BYOL (Bring Your Own Lunch)

Last fall, I took on a challenge, tracked on The Daily Muse. I brought my lunch for the entire month of October. Along the way, I learned a few things.

1. My brought-from-home lunches averaged approximately $4.00 per meal. This gives me a good baseline when I go out to dinner, too: if I stick to an $8-10 dinner and save half for lunch, it's almost the same price as a homemade lunch.
2. Large dinners (more than 4 servings) had the lowest per-serving cost. Making a box of pasta with meat and veggies was still around $4 a serving, but a large home-made lasagna (some passed out to friends and eaten over a few days) was closer to $2.50.
3. Having the right equipment made planning – and packing – lunch a breeze.

The equipment in this case falls into three categories:

Storage: Glass containers are great for food that needs to be reheated in the microwave – it doesn't stain or warp as easily as plastic. If you don't need to heat things up, any ol' container will do.

Transport: Depending on the length of your commute, an insulated lunchbag can make sure your food doesn't get into the "danger zone." If your work doesn't have a communal refrigerator, this is even more imperative. Since my work fridge fills up fast, I usually transport my lunch in a small cooler with one ice pack, and then take the container out and put just that in the fridge.

Liquids: Make sure you don't confuse thirst for hunger by staying hydrated during the day. I like a screw-top water bottle for water, but if you prefer ice tea or sugary drinks, try a double-walled travel cup with straw (much easier to clean).

Clockwise from top left: Pyrex 18-piece storage set, snack sacks, Klip-it sandwich box, Built NY BYO Rambler lunch bag, Nalgene Tritan wide-mouth water bottle, double-wall water bottle, Packit personal cooler lunch bag


Are you a lunch toter or do you prefer to eat out? What do you use to bring your lunch?

Denim, art and other questions about starting a new job

A new job is a welcome escape from the uncertainties of the job market, but securing a job opens up another realm of uncertainties, big and small. A sampling from my mind this past week:

• Which piece of art do you bring to decorate your space? 

• Are jeans allowed on Casual Friday? Is there Casual Friday?

• How long do you wait to update your LinkedIn and Facebook profiles?

• Bring lunch or buy lunch? What's the overarching office culture?

• Where is the closest Starbucks?

• Will folks enjoy or bemoan my sense of humor?  

• Headphones or ambient music? Earbuds or over-ear?

And most importantly...

• When is it safe to bring out the brass knuckle mug?

[photo credit: former coworker B]

What questions burn when you start a new job? And really...what about the mug?

Choosing your communication method

Call, email, text, Skype? Far too often I look down at my phone to contact someone, only to get stuck with the question, "Should I call? Text? Email?" With so many options right at our fingertips, what format of communication is best used when? Your distinctions may differ slightly with industry norms, but here is a general overview of when to use which communication method and what kind of urgency is most appropriate.

Phone
When to use it: When you need something immediately (a task or an answer) or need to schedule something for the future. Also good for meetings or discussions when getting together in person is not feasible. I've noticed the phone has fallen by the wayside for many people who don't have assistants, but if the person you're trying to reach has an assistant you can call, that's often the most direct route to reaching a real person.

Urgency: Medium to high.

Email
When to use it: When sending attachments, longer explanations, requests for information or to follow-up on a previous conversation or phone call. Email is also a nice format for long form personal communication, like keeping in touch with old friends. Check out additional email tips in this post (one of my first on the blog).

Urgency: Any, but make it clear in the message if you have a deadline or timeline to meet. If you need it within the hour, a phone call would be better—there are no guarantees that emails will be read right away.

Instant Message
When to use it: Some good uses for IMs include asking a clarifying question, prepping for a meeting or making plans (for a meeting, lunch, etc.). If you're asking a question that requires a lot of explanation, just walk over—IMs are best for one or two sentence answers.

Urgency: Low to medium. Since people may not be at their desk or available to chat at all times, you should expect that they'll answer on their own timetable.

Text Message
When to use it: To find someone in a crowd or at an event, or when meeting up outside of the office. Best used sparingly and when you only have mobile access.

Urgency: Medium (though it varies). In my head, I often think of text as the most immediate, second only to phone. Because of this, I have my phone set to vibrate on text, but never for email.

Social Media (Facebook or Twitter)
When to use it: Facebook and Twitter are most useful in a business setting to build personal rapport or to make new connections. When making new connections, use social media to bring the conversation off-line or to more traditional business communication by getting email or phone info.

Urgency: Low.

What is the communications urgency hierarchy in your industry? How do you decide what format to use?

Humble pie doesn't taste as good as it looks

 [flickr: enggul]

If you're doing your job well, chances are someone is seeing it. They may have even commended you on it, or called you out for recognition.

Think about the last time this happened: how did you react?

Did you look down bashfully and mutter a quick thanks? Or did you try to push the attention over to a coworker ("But did you see Sally's presentation? Now THAT is awesome")? I've done both.

A lot of people downplay their accomplishments at work because they are afraid of looking prideful or arrogant, but that humble bashfulness could come back to bite you later on. You've deflected the momentary attention, yes, along with the credit and recognition.

Consider this: You turn in an awesome project that showcases your creativity, innovative thinking, and problem-solving skills. Folks rave because it's unlike anything they've seen before. You demur, downplaying your role and your work. If that's what you keep telling them, eventually they're going to believe you. And all of a sudden, your work isn't as impressive as it seemed a moment ago.

Next time a compliment is tossed your way and you're tempted to say "It's no biggie," try one of these non-braggy and not-too-humble responses:

• "Aw, shucks."
•  "It was my pleasure." (I like this one because it not only acknowledges your role but shows that you're up for more challenges)
• "[Coworker who did as much work as you did] and I are really happy about how this turned out, too."
• And my favorite: "Thank you."

Do you tend to downplay your own work or are you happy to take credit when it's due? What tips do you have for accepting a compliment graciously?

How to say no at happy hour

 [Flickr: The Vault DFW]

The office environment can be a lot like high school, except everyone's old enough to drink and vote. There are cliques, just like high school. There are popular people and the not so popular, like high school. There is gossip and drama and hurt and friendship.

And, just like high school, there is peer pressure. Sometimes it's good, like when you spur each other on to reach your highest potential. Sometimes it's bad, like when you're sexually harassed. Sometimes, it's just there, like at happy hour. It's those gray areas that aren't right or wrong that can often cause the most headache.

How can happy hour be at all stressful? It has been for me, since I don't drink alcohol. I have nothing against it, but alcohol and Angeline just don't mix. If I'm not breaking out in itchy red hives all over, I'm having hot flashes and chills, and that's only half a drink in. I've heard of some people conditioning themselves to handle it, but I've tried and it's just not worth it anymore. Plus, I've never been cool, so I have no real rep to keep up. Your reasons may be different from mine, but we don't have to let our teetotaling get in the way of networking.

Participate
Happy hour can be an extremely valuable part of the professional experience, whether you're at a networking event or celebrating Friday with your coworkers. You don't have to go to every one, but make sure to participate somewhat regularly to stay in the loop.

Don't make it a big deal 
Just don't order an alcoholic drink. If someone asks you why, you can tell them the reason or make an excuse. Say it once—you don't need a long explanation. (My go-to: "Oh, I don't drink." ::smile::)

Indulge a little
My happy hour drink of choice is Coke or Diet Coke, and because I don't drink soda often, I'm still sharing in the slightly indulgent feel. Or I'll dig into the cheap happy hour eats (truffle fries, anyone?).

Don't be empty handed
Whether it's a sparkling water, a soda, or a virgin cocktail, if you have something in your hand, people will soon forget it's not alcohol. Ask for a garnish on your drink if you want it to feel extra special.

Laugh it off
If your coworkers are the teasing type, this may just be the thing they need to poke fun at you every once in a while. Play along, in moderation. If they bring the teasing into the workplace, you can throw it right back with a positive spin. I may not participate in the Friday drinking games, but I can rock a last-minute deadline or all-nighter as good as (OK, better than) the rest of them, so if they call me a goody-two-shoes, I'll correct them: I'm a goody-two-shoes-who-is-awesome-at-my-job.

What kind of peer pressure do you get in your office or at work events? How do you address it?

How to talk about politics (or not) at the office

 [William & Mary Law Library]

Growing up, I had it drilled into my head that there are two things you don't talk about at work: religion and politics. Personally, I'd add sex as a third topic to avoid, but still agree on the first two.

Politics is a hugely sensitive topic for some, though not all. People tend to take their politics personally, and issues and candidates can create an almost religious fervor, with folks evangelizing for the left or the right. Especially during campaign years, it may not be possible to completely avoid the topic, so here are some tips on how to avoid a potential sticky situation.

Be neutral. This is as much about the unspoken as it is the verbal. It's tempting to nod along with a speaker when they're talking in a group, but try to keep your body language as neutral as possible. You could also take the opposite tact and play devil's advocate to everybody and regularly contradict yourself, leaving others guessing about where you actually stand (which I personally think is sort of fun if you keep it light and low key).

Be a social butterfly. Even when you don't say anything, associating too closely with a group that is vocal about their politics may lead others (like your superiors) to indirectly associate you with that group's views as well. That doesn't mean you have to jump ship from a group completely, but it might be time to expand your circle to include others with differing opinions.

Be direct. We all have that one coworker who will ask the awkward question and put you on the spot. If you don't want to talk about politics in the workplace, then just say so. By making it about your own personal policies, it is less likely that people will take your choice as a slight on them. Just make sure to be consistent...word gets around.

Be funny. This is harder said than done (humor, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder), but if you can pull it off, try a joke. Perhaps you could start a mock campaign for your boss as a write-in candidate to lighten the mood—just make sure they know it's a joke and that you're not just trying to get rid of them.

Take it off site. If you have friends at work that share your political interests, or if you're campaigning for office yourself, save it for your own time and another place. Work should be a neutral zone, politically, but it is a valuable network, so if you do find others who share your interests, don't be afraid to strike up a friendship outside of work, too. Do not—really, please don't— display campaign materials (for candidates or issues) in your workspace.

If you work in a political office or for a politician, this is pretty moot, but for the rest of us, these tips can help avoid landmines. While most people can separate a others' political leanings from their professional work, keeping your politics to yourself can still save you from unnecessary disagreements or tension (you never know who's keeping score against you). And who doesn't want their workday to go a little smoother?

Do you mix political opinions into your professional dealings? What tips do you have for addressing (or not addressing) sensitive political topics at work?

Playing the office hostess

[source]

In my current stage of life, there is rarely a time where a friend isn't planning a wedding or having a baby.  Same goes for my workplace, where there are a slew of women aged early-20s to mid-30s.  In the past two years, there have been five babies and one wedding; there are currently three pregnant women and one who is engaged.  Every workplace addresses these types of life changes differently, and ours is actually in transition from exclusive, invitation-only events to more inclusive office-wide events.  So last month I got the special privilege of planning the first office-wide shower in about three years.  Now that I've survived the experience, I've got some tips.

Planning

• It is usually incumbent upon the individual's closest work friends to plan something. Often someone from their department is also involved.
• Not every office is into office-wide showers.  And that's okay.  Let the expectant mother (or father) decide their own guest list, and invite their partner if it's co-ed.  If there is an office policy (formal or informal), try to respect it.  Our office prefers office-wide showers.
• If you are having an office-wide shower, try a conference room. If it isn't open to all, go off site.  No need to let them see you all having fun if they weren't invited.
• Timing can be tricky.  From my experience, office-wide showers work best mid-day (since people might have engagements before and after work, while more selective off-site events should be held after work (or on a weekend if you so desire).

Invitations

• If you're inviting everyone, try an all-staff email.  Just one.  Don't club people over the head with this kind of stuff. 
• If you want a clear RSVP count, feel free to use Evite or other online invitation system. 
• Include all the basic information: date, time, location.
• While I typically adhere to the whole no-registries-on-invitation thing, I'm a bit more lax when it comes to email.  I include the information in small text at the very end.  That way it's not staring them in the face but if they really want the info, they can find it.
• If you are doing a group gift, tell folks who to contact and a deadline for opting in.

Gifts

• If you're having an office-wide shower, this can be tricky.  You don't want to make people feel obliged to buy a gift for someone they hardly know.  I recommend indicating on the email invitation that gifts are not required.  
• A group gift is a great way to a) get a larger gift, b) allow folks to contribute less, for example if they're not close with the honoree, and c) avoid any awkward gift-giving situations (for example, plastic toys for a very environmentally conscious couple).  This can be a difficult undertaking...some ways to make it go more smoothly.
• Select a gift beforehand.  Guesstimate the number of people that may be interested and multiply by about $10 for quick reference.  I go with $10 because there are some people who will give $5, and some who will give $15 or $20.  Go with a number that you feel appropriate for your coworkers.  
• Let people know what the group gift will be.  Include the caveat that if funds are shy, you will choose an alternate, and if funds go beyond, you will either purchase additional registry gifts or a gift card (so nothing goes to waste).
• Give folks an approximate amount to contribute, but let them be the final judge on how much they can afford.  When I did this, I usually said, "around $10 per person, or however much you're comfortable with."  Knowing that $10 is about average, noone gave less than $5, and several people gave more.
• Make sure everyone who contributed signs the card. If people are absent, put their name on it.  They helped give the gift, they should receive any thanks as well.
• Make sure to collect the money before you purchase the gift.  At least to the point where if no one else contributed afterward, you'd be comfortable footing the remainder of the bill.  
• Don't force the people of honor to open their gifts in public.  Check with the honorees beforehand to see if they have a preference and help guard it for them. 

Food & Decor

• A mid-day shower is the easiest for food, especially if people have already eaten lunch.  Try a veggie platter, crackers and cheese, and of course some dessert! If you're planning it with a few people, split up the responsibility.
• If you're in the conference room, keep the decor minimal.  A few balloons, maybe a streamer or two, and a cute banner will suffice.  Pool together with some of your other coworkers and see what you have at home that may work.
• If you're crafty, try making some finishing touches with whatever you may have at home.  For my boss's baby shower last month I used some cardstock leftover from my friend's bridal shower and brass chads leftover from my own wedding to make a "Congratulations" banner. 

Have you ever had to plan a shower at the office or been on the receiving end of one? What tips do you have?

Have job, will travel

I love to travel. I spent several years shuttling from coast to coast as a graduate student to visit family and my then-fiance across the country. The traveling continued up and down the state once I did come back to California. And since I've been married? We're in Southern California several times a year, me more than him, to visit family and friends. Add on top of that other random trips to different states and countries for family weddings, births, and funerals, and on average I probably take about 6-8 trips a year (most of those being quick one-hour jaunts up and down California).

And then there is work travel. My younger cousin asked me a few months back, how do you find a job that travels? My first answer...be a flight attendant. I'm pretty sure that will be my retirement career.  How awesome would that be?  My second answer, find travel opportunities.  My job description says "minimal overnight travel" and compared to some jobs it is indeed minimal, but that doesn't mean I can't plan for one or two trips a year.  But that wasn't always the case. I didn't leave my desk for the first year and a half of my job, until my first conference last year.  Since then I've been to three other conferences and a few other trips for work.

Some business travel pointers:

• Pack appropriately. "I didn't want to pack too much" isn't really a great excuse for not being dressed properly for a meeting or event. Make sure you have your business basics...a suit (if your job may require it), a modest dress for cocktail hour, and clothes appropriate for your trip.
• Beware the pool. What's more awkward than staying at a conference hotel and wanting to hit up the pool, only to find it crawling with other conference attendees? Not much. Go ahead and pack your swimsuit if you want, but just be aware you may not use it.
• Workout gear.  Sweating off the stress is a great way to deal with an impending important meeting or presentation, and your hotel probably has a gym.  If you're anything like me, "free gym" screams "use me," since I don't have the luxury at home.
• Small and snazzy. If you don't have space for lots of fun fashion pieces, pack along the accessories...jewelry, scarves, rings. It's an easy way to dress up basics without bulking up your baggave (and a scarf is a great to beat the cold on the plane or in the conference room).
• Be considerate to your coworkers. You're still coworkers.  Gauge your level of comfort if you're sharing a room with a coworker.  
• Be professional. Don't forget that you're still on the clock (during the day, at least).  Be punctual to meetings, conference sessions, and dinners.
• Have fun! If you're in a new town and have some free time, go exploring and get a taste of the local flavor. Don't forget to bring your boss back a souvenir.

So how can you find travel opportunities in a job that doesn't require travel? A few ways.

• Professional development.  Look for training opportunities with professional organizations. If the travel is extensive and fees are steep, narrow it down to just one ideal conference and be prepared for a "no" in this economy.  Even if your company doesn't commonly send folks to training conferences, it doesn't hurt to ask and make your case.
• Presentations and proposals.  If getting training isn't possible, or enough of a motivator, trying giving training.  Figure out what your team's expertise is in, and find a conference to submit a proposal presentation to.  Not only do you get to travel, but you're building professional cred.
• Combine projects to make one multipurpose trip.  My last trip, a three-day jaunt in LA, was quite the whirlwind that include seven appointments, including photoshoots, videoshoots, and interviews ranging from south Orange County to the San Fernando Valley.  It started with one project, then another program wanted in, and then another.  They split the trip costs, since we addressed three different program needs in one trip.

What are your favorite business trip tips? Have you created your own travel opportunities at work?
[photo credit: shyb]

OMG u r the best!!!!! :)

You know what I'm talking about. You've seen it. I've seen it. I've done it. You've done it ('fess up). It's the super-casual, abbreviation-laden, exclamation-heavy email, often punctuated with an emoticon of sorts sent to a colleague at work.

It's one thing to shoot a quick note to your bff or even to your best-work-friend about non-work-related subjects (lunch on Tuesday ok? :))*. But when you're dealing with work projects or issues, simple and professional is key. Email is a tricky medium to begin with--a single punctuation or word can change the tone of an entire correspondence--so here are a few tips:

• Word choice: Since this depends a lot on the subject of your email, it's hard to go into real specifics here. So we'll just stick with be clear and be careful. For example, if you have a qualm about the way a project is or will be handled, calling it an "issue" right off the bat will automatically position you against them--which might stand in the way of productive problem-solving.
• Punctuation: I'm a bit grammar-crazy (I wrote the style guide for the organization I work for and copyediting is part of my job), so I may be a bit biased. But a few general tips: you only need one sentence-closer, unlike the title of this post (unless you are using two dashes to form an em dash), watch your commas and semicolons, and exclamatory statements are best kept to a minimum.
• Capitalization: First letters in sentences. Names. Proper names. Magazine/book/show/movie titles. Not to capitalize: basically everything else. Refer to your company style guide if you have one (note: style guide is not capitalized because I'm talking about style guides in general). (Almost) nothing irks me more than misused capitalization.
• Tone: Professional doesn't necessarily mean uptight and rigid (enter silly ha-ha work-appropriate joke here), and if you know your recipient (or all of your recipients) have similar humor then go ahead a infuse slight sarcasm. The real stuff is best saved for in-person jokes, where they can hear your voice tone and see your expression. Email is not a good conduit for either of those.
• Structure: Organizing the contents of your email is the main key to getting your point across--a well-organized email goes a long way. Your email should start with a brief introduction to what you want to talk about and any pertinent background information, and end with a conclusion and next steps. For even a short email, split your topics into different paragraphs, with a topic sentence in each. Bullets are your friend.
• Closing: This is one I've struggled with often. I sign my personal emails to my best friends "xoxo," and most of my business emails with a variation of "Thanks." But what if that doesn't flow with the content? I often see and in the past have used "Best," but on second thought it felt awkward. Best what? I'm the best? You're the best? Turns out it is short for "Best regards," which I feel is preferable to best (better than best, if you'd like). If the context calls for it, a "See you soon" or "Hope you join us" could work as well. Some other options: "Warm regards," "Regards," "Cordially," "Take care," and the classic "Sincerely."

The New Professional may not know all the answers, but your email doesn't have to give you away.

What are your top email tips?  Share them in the comments!

Photo source: Flickr user esparta

*The emoticon - parenthesis presents an interesting conundrum in text-only emails that leave it sideways.   Do I close the parenthetical, making my happy face look like it has a double chin?  Or do I scoff in the face of grammar and let the smile act as a closer?  I don't have a good answer to that yet, but will let you know if I ever come up with one.

It's not you, it's me

Yesterday was not a stylish day--we worked an event in the morning that had us all in t-shirts, jeans, and sneaks and most of us didn't bother to change out of them for the short hours of work left afterward.  So today I'm going to touch on a more professional topic: dealing with those that have "wronged" you at work.

What do I mean by wronged?  Well, it could be lots of things.  The coworker that didn't give you credit when it was due, the supervisor from the other department that gave you an assignment and got mad when your supervisor pushed back (there's a reason each employee usually only has one supervisor; I'm lucky to have a really really good one).  However small or large the incident is, how do you deal with it afterward?  What happens when you see the person in another situation, say in line at the coffee shop downstairs or at an event you're both working?

Bottom line is: there is a big difference between most peoples' work personas and their actual personalities.  Imagine how you are at work...there are probably lots of things you do at work that you would not do in your home (in terms of organizing your schedule and managing your peers or employees).  At the same time, there are a lot of things that may be part of your day-to-day non-work life that just would not fly in the office.  The same goes for every single one of your coworkers.

While some people do just happen to have difficult personalities, those that may wrong you just once or twice, no matter how large, really may just not have a clue.  Many of them could be really nice people, people you may want to befriend.  Everyone is guilty of a social or professional faux pas every now and again.

Some tips for dealing with a some-time troublemaker:

• Take a deep breath and remind yourself--it was a single action, not a habitual offense.
• They don't know you well enough to have meant it as a personal attack.
• Think about the other parts of their personality that might be nicer and pull from those feelings to interact with the person.
• Do not, under any circumstances, bring up the incident in a non-work setting.  If you must confront, set some time with the person to discuss the incident specifically, and say so.  Do not ambush them.
• If you are one or more personnel removed from the other individual, keep communication clear and rational with the middle person.  They are your key to either advocating for you or telling you the truth about your actions.
• Keep your emotions in check.  Always.
• Don't let your feelings about a particular incident or project affect other unrelated projects you may be working on together.

Let's face it--it's hard to detach yourself from your own feelings.  But in the workplace, stress, ambition, and reputation drives many to take actions they wouldn't normally take.  Or maybe it's just that they forgot to be considerate.  Regardless, you can rise above the fray, and your impeccable handling of an awkward situation can reflect well on your professional acumen.


Photo:

e-magic / CC BY-ND 2.0