My Crazy Office | K Squared Enterprises

My Crazy Office is a weekly workplace podcast dedicated to helping listeners navigate their careers. Executive coach Kathi Elster and career therapist Katherine Crowley combine their expertise to solve both serious and silly situations at work. Join Kathi and Katherine as they answer real workplace questions with solid advice and a side of humor. Do you have someone or something at work that’s driving your crazy? Send your questions to info@mycrazyoffice.co. (All submissions kept confidential.)

Milkgate

September 29, 2011

I love the story about Keith Zackheim, the head of a 60-person public relations firm, threatening to fire the next person who fails to replenish the office’s carton of milk.

His frustration at repeatedly finding empty milk cartons (with two drops of milk left in them) in the company fridge is something almost every one can relate to.

What is it about replacing shared supplies that is so difficult for so many of us? Why do we think it’s fine to leave crumbs in a former bag of cookies for the next person to find?

I honestly don’t know, but I like Keith’s fervor. Why not create a consequence for failing to replenish a supply that everyone relies on and you used up?

I doubt anyone will actually get fired at Zackheim’s firm for milk crimes, but I appreciate the zeal.

How to ride a bad mood

September 9, 2011

This week has been interesting because I can safely say I’ve been in a bad mood for much of it. Perhaps it’s because I don’t want summer to end. Maybe it’s connected to the approach of 9/11. Or Maybe it’s just ‘cuz. While it’s tempting to wonder why, the bigger issue is how to ride it out.

When I’m in a bad mood, external experiences tend to match. So this week, I lost my purse on my commuter bus (then had it returned), our phones went out for two days, the rain created two water leaks in my office, and I discovered that our basement was infested with mold (which I aggressively vacuumed away).

It’s kind of cute how the universe picked up on my bad mood and magnified it.

The good news is that I’m old enough to know that this too shall pass. I can see my mood and the irritating events of this week as tiny blips on life’s screen.

And I know that it would serve me to slow down, catch my breath, and do one of the many things we often suggest: restore my energy with exercise, yoga or rest; repair my emotional state by meditating, and spending time with people I love.

How do you ride out your bad mood(s)? Maybe we can help each other out.

I Hate Ebb and Flow

August 31, 2011

As the summer draws to a close, I have to admit that I really don’t like ebb and flow. I mean, flow I like. But ebb is much less appealing to me.

I liked it when the days got longer and the nights grew warmer. As the days grow shorter and the nights get cooler, I’m not so thrilled.

Nature is an important teacher. Clearly, the seasons don’t care what I think or how I feel about their ebb and flow. Their comings and goings illustrate the ebb and flow that is part of any cycle — including business.

I don’t like business ebb and flow either — but that, too, is a fact of life. So, I’m going to use this change of seasons to appreciate ebb (cooler nights, shorter days) for what it has to offer. Maybe shorter days provide more opportunities for indoor events and home dinners.

And maybe embracing this ebb can allow me to appreciate times of flow more fully.

8/26/11 is Women’s Equality Day

August 26, 2011

I guess this means that women have the ability to be equal to men in terms of pay and admittance. For the most part I think this is true and getting better everyday as more and more women are working.

But, do women believe they are equal to men? I am often surprised when I talk to other women and learn how they still see themselves as the weaker gender. I am even more surprised when they seem willing to take peanuts for a salary while their male counterparts are earning more. Although we have come a long way, there is still more internal work for us to do. So, take a few minutes and think about what Women’s Equality means for you.

The Business of Breathing

August 24, 2011

Have you ever just stopped during a work day and noticed your breathing? I have, and what I usually notice is how shallow it is when I’m feeling stressed out or fearful about something.

We always hear yoga instructors and meditation teachers telling us to breathe. But it’s more difficult to remember when you’re running to get to work or racing to make a deadline. Even scanning email or texting can lead to shallow, quick breathing which creates more tension, more headaches, more mental noise.

So here’s my challenge to you: As you read this, stop and notice your breathing. How is it? Fast? Slow? Deep? Shallow? Choppy? Smooth? Can you breathe down into your belly or does it stay in your upper chest? Can you breathe into your shoulders? Can you breathe down to your toes?

Just a few moments spent focused on your breath can open the door for less stress, less fear, and better concentration. And that lighter state will improve your productivity in ways that the shallow-breathing you can’t imagine.