What is Digg?80 Comments
- colifis, on 10/12/2007, -1/+18#11 - Remember emails live forever. Watch what you write.
- holzp, on 10/12/2007, -1/+16#13 - Don't host diggable top ten lists on your company servers.
- fatbyjhnsn, on 10/12/2007, -0/+13Not in the white house they don't!
- Aliarse, on 10/12/2007, -2/+13First five should be :
#1 : Block digg
#2 : Block slashdot
#3 : Block flickr
#4 : Block Myspace
#5 : Block "insert distracting site here" - postitnote, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9When you eat a donut, use a fork and knife.
- therealrico, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8Here's a good one, that he kinda talked about but should be touched on more, Don't talk ***** about people you work with. Do your best to keep it to yourself, and don't gossip, same thing kinda. What goes around comes around, and you never know for sure if someone you tell something about another employee will come back to you.
- FoxFaction, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8This list is ***** terrible. "Do exactly what you are told to do and do everything in your power to project yourself as a professional. Remember, sucking up is the best thing you can do for yourself! Don't get close to anyone or share opinions, you might offend someone! Don't let your personality come through unless it's pure sunshine!"
Yeah that sounds like a lot of fun. No thanks. - niardica, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Don't cook stinky ass food in the microwave...
- vonskippy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6The 1950's called, they want their work ethics back (like taking career advice from a Sports Blog is a good idea).
- Sanooj, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8Site's down:
1. Do not discuss your salary/wage with your coworkers.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen people do this. There is essentially zero good that can come out of this. One way or another somebody’s feelings are going to be hurt. It can cause a lot of strife between people and it’s even a terminable offense in most workplaces.
The only people that you could share your salary with are the following:
* Spouse or signifigant other if you live together or otherwise share a budget.
* Parents (with the understanding that it is strictly confidential, no telling their golf buddies, AA group or Joey your 4th cousin twice removed.)
* Your accountant.
* That’s it.
2. Perception is reality.
No matter how unfair it is, no matter how illogical it can be, it is the absolute 100% truth. People don’t have time in the workplace to ferret out the whole story. If you’re seen as a slacker, you’re a slacker. If you’re seen as a hothead, you’re a hothead.
Work hard to cultivate the perception you think you should have and protect it once it is achieved. That means you may have to work harder/faster/better than the other guy or gal if you’ve already been branded.
Along the same lines, be careful who you hang out with at work. It’s very easy to be pigeonholed with a group if you frequently go on breaks with, lunch with or otherwise hangout with people who act less that professionally (or proficiently) in the workplace.
3. Be honest with your coworkers, but not too honest.
If this job is just a stepping stone towards bigger and better things, don’t share that with the 20 year lifer that you just met at the office. I was guilty of this at my first professional job. I think back on that and realize what a jerk I must have sounded like.
Hopes and dreams are great, but try to keep conversations with your coworkers light, at least in the early going before you really know them.
4. Choose your battles wisely.
No you will not quit if they switch from Arrowhead bottled water to Sparkletts. Get a grip.
Some battles are worth fighting, others are small potatoes. Think of it this way. Every day that you work and do an acceptable job you earn a certain number of points. As you spend more time at the job you accrue these points until you can cash them in for several purposes.
One of those purposes is in the eternal battle to impose your will on others. Whether it’s a raise or more donuts on Friday. If you’re constantly spending your points you’re going to find yourself fresh out when something REALLY important comes along like… say… layoffs.
You always want to have a cache of points to turn in when you need them.
5. Nobody likes a whiner.
This goes hand in hand with choosing your battles. If you are constantly whining about things then you will actually lose points without getting anything for them besides irritated coworkers. If your chair is uncomfortable, go swipe one from somewhere else, or politely ask the office manager about maybe getting a new one.
If you can’t get whatever ails you resolved quickly and in a polite non-whiny manner, try to learn to live with it or fix it yourself.
6. Don’t get ***** at happy hour or the holiday party.
Wooo open bar! Hold on there partner. While it’s ok to have a cocktail or two while you’re at a company function, don’t get obliterated.
I’ve seen more than my share of otherwise normal folks completely crash and burn due to their allowing their cup to runneth over.
Take it easy, have fun, but remember that come Monday morning, yes they will remember if you act like an idiot while plastered. Minus points.
7. Get it in writing.
Email is one of the single greatest inventions ever in corporate accountability.
If there is ever a doubt in your mind about what you’ve been tasked to do, get it in writing. Sometimes people make judgement calls on the fly when they’re pressed for time. More often than not, when they are proven to have made the incorrect call, they will turn to you and ask you why you did that (idiot!). So having their instructions in black and white will save your ass a hundred times over the course of your career.
Get it in writing. Plus points if you catch the office bully with his pants down using this technique.
8. This isn’t high school or college A) debating.
Academic debates about random crap are fantastic fun in a scholastic setting. Nobody wants to debate arbitrary minutiae in the office, especially your boss.
9. This isn’t high school or college B) over the top.
While it may have been fun to be the over the top bombastic “willing to do anything to get a rise out of someone” kind of person back in school, this does NOT fly in the workplace.
Yes, it was jolly good fun to tease people and make people uncomfortable back in the day, but not any more when your livelihood hangs in the balance. This goes for discussing politics and religion as well. It’s just not a good idea.
10. Smile, today’s the first day of the rest of your career!
A positive attitude can have a great affect on your interpersonal relations at work and your career in general. Bosses and coworkers are a lot more forgiving if you can take a beating and still keep a bit of cheer about yourself.
Remember, it’s just work, don’t take it too seriously. - Zervas, on 10/12/2007, -3/+9#12 - When forwarding on a confidential e-mail make sure the wrong address doesn't autofill. (which happened about an hour ago, we'll see what happens)
- rockchops, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5the only thing that I can honestly take to heart from this article is the last statement:
"Remember, it’s just work, don’t take it too seriously."
Sums it all up pretty good. Actually, you can apply it to almost any facet of life. And in good measure. - Th0Rr, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5foxfaction and stattek, well played. ***** all these pencil pushed douches that dont know ***** about ***** except douching and brown nosing.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4this entire article could have been summed up with 4 words KEEP YOU MOUTH SHUT. that is what every single suggestion they make really comes down to.
- Szandor, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I'm just glad that I'm not a cubicle rodent and have to put up with all that tiresome *****. I truly feel sorry for all of you that have to work in such an artificial and stressful environment.
And to preempt some of the inevitable comments, I'm neither poor nor socially inept. - matguy, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4http://www.duggmirror.com
- gharding, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3***** that noise. GET TANKED at holiday parties. I showed up at mine drunk!
- Homunculiheaded, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3additionally work email and personal email should always be 2 separate accounts, using different email clients, so that the 2 never cross paths, and of course personal email should be through something at least somewhat secure (like https: gmail). We all have to vent about coworkers or bosses to friends now and again, it's just best those thoughts aren't stored on a company owned email server or sitting on your company owned workstation. Additionally keeping the 2 separate ensures you'll never have autofill accidentally send personal email to someone you didn't intend at the office (think 'the office', "I meant to send this to Packard, not Packaging")
- spukeesan, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4@scaryclouds
I dearly hope that you understand why what you just wrote is *****, but just in case...
Life is not a job, nor a career. If you honestly think that following an arbitrary top 10 list will get you ahead in the workplace then you will inevitably fail to the one who forgoes the 'rules' in favor of acting like a human being. The workplace will consume roughly 1/3 of your adult life - spending that time as an automaton by suppressing your personality and social instincts will only ensure that those years in the office will leave an impression on absolutely no one. - arkavat, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5psst.. he hasn't mentioned anything about inselkampf... i guess we can continue to play it in our office
- brodie7838, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Ah, nasty work emails sent to the wrong person. The bane of my career....
- Technopundit, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Feelings will inevitably get hurt, once the SOB's in personnel get wind of the fact that workers are protecting their interests by sharing salary information.
- veruus, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Re. #1; I don't think it's necessary for people to be so worried about not talking about their salary. That attitude is largely a construct of employers who want to keep everyone in the dark and keep them from having it as a bargaining chip when it's salary/raise negotiation time. That said, inquiring about how much someone else makes or saying how much you make can be tacky. It just depends. If you're researching for a raise and talking with someone else who you're on good terms with at the company, I would say ask. Just don't be an ass when it comes time to sit down at the bargaining table. You make what you make because you're worth it to your employer. You don't deserve to be paid as much as Jim. You deserve to be paid according to whatever value you bring to the company. If you don't like that, get an offer from another company and bring *that* to the table.
- stattek, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5Totally agree, if everyone followed this guys tips, the office environment would be even more unbearable. People need to lighten up and stop brown nosing.
So someone in your office makes a little more than you, maybe if you shut the ***** up and did your damn job, you might make a little more too. Better to know what others who are doing the same job are making anyways, so everyone isn't getting stiffed thinking they're making average money. I know this is a private subject for some people, but it is certainly not the most confidential piece of info you carry. If you can't handle someone making more money than you, start your own company and stop feeling sorry for yourself.
So what if the bitch in accounting thinks your a hot head, don't ***** talk to her then. People are more friendly anyway when you don't give a ***** and treat everyone equal. You should have got the cliquey, gossipy behavior out of your system when you were in high school. Stop concerning yourself with other people's problems unless you genuinely care.
Biggest tip for life: Don't be a douche. Stop playing immature mind games and just be a good person. If you hear a story about how the chick in sales took it up the ass from the guy in shipping, shut the ***** up. It doesn't affect you. Unless you got it on tape. Maybe thats their thing. Who are you to judge.
Holy crap office life can get me going. - johnlandes, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5***** off
- Egotrippin, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3#121. Do not put co-workers personal effects in Jell-o. Or do, it doesn't matter
- MoWater, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3#0: Implant BBerry/Smart Phone
- tmiller51, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2If your good friend can't deal with you telling them you don't discuss that, you need to find another friend.
- spukeesan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I agree. While success may be measured by various scales, I would be hard pressed to believe that "amount of time spent under fluorescent lights" is one of them.
- Usodarake, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2The first one is so hard especially if your co-worker is a good friend.
Any tips on dealing with this question when you are asked directly? - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Don't say anything you wouldnt want anybody else to hear.
- Summerlong01, on 10/12/2007, -4/+6All true, I've broken them all and regretted it eventually
- Technopundit, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Start your own business, even if you have to spend five years living in a van to do it. It'll save your soul in the end.
- stattek, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2@Scaryclouds
Wrong entirely. I refuse to play the game. I am not here to bitch about work. When I go to work, I strive to do the best job I can. That's why I have reference names and letters from all my previous jobs, back even to when I was in high school. I make it a point to be the most knowledgeable and useful employee I can. I look at my employment as a working contract. They pay me and in return I provide the best service I can. I strive for knowledge in as wide a variety of fields possible. I get the jobs I want because I want to be happy in what I do, can you honestly say that? I've had jobs with high responsibility, working on projects with million dollar price tags, managing people twice my age. What about you?
That is why I hate the games and the subjects talked about on this list. You think the gossip and ***** is really going to get you ahead. When you're bitching and moaning, and spouting about what you heard Ted did last weekend, I'm getting the damn job done.
To be fair, I do agree with this list in some sense I suppose, just not with its suggested actions of "conform, blend, and disappear in the crowd around the water cooler, and hope that you'll compliment your bosses tie once more than the guy next to you". The subject matter discussed in the article shouldn't be purely considered off limits, just use some tact. You can have a peaceful discussion about religion if you approach it properly. Don't open with "Hi, I'm Jon, I hate Jesus". Get to know people. They're called relationships, build them. If someone mentions to you they are Jehova's Witness, ask them what that entails if you don't know. People like attention. Take an interest in them.
Again, don't be a douche. - Homunculiheaded, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2You're absolutely right. Not knowing what other people around you make only helps your employer. If everyone knew exactly what everyone else made they'd more easily be able to assess their own worth, which would almost always be higher then they are currently getting paid.
That said employers have done a good job of winning this culture war and feelings will get hurt, and people will get pissed off. And it tends that if you're causing people to get pissed off, even if its not at you, it will not look favorably upon you. - Technopundit, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Check your humanity at the door, alongside of your sidearm.
Welcome to Working in America 101
Btw, the list is 100% correct. - Caruthers, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1My first job out of college, I was labeled as an "party guy" because when asked what I did over the previous weekends, I would always respond I met up with some friends at whichever local bar. Yeah I occasionally got *****-hammered but it wasn't like I was having beer for breakfast. This implication never held me back at that workplace but it did create an environment where coworkers would joke about me having to go to AA which I did laugh about and take it stride, but the label still existed. In that same office, there were people who were ridiculously anal about details as well. Sometimes this was a good thing like if the work-related project called for it but the cross-over into conversation was sometimes overwhelming. Have you ever had a discussion where members of the group would periodically interject corrections? There are people in this world that know how many eyelets in a shoe there should be and will correct you for it. Or perhaps where a certain restaurant is located relative to a line of latitude. Good times, especially when most of those conversations started out with, "Hey, how do I complete this tps report?"
This list seems generally appropriate but each office environment is different. I have been in some where people are brutally honest down to the finest detail and others where such openness is shunned. I would say for the first couple months of any job, keep your mouth shut and head down until you get a feel for the environment. - Scaryclouds, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@ stattek
I made my comment because the person (implicitly) totally disregarded the list because he didn't think it was "fun".
Reading what you wrote in your posts and what is on the list I'd say they match up pretty well.
"When I go to work, I strive to do the best job I can." #2 #5
"Again, don't be a douche. " #2 #8 #9
"Don't open with "Hi, I'm Jon, I hate Jesus". " #3 #8
"That is why I hate the games and the subjects talked about on this list. You think the gossip and ***** is really going to get you ahead. When you're bitching and moaning, and spouting about what you heard Ted did last weekend, I'm getting the damn job done." #2 #5 #8 #9
I can also guess you don't come in everyday looking all depressed looking for a pity party #10, you don't gloat about how much you get paid #1, and don't get drunk at office parties #6.
I understand why you "disagree with me entirely" because you (likely) think I'm saying you should be a sheeple. Wrong, like you I'm saying don't be douche. - Caruthers, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@ usodarake
One thing I have used in the past is a site like salary.com and said my wages are in the respective range. Most people who are interested in what their coworkers take home will accept this and move on. It's true that revealing your salary will cause problems with your coworkers who have the same experience, degree, etc. especially if you earn more. If you earn less it can cause conflict as well when you know that you're performing the same job as the guy in the next cubicle but you're earning 3k less a year for unknown reasons. Best advice I can give you is the same as the site author; don't talk about it. - Scaryclouds, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@ stattek
I haven't missed the point, I just haven't put it in to words that well. Irregardless you are right. You, in your later posts, are pretty much saying everything I am saying only five times better. I'm not going continue arguing because it would be like fighting over shades of white. - inigomntoya, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Don't say anything about co-worker 1 that you wouldn't say to their face.
Don't complain to yourself. Take your beef up with those you have beef with. Make your criticisms constructive. Don't mold the other person into what you want them to be, but offer advice on how they can become better members of the team. - stattek, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Scaryclouds, again, you missed the point. Whining, gloating, slacking off, acting depressed, and being dishonest are the exact attitudes I'm speaking against. But acting as a mindless drone devoid of personality is going to make your day drag on too. BE HAPPY, talk to your fellow workers both above and below your position about topics that interest them. You're not always right and you don't know everything. That goes for me too.
Also, putting in extra hours alone isn't going to get you ahead. If you take 12 hours to do what it takes some other guy 8, guess who will get the promotion. Work smart. I know its been said far too many times, but so many people just keep doing what they've always done because thats the way they've always done it. - mmrz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1So you've received "many" e-mails from your employees talking ***** about YOU? Hmm...
- modusoperandi, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1If your company has an exchange server and you sent it to someone within your organization you can retrieve it as long as they haven't opened it yet. Go into your sent items, open the message, then select recall this message from the tools menu...
- tdogg241, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Actually, the "recall" option is under the Actions menu when you open the message.
- thinkycap, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1(Forgot to add)
The number 1 rule for all the above is to NOT FORGET ANY OF THE ABOVE.
Complacency kills. As time goes along it's real easy to forget where you are, and let some things slip.
Make sure you stay on your game. - Scaryclouds, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@ spukeesan
Your right life isn't a job or a career. But who we are and how much we enjoy our life is greatly influenced by our job. You will probably enjoy life a lot more at a job you like, and in order to get the job you like you have to make some short term sacrifices, like not saying what you really think, not IMing while at work, and putting in those extra hours.
And pissing people off is not essential to me living a happy life and if it was than I would consider that personality trait a vice. And this list builds social instincts unless of course you believe; whining, gloating about how much you are paid, gossiping about others, slacking off, acting depressed, and being dishonest, are all positive social traits. - thinkycap, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@snooj
Very good list. Allow me to add my own. Off the top of my head, in no particular order:
-DO YOU JOB TO THE LETTER. Really simple. When review time comes around you don't want anything left up to chance, technicalities, "further reviews", or somebody else's good mood. Keep any and all positive correspondence conversed about you. This will help tremendously.
-NEVER ASSUME YOU ARE ABOVE THE RULES. This can't be stressed enough. Put simply, because Bob, Tom or Ted did it and got away with it, DOESN'T mean you will. And you likely wont. Even if you think you are and your boss is letting it slide, you can bet you'll hear all about it if/when you piss him/her off. It doesn't matter if you're "one of the guys" either. Don't give anyone any ammo.
-KEEP THE BUSINESS/PLEASURE MIX TO A MINIMUM. I say to a minimum because EVERYBODY on some level crosses those lines. It could be you having beers with your boss or co-workers periodically. It could be some chick running around that you've had your eye on. Proceed with caution tiger. Bear in mind that the more your peers come to know about you personally, the more likely that will result in something getting divulged that you didn't want to, and the more likely that will result in you being fired. In these situations you must weigh the risk against how much you value your job. If you find you're starting to care less and less....it's time for a new job :)
-LEARN TO SHUT UP. More like an addendum to the last one, but still very important. Trust me when I say you're not always funny, insightful, or whatever else you think you are. You just likely won't hear about it to your face until it's too late.
-(Taken from the '48 Laws of Power') NEVER OUTSHINE THE MASTER. So sad that I didn't read the book before taking one of my previous positions, as it would've saved me a lot of grief. Anyway, what happens here is you end up becoming destroyed by your own hard work. My previous supervisor praised me endlessly to my face, but tore me down behind my back, ESPECIALLY when it came for promotions. It took me months to understand why, but one day it finally made sense. Why allow me to be promoted to a position where I'd be his equal, when he could keep me where I was and continue to get the glory for everything I did?
-And...another stamp to snooj's "PERCEPTION IS REALITY." So true. You can work your ass off everyday and get caught slacking just one time. That will instantly kill everything you've accomplished. Even in slacking, you have to know how to keep appearances up.
That's all I have for now...not bad to be only 23 huh? - esquilax, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1#1 is *****. the whole idea that you shouldn't discuss your salary historically was invented by management in order to keep people from all wanting whatever the top salary for their position is.
- stattek, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@Scaryclouds
I apologize. I apparently took some of your comments out of context (especially those not even directed at me :P ). Also, I apparently gather a different tone from the article than you. I read it as more of an "avoid these ten things at all costs", than a "don't spend your working life focusing on these". That's fair. I can see it from the other perspective a little more now. Again, I apologize, I mixed things up.
Plus points all around.
Now, who says you can't have a civil (when people are on the same page) discourse on the internet? -
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