The Work Buzz's Latest News: “Your shark attack survival guide (for the office)” plus 1 more

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Your shark attack survival guide (for the office) Posted: 29 Jul 2011 06:34 AM PDT Each summer, Discovery Channel's “Shark Week” capitalizes on our collective fear of large, toothy fish with seven days of programming dedicated to topics like "Rogue Sharks," "Killer Sharks" and "How Sharks Hunt." At the same time, however, the people at Discovery Channel want us to be realistic about the actual incidence of shark attacks. The "Top 100 Shark Facts" listed on DiscoveryChannel.com point out that shark attacks are actually very uncommon. In fact, you're more likely to get bitten by another human than by a shark. Since shark attacks are pretty rare and getting bitten by another person is not so rare (or not as rare, at least), we decided to focus on a more common kind of shark attack, one that most people should learn to protect themselves from as soon as possible: The office shark attack. The office shark, characterized by its power-hungry, super-aggressive, man-eating attitude, is native to absolutely every workplace on earth. It attacks without warning and has been known to bite the head off of anything that gets in its way. To help you survive your inevitable encounter with this beast, we put together a handy how-to guide.     1. Stay out of harm's way: If there was a sign on the beach that said "Danger: Shark-infested waters," you wouldn't go in for a dip, right? So, next time you're assigned a project or scheduled to go on a business trip with the office shark, talk to your boss about being reassigned. "If you are going to request a change to a new department, try to avoid using the other person being a shark as a reason, though," says Jan Yager, author of "Productive Relationships: 57 Strategies for Building Stronger Business Connections." Hopefully there are other reasons that will put you in a better light. 'I understand there’s an opening in the x,y,z department and I have the skills that they seem to be seeking so I think it will be a good fit,' or something like that." 2. Travel in a pack: If there's no way to avoid the shark at work, at least try to avoid being alone with her. She'll be less likely to attack in front of a group. Plus, you're probably not the only who feels bullied by the shark, so it should be easy to form an alliance against her. "Most likely, the shark is a shark by nature — not just with you. Talk to others and find allies," says Yosh Beier, managing partner at Collaborative Coaching, LLC, an executive coaching firm in Brooklyn, NY. 3. Stay alert: When the shark is around, don't let your guard down. Keep personal and professional information to yourself, since the shark may try to use it against you later, Yager says. 4. Don't panic: Office sharks, too, can smell fear. They prey on the weak, so a confident attitude will keep them away. "'Sharks don't show aggression right away. Only when they feel that they can get away with it — that the person in front of them lacks confidence — do they step it up from provocative to disrespectful to aggressive," Beier says. "If you are around a shark-kind-of-a-person, send an early message that this is not okay." 5. Defend yourself: According to the Discovery Channel's shark facts, "Punching a shark in the nose or poking its eyes can help to fend it off during an attack. Aim for the sensitive eyes or gills — or, if your aim is off, the much bigger target of the snout. Most sharks don’t want to work that hard for their food and will swim away." This same strategy will work for the shark in your office. Next time he messes with you — BAM! — whack him in the nose. Just kidding. However, like we mentioned before, sharks pick on the little guys because they can. Put up a bigger fight and chances are, he'll walk away. Next time the shark tries to overpower your opinion, for example, make sure that you're heard by using this tactic: "Express your disagreement — but don't explain yourself unless follow-up questions are asked. If you have a different opinion, don't say things like 'Could you listen, please,' etc. Just continue to say 'no,' 'I disagree,' 'not how I view it,' etc. until the other person stops and asks you why," Beier says. 6. Size him up: If you're no match for the shark, be careful about how you approach him. "There are some sharks who will fire you, if it is their company, just because you stand up to them and they want to show you who is in charge," Yager says. “That doesn’t mean you don’t stand up to him or her, but be prepared for that outcome. That means that you have your resume 'dusted off' and you’ve thought through if you absolutely have a financial cushion or even another family member who is working so if you do lose your job, you won’t be out on the street.” 7. Get the heck out of there: "If you find yourself in an organization that tolerates dysfunctional behaviors – well, maybe this is not the place to be. Know your choices," Beier says. Do you have a shark at your office? How do you handle him or her?

Are you suffering from summer fatigue or job burnout? Posted: 28 Jul 2011 12:17 PM PDT In college, one of my professors noted that the amount of absences that particular day was extraordinarily high. Despite it being a sunny, spring day, he wasn't surprised. "On days with really bad weather, people don't come to class because it's too dangerous to drive," he said. "But I noticed that they don't show up when it's really pretty outside because they'd rather be enjoying the sun." The weather affects us. Sure, we stay indoors and lazy around when a blizzard slams the city, but we don't necessarily accomplish more when the weather outside is delightful. A CareerBuilder survey finds that workers might be less productive in the summer than in other months, at least according to bosses. Of surveyed employers, 26 percent believe worker productivity takes a dip in the summer.  Bosses attribute this decrease to nicer weather, vacations and children at home during summer break. Is burnout to blame? Summer isn't the only culprit, however. Forty-five percent of employers believe workers are burned out on their jobs.  Well, they're unfortunately right. 77 percent of workers say they are sometimes or always burned out on their jobs 43 percent of workers say their stress levels at work have increased over the last six months 46 percent of workers say their workloads have increased in the last six months One reason workers might be noticeably burned out is due to fear of losing their jobs. When the Great Recession began in 2007 and layoffs began to occur regularly for the next year and beyond, workers began to wonder if they were next to receive pink slips. Meanwhile, as companies downsized, responsibilities shifted and suddenly the old adage "do less with more" was a way of life for millions of concerned workers. Not surprisingly, then, 30 percent of employers say their workers are more productive today than before the recession began. Of those employers who noticed a rise in productivity, 73 percent see the increase still in the workplace today; 14 percent even say an additional increase has occurred in their workplace. What to do If you're sluggish this summer and you know it's because of the weather, try not to show it at work. Employers aren't keen on watching their employees perform below their norm.  Still, summer only lasts a few months, so eventually you'll be back at normal speed. If your less-than-stellar performance these days is the result of burnout, you might want to try these steps to unburden yourself: Say no when you can Workers, especially those fearful of layoffs, often overcommit and end up with a to-do list that no single human could ever accomplish. Learn to say no when you can't possibly take on another task. Talk to your boss This one might be easier said than done, but most bosses want their employees to be happy and be good performers. If you're doing the job of two (or more) workers and you know you're about to buckle under the pressure, let your boss know. Don't whine and complain. Instead, lay out your dilemma and suggest ways to solve it. It's not an easy conversation to have, but it could make your job more manageable and your performance much better. Find some time to unwind When the phones ringing off the hook, your inbox is overflowing with unanswered messages, and your boss keeps asking you to work a little later, you feel boxed in. Find a way to take a breather, whether that means eating lunch outside, taking a 15-minute break a couple of times a day, or going to the gym before you head to work. Do something each day that lets you forget work and think about something else. Find flexibility Not all jobs have room for flexibility, but some do. If your boss will let you come in late and stay later or come in early and leave early, that could make your life easier. Or maybe you can work from home some days. Some companies, especially during the summer, let workers add on a few extra work hours to each day, say Monday through Thursday, and then have Friday off. Maybe you can come in early and take an extended lunch to get a trip to the gym in. Whatever works for you and suits your job, try it. A few little changes could make keep the burnout away.

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