mike54martin

Gossiping is like kids playing with a sharp object. Sooner or late someone is going to get hurt. A lot of what passes for ‘harmless” gossip is enough to tear down someone’s reputation or destroy their self-confidence. It’s not all like that but when gossip turns malicious it has the capacity to hurt both individuals and the workplace.

Human nature suggests that an outright prohibition against gossip would be about as effective as making bingo illegal. It just won’t work, especially in these days of text messages and Facebook and e-mails. And some people just feel the need to fill in the blanks whenever they see that a piece of information is missing while others see it as their duty to keep the social interaction lubricated with juicy tidbits from time to time.

But that doesn’t mean that an employer or a group of employees acting together can’t agree to limit the extent of the gossip and the potential damage that it can cause. This damage is not only to the good name and ego of those gossiped about but it can also have a debilitating effect on the overall morale of the workplace itself. It does this by poisoning the water in the water cooler and creates an environment where only the gossipers feel safe. And not even for them all of the time.

There are things that both an employer and individual employees can do to reduce the level and impact of gossip. In a formal manner an employer or manager can create a policy that discourages gossiping with appropriate sanctions and by promoting a more positive and healthy workplace. But even more important than a paper document is setting a good example by not participating in the latest round of innuendo or rumour, especially for supervisors and managers. Individual employees can also do their part by telling the gossipers that they don’t want to hear their “news: and by correcting any misinformation which comes their way.

Individual and collective actions like these put gossip mongers on notice that this type of behaviour is not acceptable and many will take the hint and clam up, at least for a while. But just like any other form of malignancy, gossip will flare up again if it is not checked so vigilance is a key word when it comes to stopping the spread of gossip at work. If you think that gossip is okay and don’t see anything wrong with it then what about if the gossip was about you. How would you like it if you heard that people were telling lies about you behind your back? That’s probably the best reason of all to try and reduce gossip at the workplace.

And remember the old proverb: “He who gossips to you will gossip about you.”

This post originally appeared on my blog at www.jobs.ca

Mike Martin is a writer and the author of The Walker on the Cape, a mystery set in Grand Bank, NL. For more information please visit www.walkeronthecape.com

John Kenneth Galbraith, a very intelligent man once said that “meetings are indispensible when you don’t want to do anything.” We must have been to some of the same meetings. The fact is that meetings are the scourge of the modern manager or employee. They can be our worst nightmare, especially if they are disorganized, poorly planned or ineffectively chaired. Many meetings never accomplish anything other than to set the date for the next meeting. So how do you know if a meeting is really necessary?

Here’s a few questions that might help reduce the number of meetings you currently attend.

• Can you get input on a document or policy by e-mail rather than having a meeting?
• If you are part of a committee that has been meeting for a year and has still not prepared a report or recommendations then why are you still meeting?
• If you can’t make any suggestions or give input then why are there again? Can’t they just send you the minutes later?
• Why are there two or three representatives from your section at the same meeting?
• If you know in advance that a meeting is planned but no decision can be taken then can you postpone the meeting until a decision can be taken?

Some basic rules of meetings are that they should only be held when they are absolutely necessary, when the purpose of the meeting is known in advance, and should only have the people in attendance who have to be there by virtue of their knowledge or their position in the organization. All other meetings are a waste of your valuable time. And whenever there is a meeting it should be well planned and well chaired or facilitated.

Planning for any meeting should include defining the purpose and objectives of the meeting and what you want to accomplish. This means having an agenda for the meeting that helps provide a focus and allows the chair to provide direction to participants. The agenda items will also help determine who needs to attend the meeting and if it is distributed in advance it will allow people to come prepared for the discussions.

Good chairing can also make or break a meeting and the number rule for the chair is to start (and finish) the meeting on time. The chairperson is also responsible for ensuring that everyone understands the ground rules or guidelines and any decision making process that has been agreed to. In addition to keeping time the chair or facilitator must make sure the agenda flows and all essential items are dealt with. They should also ensure that key points or decisions are recorded and reflected in minutes or notes from the meeting.

The last thing a good chair should do is…… to set an agreeable date for the next meeting. Now when’s my next meeting?

This post first appeared on my blog at www.jobs.ca

Mike Martin is a writer and the author of The Walker on the Cape, a mystery novel set in Grand Bnak, NL. For more information please visit www.walkeronthecape.com

Canadians may not be the hardest working people in the world but we’re in the top ten of most lists when workers in developed countries are surveyed. This applies to number of hours worked per week and month, and in fewest vacation days given and taken. Some recent studies have suggested that about 25 percent of us don’t even take all the vacation we are entitled to.

That type of dedication is worthy of praise but given the fact that on average we only get 19 days per year of vacation it is both surprising and maybe a little disturbing. When asked why they didn’t take all their vacation owed to them most people said they were too busy to get away.  That’s a good excuse and their employer will be happy, at least in the short term. But in the longer term both the employer and their committed staff member may pay a big price for not taking a break.

That’s because there is demonstrated and scientific information that suggests that not taking a vacation can have dramatic effects on the build- up of extra stress and tension that leads to chronic diseases and illnesses as well as contributing to the declining mental wellness of Canadians. But instead of focusing on the negative why not have a look at some of the positives of taking a vacation.

Here are two recent studies that offer proof of these benefits. First, a study by Air New Zealand showed that people who take a vacation get three times more deep rejuvenating sleep after a vacation. In turn this allows the body to recover more quickly from any illness and helps to strengthen the body’s immune system.

In addition research by the State University of New York that surveyed 12,000 men between the ages of 35 and 57 found that men who took a vacation every year reduced their overall death risk by 20 percent and their risk of heart disease by 30 percent. Similar studies on women have shown even greater impact of vacations as women who took regular vacations had up to 50 percent less risk of developing serious heart problems.

But the best reason of all for taking a vacation is to just give your brain a break. The amount of information that we have been asked to input into our heads is becoming overwhelming. Think about the number of passwords you have to remember just to log in at work or get money out of the bank. It’s not just that many of us always seem stressed out and anxious. It’s more that we have little room left for new ideas to get in or space for our creativity to get out. And that’s a loss for everybody.

So this year instead of making all the usual noises about being too busy to get away, listen to the Nike ad and just do it!! You (your family) and your employer will all be happier and better off if you decide to give yourself a break.

This post first appeared on my blog @ http://www.jobs.ca

Mike Martin is a writer and the author of The Walker on the Cape, a mystery set in Grand Bank, NL. For more information please visit http://www.walkeronthecape.com

Every year millions of Canadians volunteer their time and energy to help support their communities. Almost 50 percent of all Canadians volunteer on a regular basis that adds up to over two billion volunteer hours. Volunteering is a good thing because it allows people to give something back to the community but volunteering can also be a great way to get ahead in your career.

There are a number of ways that volunteering is good for your career. The first is through networking and visibility because volunteering lets you build and expand your existing network and to increase your visibility in the community through organizations like the Rotary or Lions club. You can use your volunteer time to make connections with the leaders in these organizations who are also likely senior people in local companies and businesses. Through these people and others you will meet in your volunteer activities you can build and grow your contact list.

Volunteering can also help your skills and leadership development by giving you exposure to a range of activities that you would never ordinarily have in your day-to-day job. Things like fundraising for example. You get to practice these skills in a low stress, low risk environment and learn from others the best ways to carry out these activities. You can improve your leadership skills by volunteering to serve on a local organization’s board of directors or to chair one of the various committees of their board.

No one volunteers to specifically find a new job but you can learn a lot about other jobs and organizations and industries through your volunteer networking. You can also add your volunteer experience to your resume to assist when you do start looking for a new job or career. Volunteering can also help you become a more balanced individual and that can only assist you in performing at a higher level in your current job. There is a great personal satisfaction in volunteering your time and it will likely make you happier and give you more confidence.

And if you are happier you will likely live longer as well. One recent study showed that the combination of physical and cognitive work in volunteering is conducive to better health and a longer than expected life expectancy. If you haven’t already tried volunteering you are in for a real treat. It’s fun, it’s good for you and your community, and it just might help your career.

This post first appeared on my blog at http://www.jobs.ca

Mike Martin is a writer and the author of The Walker on the Cape, a mystery novel set in Grand Bank, NL. http://www.walkeronthecape.com