Make More of Your Job

Random Acts of Kindness

I am constantly amazed by how frequently life provides valuable lessons when we least expect them.  I’m currently traveling for work. After a particularly long day of flights and driving recently, I arrived at my destination, checked into the hotel, lugged my bag to the room, opened up the door and ran smack into a couple who had already checked into the very same room.

Needless to say, all three of us were startled, but they kindly offered me the use of their phone to avoid walking back to the front desk to sort out the issue.  The front desk clerk informed me that someone would meet me in the hall with a new set of keys and a new room.  I thanked the couple and retired to the hall to meet the bellman.

A few minutes later, I was still waiting. One member of the couple left the room in search of ice.  On his way back, he said “Are you still here? Don’t just stand here in the hall, come in while you wait.”

Assuming he was just going through the motions, I politely declined. He then said, “Don’t be silly! Come on in and let’s get you a cocktail.  There’s no point standing in the hall.”

At that moment, it occurred to me that such random acts of kindness (and generosity) are often lost in our modern world. It was a nice change of pace to have someone extend that kind of hospitality with no underlying motive.  I accepted his offer and entered the room for a drink.

Here’s where the point of the story comes in.  In just the few minutes that I spent waiting for the bellman, I learned that not only had the couple once lived in my hometown, but one of them had worked for a company literally blocks away from my front door.  How strange that such a chance encounter would introduce me to not one, but two interesting people who I had so many things in common with.  Though we didn’t speak for long, I left the room with 2 more connections than I had when I’d checked in.  That’s the point of here: performing random acts of kindness can provide you with amazing chances to network and build your professional and social circle.

So many of us are singularly focused on our jobs while at the office that we forget how many other interesting, creative and relatable people work alongside us everyday.  While you may not find yourself in the position of offering a stranger a cocktail in your hotel room, remembering to be kind and courteous to those around you will provide you with countless opportunities to meet and get to know people who you might otherwise have missed.

So the next time you’re in the office (or anywhere else) and you see someone who looks lost, confused or even overburdened, don’t ignore them.  Engage them, even ask if there’s any way you might be able to help.  If you make this a practice in life, you’ll be amazed how many people you meet and what you might have in common.  The more opportunities you give yourself to socialize, the more opportunities you’ll have to make the most of your career, and even your life.  By practicing random acts of kindness you’ll be keeping yourself engaged in the most important act of any successful career: networking.  Remember: it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.

Conflict With Your Peers? Get to Know Them

We spend a lot of time talking about finding a job that you can be passionate about on this blog.  What if you’ve got a job that you’re passionate about, at a company you love, but you can’t seem to get along with your peers? The best advice I’ve got for you may sound counterintuitive: start spending more time with them.

In business, many of us compartmentalize our emotions and dehumanize our actions by telling ourselves things like “it’s just business” or “it isn’t personal," but when conflict arises, it’s always an emotional process.  Passionate people believe strongly in their opinions and ideas, and when they run into people who don’t feel the same way, things can get a little bit messy.

I’ve been in plenty of meetings in my life where otherwise kind and courteous people treat each other like a pack of wild animals -- hollering, arguing and attacking one another in an effort to assert dominance or advance their agenda.  These same people would never treat someone in their personal lives in such a manner, but they’ve convinced themselves that “it’s just business” and “it isn’t personal."

If you work with someone who operates like this, or if you operate like this yourself, the best way to find common ground is to remember that we are all human, with feelings and emotions, passions and desires.  I've touched upon this briefly before, and it bears repeating. Once you realize the person across the bargaining table feels just as strongly about her opinion (and probably has a good reason to), it’s tougher to be aggressive and argumentative and easier to understand where she's coming from. Likewise, if your co-workers see you as a whole being rather than as a wall they need to break down, the process of debate will be much more civilized and productive.

The best way to “humanize” your workplace is to start getting to know the people you most commonly find yourself in conflict with.  If you always get into debates with the same peer, invite him out to lunch and find out a little bit about his life outside the office.  You’ll be amazed how much getting to know someone can impact the way you interact when back on the job.  You may find you still can’t agree at the office, but you’ll see that person as more than just her ideas or behaviors and the process of finding common ground will become much simpler.

Not sure how to start the process of getting to know your office foes?  Try honesty.  Chances are, if you just say “We seem to get our horns locked a lot around the office. I’d like to get to know you a little bit so things might be a little easier between us," it's very likely your invitation will be accepted.  It’s one small step on the way to creating the work environment you wish for, and it’s something you can do today.  So what are you waiting for?

Shortcut - Passion is Contagious

Q: Why are sporting events and concerts more exciting live than on television?

A:  Because energy and passion are contagious.  

When you are around of a stadium full of like-minded people, you can’t help but get caught up in the feeling. However, have you ever been in a long-winded meeting full of bored co-workers where you found yourself trying in vain to pay attention or stay awake? If you have then you’ve probably learned the hard way that the lack of passion and energy is also contagious. 

So what on earth does this have to do with making more of your job? It’s simple actually. For the past few posts, we’ve been discussing ways to find your passion at work. It is a task that is easier said than done. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could take a shortcut to finding that passion? Instead of building your passion from the ground up, why not just catch it? 

Take a look around you and identify the peers in your office that always seem excited and enthusiastic about their job. Once you’ve identified who’s passionate, simply invite them out to lunch! Talking to others about what gets them excited about your company will have an immediate effect on your attitude and will help you generate more passion than you could on your own. Additionally, you may end up creating a better network at your place of employment, which can only present you with additional opportunities over time. 

If you feel awkward about inviting a peer you don’t know well out to lunch, or you’re unsure of how to start the conversation here are a few pointers: 

• Let them know that the reason you’re inviting them. You’ve always been impressed by their attitude and want to hear more about their take on the company. It’s incredibly unusual that someone receiving that kind of compliment would decline your invitation or be unwilling to help.
• Make a mental note of questions that you’d like to have answered at the lunch. I don’t recommend bringing a list with you, as it might look odd and amateurish, but you should definitely have a set list of ideas before you go. Do your homework.
• When speaking with your peer, ask them who at the office inspires them and why. Not only will it help keep the conversation flowing about passion, but it may also widen your network or give you additional ideas.
• Make sure to write the person a thank you note for their time. It is the little things in life that get you noticed. Not only is this a nice gesture, but it will contribute to improving your reputation as an engaged and thoughtful employee.

Don’t stop at just one of these meetings. Once you’ve mastered them at work, expand your requests beyond the reach of your office. You’ll find that surrounding yourself in life with people who are excited and energized about what they do will go a long way. The more your network grows, the more energy and experience you will have to leverage. Being surrounded with and inspired by great people will be a huge advantage when it comes to accomplishing your goals!