A lot of professionals label working in the Middle East as maneuvering in a Chaotically Organized environment.
I don't blame them with the types of unprofessional people working around here and what they got used to.
These types of people can also be found in other regions of the world, but they do have a higher density here.
Although we do have a percentage of the work force that knows what they are doing, and they actually do it with inspiring grace and efficiency, we still have people that like keeping monkeys around, till they become "Apes" themselves.
The Apes vary in form, color, size, and behavior.
They tend to be curious at times or want to have fun.
So they explore and interact with other beings.
And with their own welfare and pleasure as a top priority, they don't care if they pester others.
Once hungry, they fill their bellies with whatever satisfies that need. And when they lose interest, they become lazy, and start snoozing whenever and wherever they can.
I wish that the following quote by Jay Leno applies in most offices:
Researchers at Harvard say that taking a power nap for an hour in the afternoon can totally refresh you. They say that by the time you wake up you'll feel so good; you'll be able to start looking for a new job. ~Jay Leno
And I bet that you might have already worked or interacted with such "Apes" throughout your days.
If not, you will most probably cross paths with them.
So how should you deal with them?
Well, if you have a plate of Peanuts or Bananas out on your desk ( as in you keep welcoming whoever comes into your office or stops by your cubical to gossip and Jibba Jabba ) expect more monkeys to start hanging around, and sooner or later, you also become an "Ape" or will be labeled as one.
My solution is don't have the plate out in the open.
Here are some of the tricks I apply,
And they are effective most of the times:
· Take out the extra seats in your office or keep them far from your cubical (use the meeting room if you are having a business related or private meeting - that's what these rooms are there for)
· Allow who you wouldn't bug you to walk through your door, if you are busy, keep your door a bit shut or closed if needed...you choose who comes in and doesn't
· Always make work your priority, they don't pay your salary
· If they do pay your salary, they will appreciate it when you keep your job on top of the priority list
· Building Rapport is an important skill you have to master, and breaking Rapport is even more important (example: show that you are busy by taking away eye contact, or use your body language by moving from facing your visitor to having him to your side)
· If you are faced with a persistent Ape, a more direct approach would be effective (ask them kindly if you can talk later preferably after work)
· If that doesn't work, resort to drastic measures (no don't take out your Chainsaw, keep that for later); just tell them in a firm tonality that you have work to do and don't like distractions, so buzz off.
I'm not saying be an asshole! Although you might have to be when considering the ones that just can't get a hint.
The supreme accomplishment is to blur the line between work and play. ~Arnold Toynbee
I just love that quote...to me, it means you can be really good at something you enjoy doing.
Another meaning is that you can actually work and have fun at the same time.
Just manage the level between both of them by focusing on what you need to finish and have a dose of fun from time to time.
It's OK to "Monkey Around" for a bit, but don't make it as a habit.
It is just something you do so you won't have a nervous breakdown from focusing so much.
Go to an Ape and continue the chat you were having with him, or if you don't want to bother others, just get an "Internet Fix"; surf the net for some news, or maybe just a small dose of Facebook.
At the end, your plate of Peanuts is yours to enjoy and share if you want to or not, so hide it and only take it out when you feel like it.
I think that what you say is partially true but you forget that we are all monkeys of the circumstances.
ReplyDeleteThere are those kind of days when all you wanna to do is work, there are days that you might have so much to do that you don’t know where to start from or there are days u just don’t feel like working at all because of interior or exterior factors. Still u have to keep up with your life so first thing u do is go to work instead of closing the curtain and say fuck off to the world, on those days a smiley face and a warm conversation is all I wanna do. Don’t know you but I spend 9-10 hours working and those littele chats or jokes are like having chocolate when you r on diet.
Does it ever occurre to you the fact that this monkey might like or respect your opinion and that is why he wants to chat with you? I mean is it that hard if you could do this chat for say what 30 min and stay at work like half hour later. Its kind of offensive the way u treat this “Monkeys” I mean just “im buzzy” is enough they do speak your same language at the end.
What u do suggest is an unfriendly working environment and personally I wouldn’t work there even if my salary was in gold.
Let me tell u sth else I got my own office and my bosses rearly come I wish I had some one to chat with, couse from time to time feels like my office is gonna eat me :D :D :D, so why don’t you enjoy your monkeys.
I have never seen an Ape or I cannot recognize one but the way you descripe monkeys… im one of them :P :P. HIDE UR PEANUTS FROM ME!!! :D :D :D
Hi Viola,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the first ever comment on the new blog, i really appreciate the feedback and your point of view.
This helps in making better people out of us.
I agree that the people we interact with during our working hours are important to keep our sanity, plus they are mostly friends that we want to have around us.
Although, the blog is about making your life easier, more efficient and effective, developing your skills in facing problems, and managing your time.
We go to work each day because we need the salary of course, but at the same time, this is part of our self development.
Every day presents a chance for a learning experience, and we have to be able to notice it and learn from it.
There is nothing wrong with talking with people from time to time.
At the same time it would be considered as stealing from the working hours that you are being payed for.
so again, you just need to balance between both.
Make sure you finish your tasks in the time they are expected.
If you need to impress your Superiors, then finish it before time, and don't make that as a habit as well, it makes them give you more work if you don't want the extra load.
Oh, and in no way do i mean offense to specific people.
The concept is a generalization from my side, as to label the difficulties we face, people, tasks, etc...
This post mentioned that some people are like apes, it doesn't mean that everyone coming into my office is a monkey.
And by the way, my Chinese sign is a metal monkey, so ya i am one as well, but when i have a lot of work i leave the monkey back home.
And i love peanut butter and jam sandwiches...they are less messy, and faster in consumption, so i don't need to hide them ;)
Cheers