We read about rising stress in the workplace but do we realize that we play a role in it? There’s a very good chance that you do something that annoys your coworkers and you don’t even know it.
This isn’t about performance or being a taskmaster but rather bringing some personal traits from home that annoy the heck out of people.
Why should you worry? These are little fires that are ignited in the workplace. They grow larger and distract people, especially supervisors, from their most important tasks. These are the things that help companies grow and make more money.
Take for example the coffee pot in the employee kitchen. Someone on staff likes to take the last cup and never makes a new pot of coffee. The this person may argue that there were still a few drops inside, he was too busy to make more, or he doesn’t know how to make more.
Whatever the reason, someone reaches for a caffeine fix and discovers the pot running on empty. Her or she then wastes a bunch of time complaining about the problem and trying to teach the offender some manners. Perhaps a ripple effect is created where others stop being courteous in the kitchen and elsewhere.
Can you afford to pay people to carry on like this? Should you instead wear a referee uniform if you’re spending a lot of time on these issues.
In a complex, every changing work environment, you have to Clear the Path of these distractions. Here are some common solutions:
- You could threaten to remove the coffeemaker if the problem continues but unfortunately that keeps you in the role of referee.
- Rotate the coffee responsibility to a different department every month. But this may burden those who have never been part of the problem.
- Train all staff in the making of coffee. Of course, if you need a staff of baristas, you should just hire a bunch of Starbucks employees.
I think you have to change the game by removing the distraction:
Throw out the coffeemaker and replace it with a single cup brew system. Yes, this does cost more but does it really if it increases your productivity?
There’s also an element of personal responsibility in all of this. I have to admit that I’m not immune when it comes to inflicting people with my quirks. I have a bad habit when it comes to a box of crackers. If there are ten crackers left inside and I eat eight, then I’m fine with leaving two in the box. The way I see it, those remaining crackers will make a nice snack at a later time.
The rest of the world does not see it that way. Their perception of the box on the shelf is that it has a significant amount of crackers inside. Seeing only two can make people feel like they’ve been the victim of a whole wheat bait and switch.
I’ve learned that this behavior bothers people. So when I’m at home by myself, I do whatever I want with my box of crackers.
With others, I extend them the courtesy of acting in a more “normal” fashion. I don’t put a nearly empty box back on the shelf.
It can take a little while to develop an “other people” habit. But I don’t end up wasting a lot of time explaining my cracker philosophy.
Bottom Line: By removing distractions and stressing personal responsibility, you can reduce workplace stress and boost productivity.
What to hear more about fires in the workplace? Watch this clip:
