When it comes to improving your productivity at work, think about a first date. First dates are interesting in that the two parties talk a lot about what they like or don’t like. This exchange can give you a lot of insight into the other person, or what the other person wants you to think. Either way, people are putting forth very specific points of view.
Now, look around your office. Do you ever have the equivalent of first dates with your colleagues? Before your Human Resources Department gets too excited, please realize that I’m referring to the exchange of information, rather than any kind of romantic rendez nous.
It’s my guess that most people share more information about what they like or don’t like in a Starbucks, on a first date, than they do with the coworkers they see every day.
In this case, I’m not talking about sharing things like enjoying long walks on the beach but rather, your preferred working style. Simply put, how you are at your most productive?
This is a conversation that should not just be limited to the interview process. It should be an ongoing series of discussions as new duties in the workplace may change people’s preferences.
I’ve found this process can be very valuable for things like internal communication. Consider these points to start the conversation:
Do you like email, phone, or text messages as you preferred way to communicate? Are there times when you want one tool to be used over another?
Someone might say, “Send me a text if it’s last minute information, an email if there’s something I need to review, and call me if something is too complicated to put in an email.”
Part of this discussion might also involve frequency of communication. Some may want to hear from you as soon as you think of something, while others may want non-essential items to be delivered in twice daily, bundled messages.
Explaining these preferences can save a lot of time and ensure that both parties understand how to best approach them with information. Of course, there are exceptions and one person may need to accommodate the other’s needs more. But isn’t it best to know this stuff than to guess?
Other potential first date productivity discussions could cover expectations for email after hours, how to help the person avoid interruptions during busy times, and the way meetings are run.
Like a good first date, it’s probably good to keep these talks relatively short, like the duration of an enjoyed cup of coffee.
Even in situations where practices can’t change, simply discussing the matter can open the door to future productivity producing exchanges.
Maybe it’s time to bring Ken Okel to your next meeting…
Read any good books lately?
