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The bitch is in.
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(Cathie) Black Magic
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I think you are an idiot.
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It's finally Friday. I'm free again.
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I have categorized this post with “Climbing the ladder” although as the title suggests, I’m not entirely sure I climbed anything just yet.
I know some of you *coughs* Nataly *coughs* have noticed my absence here on Work It, Mom! in recent weeks. Others of you *coughs* Kate *coughs* were warned to expect precisely nothing from me asked to forgive me for excusing myself from a special project we were working on. I purposely did not share the details of where I have been until things shook out in full at the office but now, after several weeks of announcements, changes in roles and responsibilities and other varied communications it is safe to share with you some career news.
…drumroll, please….
Earlier this week a Stole My Stapler reader named Caitlin commented on my Jesus post. That comment sparked an email exchange between us on which resulted in her closing one of her replies with what I have borrowed for the title of this post.
“I like to sound like I’m wise beyond my years, but really I’m just a cranky bitch.”
So fitting for this post. So very, very fitting.
Today I had a completely random thought that went something like this:
How do I feel about religion in the workplace?
I quickly knew my answer:
Today I learned about a condition that seems to be afflicting my son called Testosterone Poisoning. It is the best explanation I can come up with besides the fact that we have had a completely effed up week and he is beyond tired because of it.
Because I have been so absorbed with my very emotional boy child this week I am mentally (and physically) quite drained which means I have exactly BUPKIS to offer you.
In the spirit of providing you something new and interesting to cast your eyes upon I now present to you…
::drumroll::
Anyone that reads this blog or my personal blog Kazoofus probably knows that my pet peeves change with dang near every breath I take. Just browse through the Who Stole My Stapler archives for proof of some of my workplace and career pet peeves.
I just read an article on Women’s Health Magazine that reminded me of something that I have a hard time comprehending:
It is probably true for most people that all work and no play makes for one dreary existence. I am an extreme advocate of work/life balance for everyone. This is as important for people without children as it is for people with children. What I’m not prone to state, however, is what YOUR work/life balance should look like.
A few years ago I was on a large company project where key resources worked in multiple locations throughout the United States. I joined the project when it was in an official state of chaos or in project lingo “status: red”. The entire team was stressed out and the Project Manager and Program Manager were overwhelmed with the size, scope and complexity of the project. They were unsure of how to get things back on track.
I did not enter the scene with any answers for them in fact, I peppered them with a whole lot of questions as I tried to wrap my brain around the size, scope and complexity of the project. Within my first week on the project I was dizzy with the number of directions the Program Manager, Project Manager and now I were being pulled. I realized in that first week that if I didn’t start taking notes I would never be able to get it all straight.
I am not one to criticize anybodies chosen profession. I suggest that all people do what fulfills them. I am however a person that believes there is a time and a place for everything. So when I say what I am about to say please know that I am trying to be observant of the appropriate time and place for a certain role that exists in our society.
Cowboys.
A fine, fine job indeed. I particularly appreciate the work of cattle ranchers but cowboys belong in saloons and home, home on the range. They do not belong in a corporate environment.
They create an atmosphere of good cowboys and bad cowboys (us against them) . They tend to create a feeling of competitiveness in a place where teamwork should rule the house.
In the end Cowboys in corporate environments generally start showdowns.
This, I think, is bad for business.
Now I’m not saying a little cowboy mentality can’t sometimes be good for business. There are times when someone brave needs to ride in on their horse to save the day. Cowboys are good at that. Cowboys can also think fast on their feet in some circumstances. I mean did you ever see that movie where the city slickers created a stampede with their coffee bean grinder? Those cowboys (the real ones) were on it.
(This reminds me: executives should stay off of ranches).
But I would say nine times out of ten the rigid exterior of a cowboy, the competitive nature and the unplanned risks a cowboy is willing to take, well, none of it belongs in the business world. I am willing to bet we have all had our fair share of cowboy encounters in the workplace. When you think of the cowboy mentality what characteristic comes to mind? Do you have any tricks (hog tying maybe) for dealing with cowboys in the office?
How do you knock cowboys off of horses?
Last week I mentioned that I had been tagged to be a member of the holiday party planning committee at the office. There were ten or so of us on the committee. I know I may be a smidge biased having been on the committee, but I do think that the party went really well.
There were tables set up for card games, random drawings for prizes throughout the day, various guessing games and not one, not two but THREE Wii’s set up for some friendly competition. Lunch was provided, as were beverages and in total I’d guess darn near every one of the 80 people we expected made their way to the party for at least a quick visit, nibble or game.
In total it took us just over a week to pull it together. From idea to execution we had a pretty fast turn-around. Needless to say, there were many preparations happening on and off of standard business hours to prepare for the festivities.
One of the team members that was scheduled to bring in their Wii for the party actually brought it in a day early to test drive the audio and visual on the very large projection screens. After hooking it up we decided to test drive the system by playing a few games of boxing, tennis and bowling.
At one point we added a Mii to the Wii. For those of you not in the know, a Mii is much like an avatar that you might create for yourself on Yahoo! Instant Messaging. I picked out everything from Mii dark rimmed glasses to Mii wardrobe. Even eye color, face shape and attire. The only thing I didn’t have a say in (I don’t know why) was my hair. I ended up with pigtails.
The next day as I sat down to lunch at the start of the party I looked up to see someone had selected me Mii on the Wii just in front of me. Without a second of thought I shouted…
I’m on the office planning committee charged with coordinating our team holiday celebration. My love of parties trumps my hate for Christmas so my Grinch-ish holiday tendencies aren’t spoiling the event planning fun.
One of the things we are considering is a photo scavenger hunt. In my head I have started kicking around ideas to put on the list but there is one tiny problem. In my head I can take every seemingly innocent photo suggestion and make it photo suggestive.
*bow chica bow bow*
We aren’t inviting HR to this party but I still need to behave. Let’s hope that I get teamed up with someone with a good moral compass to keep this event on the up and up. I really don’t need the team photo hunt to become an HR conduct report in the making.
Complete with photographic evidence.
Lucky for everyone someone other than me is coordinating the food. That right there increases the odds that it will be an edible lunch by about 100%. We’re planning an entire afternoon of screwing around although I think the employee communication will call it “team building” or something kinder and gentler and HR friendlier than “screwing around”.
So what is shaking in your office space for the holidays? Any fun competitions? Parties? Lunch adventures? Pin the tail on the manager?
Do tell.