Resolutions for the workplace
IT WAS a conscious decision to leave out the over-hyped, `New-Year' from the title, as we are honestly bored to tears, seeing it as it were, pencilled into every possible advertisement, hard-selling everything from holidays to hosiery.
One cannot help but wonder why all this tawdry and endless fuss over buying a new desktop calendar! Yet for some it is a time to blissfully wipe the slate clean and start afresh, while for others, it is that time of the year when the famous New-Year resolutions are virtuously scribbled down. And diligently followed for all of 3 days, 6 hours and 5 minutes. Only.
As far as new-year resolutions go, they are but a mandatory annual exercise to exorcise the guilt from the guilty soul (oh why didn't I? If only I had... ).
Sadly, the usual promises to diet, exercise or quit smoking do not really last beyond early January and anyway do not significantly contribute towards world peace.
But certain workplace-vows recommended by the management `Gurus' might just improve things a tad, assuming of course, that they last beyond early Jan.
Striking a good work-life-balance must typically top every list. Granted, nobody likes to be told they have got it all wrong, but skewed priorities usually takes away from domestic bliss, while contributing significantly towards professional stress. Hey, whoever can work when the wife is doing her best impression of a banshee, because one opted to slave over the power-point-presentation, forgoing the anniversary dinner?
Delegate right. Now `right' is the operative word here, for effective delegation (and a little breathing-down-the-neck) gets things done quickly. If you happen to be burdened with more tasks than you can hope to finish in a lifetime, go ahead and spread some misery around by delegating a large part of it. Of course, if the assignee is really incapable of the task assigned, then that's ineffective delegation. And it is not a very intelligent thing to do, not if you had your best interests in mind anyway...
Motivational books, speakers and websites stress the importance of `me-time', a.k.a `recharging-time'. One of them even advocated scheduling time `to meet with yourself'. While it might be a great way to discover yourself, count the number of moles, warts and white-hair, hide the book/file when you put it down. For you will probably never live it down if somebody discovers that you have actually been scheduling time to "meet with yourself"!
Clutter busting usually figures in everybody's top-ten - one look at the average desktop or inbox and it is easy to guess why. While you are at it, it is generally recommended that you clear your mind of all the unwanted junk too.
The resume is something everybody's keen to work on. A jump up the ladder no doubt sits very prettily on the resume. But unfortunately, unlike extra work, it does not always drop on your lap when you are not looking, and the only sure-fire way to otherwise beautify the CV is by revamping your skill-sets. This of course eats into `me-time' - unless you delegate some work, else it might upset the hard-found work-life balance... well, we are sure you get the drift...
And now for self-motivation, which is easier to lose than a needle in the proverbial haystack. If you are a sucker for self-help books, then indulge in some. The only trouble is, after a couple of weeks, there is only so much that one remembers, let alone follows. It will not be long before you are driven to the next `3 million copies sold worldwide' book! The trick, therefore, is to separate the wheat from the chaff and imbibe only what's pressingly relevant.
Finally, realism, be it in reel-life or real-life is highly valued and worth acquiring. It is plainly unwise to aim unreasonably high, and then get depressed when it does not work out. Choose your goals with thought and care, and give them your all. It is quite likely to work.
We agree - it is very easy to preach, easier still to ignore what is preached. Unless one puts one's heart and soul into it, it is very tough to put into practise, even the most solemn of promises. It is really in your hands, to pick up a pencil and paper, and make a winning list.
And while you are at it, pencil down `I'm not going to look like an advertisement for a radial-tyre anymore' in bold letters. Who knows, it might just promote world-peace!
APARNA KARTHIKERYAN
faqs@cnkonline.com
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