: to make different in some particular : ALTER
: to make radically different : TRANSFORM
: to make a shift from one to another : SWITCH
: to become different
Ahh yes: “Alter, transform and switch, to become different’’.....these words resonate a lot in FIG’s evolution, we’re excited about a little bit of change (and a little apprehensive if we’re being honest!).
In her Wall Street Journal article: Digital Addictions Are Drowning Us in Dopamine, Dr, Lembke, a Stamford University professor and psychiatrist, talks about the scientific biological effects of addictions to our devices. It’s real folks. This is not FIG banging the drum of putting down our phones or any other technological apparatus and talking or connecting with our fellow human beings. No. This is concrete, physiological, measurable, science based fact that continuously interacting with our high-tech electronic leashes, gaming apparatuses and social media actually, physically, alters our brains to crave more of it, thereby de-incentivising us to engage with others on a human level.
Gasp, shock and awe!
Mistakes. We all make them, we’re human beings and by definition 99.9% imperfect (with apologies to those of you who think otherwise), which results in, guess what? Mistakes (we make them hourly at FIG)! That gaffes, miscalculations and oversights are a part of our collective experience on this earth. Why (on earth!) is it so hard to admit to making mistakes, take responsibility for these human aberrations and move on after making a miscalculation or error? Hmmmm?
We all have habits - some serve us well and some get in our way…...Google states: “A habit is a settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up.” Establishing a habit usually takes about two weeks to become routine and is subsequently supported and reinforced by practicing it daily.
Ever had a “Monday” on any day of the week? Ever had your day perfectly planned, scheduled and organized only to have all your intended “to-do’s”: meetings, calls, oh yeah, actual “work,” utterly blown up by an unexpected interruption, complication, interference? Ever had someone insert themselves into your day with their drama, troubles or lack of planning (real or self-inflicted), requiring you to shelve your carefully laid out day(s) and requiring you to stop whatever you’re doing for their fire drill?
Yeah, us too.
intergenerational communication
Mistakes. We all make them, we’re human beings and by definition 99.9% imperfect (with apologies to those of you who think otherwise), which results in, guess what? Mistakes (we make them hourly at FIG)! That gaffes, miscalculations and oversights are a part of our collective experience on this earth. Why (on earth!) is it so hard to admit to making mistakes, take responsibility for these human aberrations and move on after making a miscalculation or error? Hmmmm?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become and will continue to be increasingly prevalent and omnipresent in our worlds, and with new developments in AI technology, are likely to become so much more so going forward. Cars park themselves; HR can allow their employees to manage their own vacation time, 401k’s, and keep track of hours worked; (online) stores keep track of our recent purchases to make it easier to buy again by algorithm; our passwords are stored in some mystical cloud so when we log into our favorite websites, they automatically populate; Uber knows our home address magically... clearly we could go on (and on and on... Alexa and Siri have become close personal friends - kidding!). These are all phenomenal technological developments and we marvel at how simple and easy it makes our lives. But, as with just about everything in life, we need to find a counter balance to all these wonders of technology. We are humans and guess what? Humans conceive, create, develop and produce all this magic. And humans need other humans to survive, businesses don’t run by themselves, and employees need to work together to make a business successful. SO. How to find the balance?
Happy summer!
This week, we thought we’d mix it up a bit and give you a break from reading - and instead provide you with some interesting listening! We invite you to check out our most recent podcast, Siamo’s Uncover the Human: Connecting with Barbara Randell on Growing Your Human Relationships Currency. Randell was honored to be a part of this podcast with hosts Cristina Amigoni and Alex Cullimore. Here it is for your listing pleasure on your drive home - if you’re actually going into the office - on a lunch break, after work, or for some beach listening (lucky you!) if you’re interested in hearing a little bit about a FIG perspective.
Who pops to mind? We can all relate to this characterization of personalities at work otherwise the phrase wouldn’t be relatable. Right?
To begin with, please know we use this term with sincerest and genuine affection - to torture an oft-repeated theme in these offerings - there are reasons for everything: even problem children.
We ALL can be problem children - we all are in some circles.
What does it mean? Taking the time to understand each others’ sometimes differing beliefs, divergences in approaches, viewpoints, world views, intentional or unintentional biases, how we “do things,” and are we introverts or extroverts? We all bring preconceptions with us to work. But, what if our office neighbor doesn’t share them and has a completely different set of standards, work ethics and values? What if their method of communication is contrary to ours? What if their priorities contrast with ours and are peculiar to us? Do we simply label them as “problems” or do we seek to understand the nexus of the differing behavior and refocus on the task, project or directive at hand? Is it easier to put people with nutty, offbeat or painful standpoints (in our opinion!) in a simple box and label them as problem children? Easier, maybe - but does it accomplish the goals of a shared, mutually beneficial outcome (whatever that outcome may be)? Not to belabor the point: we’re human beings, folks! We don’t stop becoming humans when we become employees
At the risk of sounding bossy…..
We don’t get to complain about something we’re not willing to do something about.
Admittedly a bold call to action, but one we’d like to explore…..
Complaints are actually very useful tools in our daily lives. They can be valuable clues in identifying troublesome issues and they alert us to situations, interactions, circumstances and events that don’t sit well with us. They fall into two categories (I’m sure there are more but in the interest of brevity….): daily annoying irritations - like running out of milk for your coffee in the morning, traffic patterns and other drivers, daily interruptions in our otherwise well-scheduled days, social media interactions etc.. - and the larger, more existential varieties like “am I happy?” At work? With our professional or personal partners? Are we exploring our professional callings, enjoying the journeys and moving in a direction that will lead us to professional and personal self actualization? Big questions indeed…..Complaints are also useful in identifying patterns; if we’re repeating the same grievances ad nauseum, there’s probably an issue that ought to be addressed, which is hard; Things should go the way we want without any effort or thought - right?
There’s a Reason for Everything...
Bold statement but true - especially regarding human employee interactions at work. However, most issues, struggles, and conflicts in the workplace are human in nature. So where is the overlap between human beings and employees?
Professional protocol is a necessary component in any organization and needs to be universally adopted by employees in order to have a cohesive expectation of performance and business. Agreed-upon standards like work product, conduct, wardrobing (dress codes) and mission statements provide an overall unified expectation of “professionalism.”
However, having these protocols does not mean we stop being human beings when we become employees.
Welcome back to the Future Image Group’s exploratory series on understanding the five vastly different generations in the workplace. So far, we have delved into the cultures, customs, and expectations of Traditionalists, Baby Boomers, and Gen X , and how they affect each’s ability to build relationships professionally and personally. Next up, a hot topic - Millennials.
Ah yes, Millennials! The word alone sparks intense reactions both from within and without this particular generation, and I’ve heard most of them (going forward, I’ll refer to them as Gen Y, as the term “Millennial” has become so offensive and comes with so many connotations for this generation).
The cover of Time Magazine, summed up the general perceptions of Gen Y in 2013: “Millennials are Lazy Entitled Narcissists Who Still Live withTheir Parents”. Ouch.
The irony is clear: the most smartphone-dependent generations - Millennials and Gen Z - are also the least likely to pick up the phone instead of texting or emailing. It is generally recognized, with some exceptions, that young professionals have been conditioned to defer to non-verbal communication like text or email. These are the first generations never to have known life without them. Picking up the phone to have an actual conversation is anathema and counterintuitive to these 180 million young professionals; why talk when you can text or email?
When working in an office environment, it’s easy to take the passive approach, especially when it comes to building professional relationships. Technology has made it effortless to avoid any human interaction at all in the workplace - a fact that can be crippling for office workflow, happiness, and employee longevity. Here are 8 office faux-pas that can be fixed quickly to improve office communication and make a big difference in how employees construct and maintain both personal and professional relationships.
Appreciate the Communication Styles of Others
Everyone communicates differently, which can sometimes make it difficult to get your ideas across and avoid tension in the workplace. However, simply acknowledging that others have a different communication style can help you adapt your own to ease office communications.
Breathe and Create Boundaries
Feeling overwhelmed? Take a deep breath. No one is in control of you except you, and you can create boundaries that make you feel safe and sane.
