dealing with younger boss
Be warm, not aloof. Your boss may actually be apprehensive about being superior to someone much older.
Treat your boss with complete respect. He or she got the position because of the right skills. It is wise to respect the evident skills your boss brings to the job and to concentrate on the ways that you can genuinely help him or her. Be thankful for the opportunity to work with someone who is likely very talented.
Focus on the positives of having a young boss. Count the pluses of working with someone with energy, dynamism, fresh ideas and new perspective are all great assets to your working unit.
Acknowledge your strengths and possible contributions to the company. Although your boss is younger, you have so much more experience and are much more mature. It is also likely to have several personal and professional contacts from prior work. Focusing on your abilities may help ease any feelings of resentment towards your boss.
Brush up on new skills. Bring yourself up-to-date on important technology and technical terms required to cope with your job.
Never undersell yourself. Do not be shy to let the boss know what you have previously accomplished. Do this without bragging.
Dress appropriately. Don’t try to compete with your boss as far as attire is concerned but don’t look dowdy just because you are older.
Be a mentor. Your boss can learn much from your experience and wisdom. Find a proper way to sound off ideas or give advice without sounding pompous. Be tactful.
Avoid making comparisons or comments about what you could do when you were your boss’s age. Doing so will make you seem jealous or boastful or both.
things that must not be done in the office
Always gossiping and creating office politics – It may be fine to comment on office events, but it should be limited. Do not take active participation in gossiping. You may hurt the sentiments of someone who is working with you. Office gossip tends to spread rumors, which can spoil relations. Also, avoid being part of office politics. You have been appointed to do a specific job and you must give your best shot it.
Chatting during office hours - Constant chatting with co-workers without reason can disturb everyone. Keep your conversations short and crisp when you are working. You can indulge in small conversations, but do not disturb the work environment with constant babbling.
Inappropriately dress – Following office dress code is very important. Avoid wearing casual wear to office. Wearing T-shirt and a pair of jeans to office exhibits unprofessional attitude. Formal outfits such as suits, shirts, trousers, coats are advisable for men. Women can wear formals like trousers paired with shirts and semi-formals like jeans paired with kurtis.
Eating at desk – This may ruin important documents or your keyboard. If the company allows it, be responsible. Clean the clutter after eating. Take proper precaution not to mess up the place where you are going to eat. Make use of tissues and dustbins.
Irresponsible handling of office properties - Do not be harsh while using office property. Act responsible while handling important materials such as files, folders, documents and confidential data. Do not waste electricity by keeping the electronic gadgets switched on when not in use.
Bringing personal problems to office - It is always wise not to bring your work to home and avoid bringing your personal concerns at workplace. Discussing personal matter during office hours has a negative impact on work efficiency.
Disorganize time – Disorganize time give the employers the insinuation that you are being unprofessional that may affect promotion. So, follow your schedule strictly. Eat lunch at the time provided. If there is no fixed lunch time, do not stretch it long. Follow the office rules. Avoid leaving office before its official timing. Do not take longer breaks in between work and wasting time unnecessarily. Avoid procrastinating. Grab a cup of hot tea and finish your task completely.
Being late – Employers value you if you value office time. Do not arrive late at office. Always be on time. Record of coming late can lay a bad impression on your superiors and bosses. When you come late, you need more time to settle down and you end up wasting time which can be used to complete important tasks. If you have a genuine reason for coming late, inform the designated person stating the reason of delay. It shows that you are responsible.
Being absent without genuine reason – Taking an off from work and giving fake reasons about ill health is highly irresponsible behavior. As an employee you have official holidays and leaves. Do take advantage of these leaves. If you have genuine reasons for being absent from office inform your colleague or the Human Resource in charge. Provide all details of pending work and submissions. Make sure you are available on your mobile.
Correct way to make and take phone calls in the office
In any business, communication is the key to succeed that is why it is important to have the right telephone etiquette. Much of our business communications takes place on the phone: in the office, at home, in the car, virtually anywhere. Proper phone technique can make or break deals or relationships. Here are some guidelines that are very helpful when you use the phone as a power tool.
Greetings – Telephone conversation must start by identifying yourself (and your company). If answering someone else’s line, be sure to include their name in your greeting, so that the other party does not think they have reached a wrong number.
If you are the person making the call, be sure to use proper phone etiquette from the start. You want to be sure to be polite to the “gatekeepers” i.e. Secretaries, receptionists etc. that answer the phone for your business contact, as they are the ones who have the power put you through, (or not) at 4:55 pm on Friday, when their boss is getting ready to leave the office. They may sit outside of the office, but they too have influence and power so a greeting is a bit of etiquette well spent in the long run. Some business relationships, especially in fields like sales and marketing, start or stall right at the front desk.
When you have reached the party, if your call has been expected, remind them of the prior conversation and appointment. People get busy and can seem surprised until you remind them of where they should remember you from. If your call is not expected, unless it will be a short call, ask the party if they have the time for you. If the other person does not have time, briefly state the purpose of your call and ask for an appointment to follow up at a later time.
Keep a phone diary. Have a pencil and pad near the phone and jot notes during phone conversations. This will help you “actively listen” and have a reference for later. Employ active listening noises such as “yes” or “I see” or “great”. This lets the other person know that you care about what they have to say. Recap at the end of the call, using your notes and repeat any resolutions or commitments on either side to be sure you are both “on the same page”.
End the call on a positive note by thanking the other person for their time and express an interest in speaking with them again (if that is true). If not, just let them know you appreciated them speaking with you and end the call.
How to Handle Stress at Work
Stress has always been part of work. With all the workloads given, meeting the deadlines, quotas and so on, can add up to it. Unfortunately, work stress has significant health consequences that range from the relatively benign, more colds and flu, to the more serious, heart disease and metabolic syndrome. Shifting to a low-stress job may be difficult or impossible for many people. But, there is always a way to deal with stress.
Managing stress is all about taking charge of your thoughts, emotions, environment, and handling problems. The ultimate goal is to balance life, work, relaxation, fun and relationships.
One of the key to reduce stress is by nurturing yourself. If you regularly make time for fun and relaxation, you will be in a better place to handle life’s stressors when they inevitably come.
Here is a lists of ways you can relax without having to spend a lot. Read more
importance of being on time
When you don’t come to work on time, you’re sending a message to your boss. You are implying that your time is more important than their time. And, you have more important things to do than be on the office.
In addition to lack of respect tardiness shows to your boss, it rudely disrupts the work of your colleagues. Also, promptness is essential to the workplace. Being punctual doesn’t always mean being on time. You also have to pay attention to the corporate culture. Sometimes you have to come earlier than others and leave later to get the promotion you desire. To develop good work habits, it is important to be on time and not leave early.