Have you ever encountered a filthy microwave, dirty dishes in the sink, leftovers that have become science experiments, or an empty spot in the frig where your food used to be?    Break rooms are one of those common areas, along with bathrooms, cafeterias, and hallways, where we comingle with each other at work.  Here are some reminders that will help us all play nicely together. 

Just remember what your momma taught you:

Keep Your Hands to Yourself

There’s no excuse for helping yourself to other people’s food in the frig.  There’s a name for that – stealing!  Labeled food containers will help, but not solve, the problem of vanishing food.  Short of installing closed circuit cameras, you may never know who the food vultures are in your office.  But resist the temptation to help yourself to someone’s chocolate cake because your lasagna went AWOL. 

If You Dirty It, Clean It

Wash your own dishes as soon as you’re done with them.  Your department may have weekly clean-up crew assignments, but they wouldn’t be needed if you cleaned up after yourself!  Swipe the inside of the microwave while you’re at it and wipe off the counter, too. 

If You Don’t Want It, Toss It

Before you leave on Friday, glance inside the frig and throw out your uneaten leftovers.  ‘Nuff said.

We all dread meetings that are disorganized and accomplish nothing.  Here are 8 tips for attendees and 10 tips for those who organize them.  Let me know if you have one to add!

FOR THE PARTICIPANT:

1. Reply promptly when invited.
2. If you’re not able to attend, do your best to send a suitable and well-informed substitute.
3. Review beforehand any related materials that will be discussed.
4. Arrive on time and come prepared with pen, paper, appropriate materials, an open mind, a positive attitude, and a willingness to listen and participate.
5. Don’t plop down into any seat.  If you’re unsure where to sit, ask the organizer.
6. Refrain from side conversations, texting, and checking email.  Turn your cell phone off or to vibrate.
7. Watch your body language.  It tells others volumes about what you think of them and the issue being discussed.
8. Follow-through on your assignments and action items.

FOR THE MEETING ORGANIZER:

1. Send introductions and send them to the right people for this meeting.  Target the people best equipped to make the decisions and do the follow-through.  Encourage them to send a suitable and well-informed substitute if they’re not able to attend.  Include the start and end time for the meeting (with the promise to adhere to those times) and the location (with map and directions, if necessary).
2. Send the meeting agenda once they’ve replied along with all related documents.  Also share with each attendee what they will be expected to share or report on.
3. Send a reminder the day before.
4. Prep the room beforehand.  Is there a chair for each person, food/beverages, A/V that is powered up and working properly, extra copies of materials?  Name tents are appreciated when participants don’t know each other.
5. Setting ground rules at the start can help the meeting run smoothly.  Example: Only one person talking at a time, No side conversations, Confidential information should not be discussed outside, etc.
6. If necessary, ask attendees to introduce themselves at the start of the meeting.
7. Start and end the meeting on time (as promised).
8. Manage any tangential conversations.  Move them to a “parking lot” of items to be discussed at a later time.
9. Finish the meeting with a summary of all action items and parties responsible.
10. Follow up after the meeting with a reminder of action items, assignments and open items yet to be resolved.

The most awkward part of small talk can be the breakaway – and, for many, it’s the very reason they shy away from engaging others to begin with.  How can you gracefully disengage yourself from a casual interaction?  Make sure your final comments have a positive spin and incorporate any “next steps” that were discussed during your conversation.  Here are some ideas for exiting gracefully:

“I’ve really enjoyed talking with you, but I don’t want to monopolize you.  Can we talk next week by phone?”

“I’m sure there are others here you’d like to meet.  I hope you enjoy the party.”

“I’m going to circulate and say hello to some of the other people here tonight.  I loved hearing about your trip to Italy.  May I contact you next week to get the name of your travel agent?”

“I see someone I must speak with before I leave tonight. I hope you have a good time this evening.  When I see Mr. Blair, I’ll be sure to introduce you to him.”

I heard a great line at the beauty salon today – “You can teach skills.  You can’t teach attitude.”  How true.  My stylist, Tina, who is co-owner of both the salon as well as Paul Mitchell the School-Chicago, and I were discussing the challenge of finding the right people to hire.  Her business is really no different than any other and, as a small business owner and educator, she is constantly on the lookout for candidates who are a cut above the rest (no pun intended).  And talent isn’t always the first thing she considers.

She said that people can be taught how to do hair, but attitude and work ethic are things you’re born with.  You can’t teach them.  And those are the elements she looks for.  Are you going to show up on time?  Are you going to take initiative to help build the business?  Do you have some common sense?  Is my team going enjoy being around you – in close quarters – day after day? 

I think every person in a position to hire is looking for those same qualities.  Talent is great, experience is wonderful, networking is crucial, but, when push comes to shove, do you have the temperament and character they’re looking for?  Will you be an asset and a pleasure to be with, or do you look like trouble down the line?

How do you want to be perceived by others?  The impression you make happens even before you open your mouth.  What is your overall image – wardrobe, grooming, facial expression, posture – saying to the world?  Let that interviewer see your positive attitude BEFORE they see your resume.

DO research the job position and company via the internet and the relationships you’ve developed through networking.  Know the organization’s needs and how you can help.

DO check yourself in the bathroom after you arrive – hair in place, teeth free of spinach, clothing tucked in and straightened, shoes shiny and dirt free?

DO turn off your cell phone.  Turning it to vibrate is not good enough.  Your pocket or briefcase should not buzz or “ding” during an interview!

DO prepare for small talk.  Watch the news or scan the headlines before your meeting.  A minute or two of small talk is to be expected before getting down to business.

DO be prepared to speak in depth about everything you have on your resume.  If you can’t, interviewers may wonder if you even wrote it.

DO answer questions directly. When the interviewer asks a question, answer it directly and completely.  Avoid going off on tangents.  If they ask, “Tell me what you did on this project”, don’t tell them about the project, tell them what you did.  What was your role, what did you achieve?

DO mention co-workers.  If you always say “I” and never “we,” it can be indicative of someone who is not a team player.

DO ask insightful questions.  Don’t use this time to ask about benefits or when you can take your first vacation.  The questions you ask should show your interest in the position. 

• What are the long term plans for this organization?  For this position?
• What do you think are the most important skills for this job?
• How would my progress be evaluated?

DO send a thank-you letter.  Few individuals actually do this follow up and sending one will make you stand out.  A thank you letter can -

• remind the interviewer of you and your qualifications. 
• expand on answers you gave during the interview.
• beef up areas where you felt you didn’t do well.
• add additional information, the things you wish you would have said during the interview.

This morning, I attended “Women of the World’s” panel discussion on Entrepreneurship, Technology & Social Media at the Mid-America Club.  The panelists included the founder/CEO of Groupon, Andrew Mason, and Brad Spirrison, Managing Editor of Appolicious (www.appolicious.com, “where consumers find mobile apps they’ll love”).  I went to see what new things I could learn about social media.  NOTE: If you haven’t connected to Groupon (www.groupon.com), do it.  It’s fun to receive in your inbox each morning a teaser about the red-hot Daily Deal.  I’ve dipped my toe in the water and hooked into a great deal for a new headshot with a fine photographer – a one-hour session for $80! 

I came away from the presentation a little wiser about social media technology.  Groupon and phone apps in general are both great platforms for reaching new audiences for your business’s products/services.  Spirrison made the point that, while Facebook, LinkedIn, etc. worked well in the 90’s and primarily to people sitting at computer screens, businesses have to be able to reach audiences wherever they are, hence the attraction of phone apps.  There are over 140,000 apps available now and the field is growing, especially with the intro of Google’s “Android Market”. I asked him how large an investment it would take to create an app, and his answer was mid-four figures for one that had some interesting functionality to it.  Is app development in YOUR future – or have you already created one?  I’d love to hear from you!

Offering something on Groupon might be a better fit for Jill Bremer Communications – perhaps offering discounted speaker coaching sessions.  What do you think?  Groupon has had incredible success bringing new customers into small to mid-sized companies.  When Chicago’s Art Institute offered discounted memberships, 5,000 people joined – in a single day!  One audience member shared that her language school started with 15 students, and post-Groupon, now boasts 125 students. 

Appolicious provides recommendations based on particular interests, as well as from professional reviewers.  Curated lists are where experts and enthusiasts from all walks of life compile deeply informed app suggestions.  Here are the 5 Essential Small Business Productivity Apps, as compiled by Anita Campbell of SmallBizTrends.com: Evernote, Minibooks for FreshBooks, Intuit Go Payment, Shoeboxed, and Dragon Dictation.

DON’T be late for interviews. Confirm the time, address, building number, parking.  Remember that security check-ins may take time.  Also – be no more than 5 minutes early.  Too early and you advertise you have nothing else to do.

 DON’T supply personal website addresses if they contain inappropriate information.  Keep in mind they may be found anyway.  You WILL be searched on google, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc. 

 DON’T have unprofessional-sounding email addresses (no sexyvixen@…)

 DON’T use too much jargon.  This can be a red flag that you could be hiding lack of real experience behind a smokescreen of technical terms.

 DON’T give rambling responses or attempt to fill in all “dead air” with talking.  If you’re unsure as to whether the interviewer got enough information from your response, ask him/her if your answer was satisfactory.

 DON’T be negative about past employers.  Bad experiences can always be explained without rancor or extreme negativism.  Employers are wary of an applicant who always blames others for problems. 

DON’T answer online job boards with negative answers.  Your answers to questions such as “What is your ideal job” and “What is your ideal location” gives them recruiters a snapshot of what you’re looking for.  Don’t answer with “Whatever will pay me a lot of money” or “Anywhere but here.”  This is not a place to be sarcastic.  Show you have the skill set PLUS social skills. 

NEXT POST WILL COVER  ”INTERVIEW DO’S”

Today, January 24, is National Compliment Day.  Say something nice – and heart-felt – to someone today!

Have iPods become part of your workplace?  The popularity of iPods and other MP3 players have brought with them an easy, unobtrusive way to listen to music at work.  No more awkward CD players, thank you.  But are you sending a negative message to those around you?  If you choose to plug in to your tunes at work:

Keep volume low so you can hear people approach.

Remove BOTH buds when you start a conversation.

Let those around you know you’re listening to music because it helps you be productive.  You’re not trying to be unapproachable, so go ahead and ask that question.

Never, NEVER sing along to the music, tap feet, drum fingers or whistle!

In general, professionals should avoid giving gifts that are too personal.  Consider anything that touches skin as inappropriate (scents, bath products, clothing, lingerie).  Also be careful giving gifts of alcohol or food – research the recipient’s tastes as well as possible challenges/allergies with either category.

Gifts to co-workers – Keep “Secret Santa’ gifts simple and inexpensive.  Gift cards can be a great solution.  Gifts given to individuals should be done privately away from the office, perhaps over lunch.

Gifts to boss – are not necessary. Do so only as a group, not individually which can look like apple-polishing.  If the team or department wants to give one, consider the boss’s hobbies or outside interests.  A work-related gift is always good – book, picture frame, desk accessory.

Gifts to clients/vendors – First, check both your company’s gift-giving policy/traditions and theirs.  Keep the gift professional and not overly expensive – see boss gift ideas above. 

Make the presentation beautiful – pay a pro to wrap it, present it personally, and attach a handwritten note.

Happy Holidays!