watch out for elephants
"When I worked as a young copywriter for a fairly large ad agency, they assigned me the local municipal zoo account.

"There was a young, prim and proper female copywriter who had been hired around the same time as me, and after my second or third research trip to the zoo she asked if she could come along. We were having a pleasant afternoon stroll through the zoo and she stopped to linger at the elephant exhibit as I rounded the corner to check out the baboons. 

"A few minutes later, I heard her scream. I ran back toward the elephants to see her dressed-for-success suit covered in muck and straw. One of the elephants had hosed her down from head to toe! As I realized what had happened, my knees buckled and I collapsed in laughter to the ground. I had to make a couple more field trips to the zoo, but she declined my invitations to tag along." -- Cliff Stepp, California-based marketing consultant 

Pepper sprayed
"In an attempt to be frugal, I made roasted red pepper soup to take to work for lunch. When it came time to enjoy my fat-free soupy goodness, the Thermos I placed in the microwave exploded open with a gunshot sound. Naturally the secretary ran over to see what the gunshot was and saw a thick, bloodlike substance all over my face -- so she started screaming. 

"The day ended with my hopelessly trying to scrub red pepper from the ceiling while all of the employees watched me, discussing the physics behind my red pepper soup explosion while my boss paced around assessing the damage. Apparently pepper releases gases when heated and cooled rapidly. That's what I get for skipping chemistry for that extra art class.

"My attempt to save 49 cents on soup cost my company a freshly painted wall and two of those extra-fancy acoustical ceiling tiles. They didn't fire me. They just call me 'Pepper Spray' now." -- Stephanie Yuhas, writer and filmmaker, www.AmericanGoulash.org

A vintage mishap
"Drinking with colleagues is rather like watching a hippo try to ice-skate. It's all fun and games until someone gets slammed. Now I'm not a big drinker, but I do have a tendency to be very clumsy ('Is that a fragile item? Smash!'), and this time was no different.

"In a heated exchange ... over the meaning of the word 'bar-tab,' I swung my arm around to gesture pointedly toward the table of my colleagues. What I didn't realize at the time was that my boss was standing right behind me with a glass of wine in her hand. My sudden movement slapped the glass into her face, causing the contents to spray all over her newly permed head.

"Although I've never personally experienced what it's like to get wine in the eyes, her screams of 'It burns! It burns!' led me to believe the experience was rather unpleasant. Talk about an 'acidic vintage.' Let's just say that it's quite hard to recover when you throw a glass of wine into your boss's face. Luckily she had a sense of humor and my only punishment was dealing with recurring jokes from my colleagues." -- Clea Baker, account executive, IMG Media 

Split decision
"I had just hired a young man for my office. It was his first day on the job, and in his first hour one of the fluorescent lights went out. I asked him if he wouldn't mind changing it, and of course, he didn't. He hopped up on a desk, switched the bulb, then promptly jumped down

"It was as he landed that the seam of his pants blew out. 'KRRSCHW!' He looked mortified at the sound of tearing fabric. I, ever the professional, cracked up. With tears in my eyes I told him to go to the bathroom, take off his pants and give them to me. I sewed up the seam for him. Could you imagine having your new boss sew up your pants on your first day of a new job? I knew from that moment on that he was going to be a great employee." -- Melissa Hill, author, Honeybeepublishing.com

Nature calls
"The queen of multitasking, I was sitting in the back of the room observing a training I was hosting while simultaneously working on my annual operating-plan budget and listening in on a conference call. 

"Nature called, so off to the bathroom I went. Working on autopilot, the phone and the coffee cup came with me. I went into the bathroom, put the cup down, and went into the stall still listening to the conference call.

"Finished, I opened the stall door and found myself starring at a urinal. I was in the men's room. About the same time, the stall next to me opened and out walked a vice president who worked for me. 'Boss, what are you doing in here?' he asked. 

"I grabbed my coffee cup, phone still in hand, and looked to make a quick exit. As I came out of the men's room, there were two men on a ladder changing a light bulb who burst out laughing. They had seen me, head down, phone glued to ear, coffee cup in hand, mistakenly march into the men's room. They had also seen my direct report go in 20 minutes earlier and knew that we would probably have a head-on collision in front of the urinal. When I asked them why they didn't stop me, their only response was that they weren't going to get in the way of a woman!" -- Wendy Komac, turnaround specialist and author of "I Work with Crabby Crappy People" 

Source: careerbuilder

Your boss quits. Now what?

By Debra Auerbach,

For those of you who are fans of NBC's "The Office," you know that Michael Scott, aka the "World's Best Boss," departed at the end of last season and moved with his fiancée to Colorado to be near her parents. There was much speculation about who would replace him and if that person could ever truly fill the much-loved boss man's shoes.

This season, "The Office" followers found out that Andy Bernard -- the preppy, overeager salesman who often spontaneously breaks out into song -- had been appointed the new Big Cheese. As Andy steps up to the plate, he's faced with a variety of obstacles: How can he get his former peers to respect him and listen? How should he handle those in his company who are miffed they didn't get the promotion? 

This situation is common in the real-world workplace. These days, you'll be hard-pressed to find someone who has worked at only one company in her lifetime. There are a variety of reasons why someone may depart. Like Michael Scott, it could be due to a big move; other reasons include being laid off, finding a better opportunity or just being unhappy. Whatever the reason, it usually has a big impact on the boss's team. 

So what should you do if your boss says goodbye? Here are some tips to help you navigate through these often muddy workplace waters. 

Be supportive and stay connected
Deciding to leave a job is never easy, even for the boss, so be supportive and encouraging. Try to avoid participating in water-cooler gossip or secretive speculation about why she's leaving. Lynne Sarikas, director of the College of Business Administration's career center at Northeastern University in Boston, suggests thanking your boss for her support and letting her know you've appreciated all she's taught you -- even if you didn't always get along. "Regardless of any issues you may have had, stay positive," Sarikas says. "Ask if you can stay connected. This is someone you may need as a reference one day."

Get to the root of the departure
If your boss announces he's leaving for another opportunity, it's worth asking yourself why. Was it a personal decision, or was it because he suspects, or knows, the company isn't doing well? Was he unhappy in the role or disgruntled with his boss? Was it by choice or was he forced out? Mary Hladio, founder and president of organizational performance consultancy Ember Carriers Leadership Group, recommends conducting such an investigation, especially if you are vying to take over the vacant spot. "If the sudden lack of leadership is also accompanied by staff cutbacks, tighter budgets and shrinking sales, these are definite danger signs that you should not ignore."

Look for leadership opportunities
When the boss leaves, it's often by surprise, and there isn't always a succession strategy in place. While the transition can be a burden on those left to pick up the slack, use it as an opportunity to step up and demonstrate leadership -- regardless of whether or not you hope to become the boss. Offer to take over some of the work, meet with your boss's boss to strategize about ways to restructure the team, and use this time to prove that you have what it takes to lead in times of uncertainty.

If you are hoping to be promoted into the boss's position, don't hesitate to express your interest in taking on the role. If you have a good relationship with the departing boss, consider asking him before he leaves to recommend you for the position.

"Things can move fast in an organization, so if your boss leaves and you know you're interested in that role, it's appropriate to share that interest with both the boss and his or her boss," says workplace coach Darcy Eikenberg, founder of RedCapeRevolution.com and author of the forthcoming book "Bring Your Superpowers to Work: Your Guide to More Clarity, Confidence and Control." "Try saying something like, 'I've appreciated the example you've set in this role, and it's one where I think I can make a contribution, too. We'll miss you, but I'm aware that we'll need to fill the post soon. What's the right next step to be considered as your replacement?'"

Eikenberg also suggests ensuring you truly know the responsibilities of and expectations for the position before pushing for it. There may be a side to the job that you didn't realize existed. If you're longing for the boss's job, Eikenberg encourages asking him questions like, "What's the one work activity that takes most of your time in this role?" or "What's the part of your job that keeps you up at night?" That way, you have a stronger sense of the role and can determine if you are up for the challenge. 

Consider following the leader
What if your boss is the reason you're at your current job? Perhaps she brought you over from another company, or her mentorship is the reason you haven't hightailed it out of there yet. When you consider your boss a friend and someone you admire, it can be tough when she decides to jump ship, but try not to let your emotions get the best of you. Consider whether you're happy in your current role and if it may be worth following your boss to her new company.

"If you had a good relationship with your boss, continue to stay in touch. Your boss might have left for a much better opportunity, and if he or she has opportunities for you, let him or her know you might have an interest," says Renee Weisman, owner of Winning at Work Consulting, a company providing workplace leadership seminars and classes, and author of "Winning in a Man's World: Advice for Women Who Want to Succeed and the Men Who Work With Them."

So what if you pull an Andy Bernard and actually become the boss? Here are some tips on how to step out from the old boss's shadow.

Find a balance between friendship and leadership
When taking over as the boss, your relationship with your co-workers will likely need to change. While it would be nice to keep them as buddies, you may have to distance yourself if you want them to take you seriously. However, don't take your newfound authority so far that it borders on condescending, or you'll end up alienating your new team. Chances are there are others on your team who were hoping to take over as the boss, so be sensitive to the fact that they might be frustrated or upset at the outcome. Make them your allies by tapping them for their advice or asking them to mentor or guide younger workers; that will show them you value their opinion and see them as a key member of the team. 

Understand expectations
"Take some time initially to understand what you are expected to accomplish...and by when," says Roy Cohen, career coach and author of "The Wall Street Professional's Survival Guide." "Ask your new boss, 'How will you measure my success -- and know that I have been successful -- in six months or a year?' Having a benchmark will enable you to work toward accomplishing their goals and offer feedback should those goals be unrealistic or unfair. This knowledge will also allow you to modify those goals to reflect your own unique potential to contribute."

Give it some time
Remember that change is never easy, so there will likely be some growing pains as you transition into the new role. No one is expecting you to be a carbon copy of your former boss, so take this opportunity to carve out your own path. Be patient and stay levelheaded, and you'll be on your way to succeeding as a company leader. 

Source: careerbuilder