36 yourfamily.co.zaPAGE COMPILED BY JANINE COLLINS PHOTOS: ADOBE.STOCK.COMWORK WISE
The temptation to
quit will be greatest
justbefore you’re
about tosucceed.
—AnonymousWORK SMART
GET MORE OUT OF YOUR WORK DAY
TOXIC
THE OFFICE FLIRT COLLEAGUE THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOU
START YOUR WORK DAY
Before you start? It may sound like procrastination,
but getting into this habit will boost productivity
and help you whizz through your to-do list.
Strategy expert Dr Ron Friedman cautions that
checking your email first is a big no-no. You’ll be
working with a reactive mindset immediately,
responding to the most urgent items without taking
charge of the day. Instead, start with a planning
session, listing everything you need to do and
distinguishing between what’s urgent and what’s
important. Break down tasks into smaller,
sequential steps. Then turn to those tasks
that require the most willpower and
focus, and need a
fresh mind,
since these
functions
wear down
as the day
goes on.Want to work from home?
Don’t be fooled by scam ads...
It’s the dream, isn’t it? To work from home, set
your own hours and spend more time with your
kids. You’ve probably seen ads online for doing
just that, but many are scams looking to defraud
you and waste your time. Steer clear of...1
Any offer asking for an upfront fee for
applying or training. (This is actually illegal.)2
A prospective employer with a Gmail or
Hotmail email account.3
Outrageous salary offers for what seems
like menial work.Still unsure? Google the company. If it’s a scam,
you’ll find out within the first few search results.Nothing’s quite as awkward as an
‘office flirt’. While it’s generally a
bad idea to engage in an office
romance (if not outright outlawed
by your company policy), it’s only
natural that colleagues who spend so
much of their working lives together
occasionally fall for each other. These
romances can turn into long-term
relationships and marriages, but
what we’re dealing with here is the
serial flirter – the colleague who’s
always making flirty jibes, personal
comments and looking you up
and down. Although this can be
confused with being charming or
sociable, it’s not always innocent, but
rather distracting, disrespectful and
unprofessional. It’s career-limitingbehaviour that can
see perpetrators
branded as letches
and bimbos. So when
does it cross the line?
Here are some red flags:
1 They always make up excuses
to talk to you and ask questions
about your personal life, or find
a way of turning work talk into
small talk.
2 They routinely sit next to you
in meetings.
3 They avoid talking about
their partner.
4 They tease you or call you
pet names.
5 They always choose you or favour
you over other colleagues.Unwanted attention can be tricky to deal with, but inaction can make it
worse, or even be seen as a sign of tacit approval. Here’s how to put a
stop to it:
1 Make it clear to them that their behaviour makes you feel uncomfortable
and that you’re not interested in a workplace relationship.
2 Let them know that you’ll report their behaviour if it persists.
3 If you’re enabling their actions, stop. Although it’s natural to want to
keep the peace and not have an awkward confrontation, allowing
inappropriate comments, accepting lunch invitations or going for after-
work drinks may just exacerbate the problem.
4 Keep a photo of your partner on your desk and mention them in
conversation. Once the flirt knows you’re spoken for, they’ll turn their
attention elsewhere.
5 If all these measures fail, report them to HR or to your direct superior.