Having a terrible day?
It was a terrible day at the office today. Terrible clients, terrible workload, terrible stress.
In the middle of all the craziness, I sent a short email to Management - telling Management how happy I was with the work of a coworker. This coworker doesn't report to me, but we are working on a terrible client project together. She's simply awesome - and I want Management to know that.
I got a thank-you email back from this coworker right away, saying I made her day! Apparently my compliments gave her the support she needed just to make it through the day.
I am so happy to know that I have done a little something for a coworker who fully deserves every word of acknowledgement and appreciation. At the end of the day, it was really MY day that got made!
Labels: office politics
Don't you hate office b-day parties?
It's your b-day, and the office manager simply HAS to buy you a b-day cake, gather everyone in the department, sing the ridiculously boring happy b-day song, and have you cut the cheap b-day cake and have everyone eat the terrible-tasting cake. You have to smile and thank everyone, when you know people are hating you because you are taking up their time - they will probably have to stay 5 more minutes to finish up the work. And you have to make that dreaded speech... you have made the same speech for 30, 40, or 50 years already. And again this year!
It's even worse when you really don't have too many buddies at the office, or, like most people, you have none. People eating your b-day cake are either your enemies or they really couldn't care less about your b-day, your (or your wife's) "labor" day, or simply put - your day. It's embarrassing and borderline humiliating when nobody wants to talk to you while eating your b-day cake.
It gets worse when you are middle management - your staff doesn't want to be seen as kissing your ___, while your bosses have 5 other more important meetings to attend than your little b-day party. So you are standing there, all alone, eating your b-day cake.
My Office Buddies Day tip - bring in your own b-day cake! Pick the coolest, funniest, funkiest b-day cake ever! (Be creative and provocative!) Any decent person (even your enemy) eating your cake that you have bought with your own money would at least say "thank you" and "happy b-day" to you. Then you won't feel lonely - at least during the party.
And the best of all - you can bring in a yummy cake of the flavor of your choice.
Labels: office politics
