4 ms·

My best life hack

16 points by groundCode 13y ago

ewoodrich 13y ago
I have a similar mindset, but I see it less at being an apparently benevolent manifestation of selfishness, and more as a recognition that minor positive social interactions have a positive, cascading effect. Discussion about "atmosphere" and "work environment" as contrast between employers is common, but the most effective way to transform the space is by acknowledging these basic human traits, and making an effort to promote a positive work (and social) environment. You may be surprised how this can have a multiplying effect, and increase the perceived work dynamic overall.
tachion 13y ago
Forgive me, but I am watching a lot of 'The Office' recently and I cant resist - this looks like Michael's Scott blog entry ;)
goyalpulkit 13y ago
An interesting experiment. I wonder if pointing out the weakness (constructive criticism) might be helpful as well.
jshakes 13y ago
It's sad that things like remembering birthdays is considered a 'life hack'
- basicallydan 13y ago
  That wasn't listed as a life hack. | here’s a list of strengths I’ve noticed in my team over the past few weeks (and how that strength helps our team do its best work): | ... | - Remembering to celebrate birthdays and other important life moments (makes our team feel connected) | ... His 'life hack' is to recognise and celebrate peoples' strengths in his community. One or more of those people, it seems, is great at remembering birthdays, and he recognised this. Also, you may want to say that what he's doing isn't a life hack either, but remember who his audience is ;)
  - dhimes 13y ago
    Not that it matters, but I got the impression it is a "she."
  - coldtea 13y ago
    >Remembering to celebrate birthdays and other important life moments (makes our team feel connected) If you don't do it genuinely, then how is it anything else than hypocrisy? I mean if you don't care enough for the guys at the team to remember their birthdays in the first place?
    - reeses 13y ago
      Hypocrisy is not inherently bad. Hypocrisy is the acknowledgement of the importance or relevance of a value without the discipline or will to act according to that value. That does not invalidate the value.
      - coldtea 13y ago
        Hypocrisy can be good if the result is a better world. I.e a hypocritical politician tells people to reduce their carbon footprint, while he wastes as much energy as one man can. If people follow him, then the net result of the hypocrisy is good. But this is not such a case IMHO. This is a case of using hypocrisy to achieve a personal goal. It might make the team feel better, but it's not because he/she genuinely likes the team, but because he merely wants the team to feel better for business purposes. That's a kind of "leaky hypocrisy" (akin to "leaky abstractions"). If he/she doesn't genuinely care for the team, it will show in any occasion it can, i.e when under stress, when firing people, at chances of promotion etc.
awesselius 13y ago
Then have a look at Sean Stephenson and his talk about power connecting. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gc0hoPfawuU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gc0hoPfawuU

16 points by groundCode 13y ago

I have a similar mindset, but I see it less at being an apparently benevolent manifestation of selfishness, and more as a recognition that minor positive social interactions have a positive, cascading effect. Discussion about "atmosphere" and "work environment" as contrast between employers is common, but the most effective way to transform the space is by acknowledging these basic human traits, and making an effort to promote a positive work (and social) environment. You may be surprised how this can have a multiplying effect, and increase the perceived work dynamic overall.

tachion 13y ago

Forgive me, but I am watching a lot of 'The Office' recently and I cant resist - this looks like Michael's Scott blog entry ;)

goyalpulkit 13y ago

An interesting experiment. I wonder if pointing out the weakness (constructive criticism) might be helpful as well.

jshakes 13y ago

It's sad that things like remembering birthdays is considered a 'life hack'

basicallydan 13y ago
That wasn't listed as a life hack. | here’s a list of strengths I’ve noticed in my team over the past few weeks (and how that strength helps our team do its best work): | ... | - Remembering to celebrate birthdays and other important life moments (makes our team feel connected) | ... His 'life hack' is to recognise and celebrate peoples' strengths in his community. One or more of those people, it seems, is great at remembering birthdays, and he recognised this. Also, you may want to say that what he's doing isn't a life hack either, but remember who his audience is ;)
- dhimes 13y ago
  Not that it matters, but I got the impression it is a "she."
- coldtea 13y ago
  >Remembering to celebrate birthdays and other important life moments (makes our team feel connected) If you don't do it genuinely, then how is it anything else than hypocrisy? I mean if you don't care enough for the guys at the team to remember their birthdays in the first place?
  - reeses 13y ago
    Hypocrisy is not inherently bad. Hypocrisy is the acknowledgement of the importance or relevance of a value without the discipline or will to act according to that value. That does not invalidate the value.
    - coldtea 13y ago
      Hypocrisy can be good if the result is a better world. I.e a hypocritical politician tells people to reduce their carbon footprint, while he wastes as much energy as one man can. If people follow him, then the net result of the hypocrisy is good. But this is not such a case IMHO. This is a case of using hypocrisy to achieve a personal goal. It might make the team feel better, but it's not because he/she genuinely likes the team, but because he merely wants the team to feel better for business purposes. That's a kind of "leaky hypocrisy" (akin to "leaky abstractions"). If he/she doesn't genuinely care for the team, it will show in any occasion it can, i.e when under stress, when firing people, at chances of promotion etc.

awesselius 13y ago

Then have a look at Sean Stephenson and his talk about power connecting. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gc0hoPfawuU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gc0hoPfawuU