A Twitter Chat Review
Last month I was lucky enough to be asked to be a guest in the She Knows Twitter Chat, How to Deal with a Workplace Bully (And other job culture secrets).
It was actually the first twitter chat I participated in so it was such an honor to not only participate but to be one of the three panelist chosen.
This chat was so much fun and earlier this week I had one of those “Should have had a V8 moments” and realized that since the chat was in the middle of a work day a lot of my readers probably missed it. So I wanted to share the questions I was asked, my answers and go a little more into detail about what I meant by them, because, let’s be honest Twitter’s 140 character limit isn’t exactly ideal when trying to get a point across on a topic you’re passionate about.
What are some key mistakes you’ve seen leadership make when creating a work culture?
Being too hands on. You don’t get real input if your employees are worried about being different from the boss. I think having an environment where employees can kind of self-motivate and be themselves is what eventually highlights the company’s future leaders, generates new ideas and moves the company forward.
Also leaders having favorites doesn’t encourage originality either. The other workers either resent them or copy them, so no new ideas get put in the mix.
We hear a lot about cool break rooms, but what do you think is most important for good office environment?
A real safe place. I stopped taking my lunch break at the office because I’d get approached with work during my recharge time and it was so frustrating. We don’t have a traditional break room with a table so the conference room is normally where people eat their lunch, if they want to get away from their desks but it’s still not taking a mental break. Breaks are important, especially in an office setting or creative job because you really can over work your brain.
I also think a T.V. in the break room is nice, it gives it a more relaxed vibe…until people start fighting over the remote. J
What’s the biggest workplace challenge you’ve had to overcome? How did you do it?
I’m 1 of 3 twenty-somethings at my office so I have experienced some age bullying. I just have to ignore it and remember what I bring to the office.
I’ll often get comments like, “That’s before your time,” or “Dia wouldn’t know anything about that.” I have to bite my tongue because sometimes I do want to say,” It’s a good thing that’s before my time because I probably wouldn’t be able to help you with your computer as much as I do, if it wasn’t.”
It’s just a very condescending way to talk to someone in a professional setting, especially when you rely so heavily on them. Sometimes they don’t take you seriously or thing it’s okay to make a joke at your expense just because of your age and it’s not.
People should realize having different generations is a good thing because it brings in different skill sets, mindsets and knowledge, than if you only had one age group.
Age discrimination goes both ways.
I did have to speak out when one coworker was just rude and made it clear I was college educated valued member of the team and not their secretary.
What would you do if you didn’t like a coworker that you had to work with often?
Stay professional. I’ve had a number of coworkers I didn’t enjoy working with but you work with them, so it’s your job to put up with them.
You get management involved if it starts interfering with your ability to work. It’s different if you just think they are an annoying person versus if they are a bully or your working styles clash to the point where you can’t successful complete projects together.
How can diversity – or lack thereof – impact company culture?
Diversity allows change and growth. If you only hire type X, then you don’t get any new ideas. You sabotage your business and doom it to be stuck in place. People always say “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” but sometimes that’s a limiting mindset…it may not be broke but maybe it can be better.
Work is a great for meeting people, but what boundaries should there be in workplace friendships?
Feel people out. You’re not at work for friends but it’s bound to happen. Like any relationship, test the waters.
I work with a lot of conservatives so I don’t talk politics with them because I won’t change their mind just cause tension and work is stressful enough without bringing in that sort of thing.
Complaining about work is normal… but how do you know if you’re in a work friendship that is toxic?
If all you talk about together is the negative. If they always point out things trying to make you frustrated. Work friends are great to vent to because they get it but it shouldn’t just be negative every time you go to happy hour or lunch. There are other things going on in the world and you’re only at work 40 hours a week.
How do you tell if your workplace dissatisfaction is about the job… or about you?
Can it be solved? Why are you unhappy? Is it the hours? The pay? If there isn’t a clear answer move on. I had one job that made me depressed. The amount of money and vacation time didn’t matter, I needed out. It was ruining other parts of my life. Also you have to see how you feel when you are off of work. I used to have one position and when I’d be out with friends and someone asked me what I did for a living I felt myself get irritated just because I was thinking about work. Getting out of bed felt incredibly hard on work days. I literally felt like I was depressed. I’d get home and feel like I’d been running a marathon or had been beaten up. Sometimes I’d go in the bathroom and cry at work because I was so unhappy doing what I was doing. It was obvious that was the issue. Often people assume pay will make it better, working from home or more vacation but if you hate the position that still won’t be enough.
I want to thank Collen over at SheKnows Media for inviting me to participate!
I hope you guys enjoyed my twitter chat answers. Now I want to know what you think on the topic of job culture and office bullies.
Pick your favorite question(s) and answer below. 🙂
- What are some key mistakes you’ve seen leadership make when creating a work culture?
- We hear a lot about cool break rooms, but what do you think is most important for good office environment?
- What’s the biggest workplace challenge you’ve had to overcome? How did you do it?
- What would you do if you didn’t like a coworker that you had to work with often?
- How can diversity – or lack thereof – impact company culture?
- Work is a great for meeting people, but what boundaries should there be in workplace friendships?
- Complaining about work is normal… but how do you know if you’re in a work friendship that is toxic?
- How do you tell if your workplace dissatisfaction is about the job… or about you?
Also be sure to check out my SheKnows post 6 Ways to Win Over The Co-worker Who Hates you
Grady
Love this – especially the section about workplace dissatisfaction, because I do think it can be able the job OR it can be about you! Or even both! It’s a really important factor to keep in mind 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Roxy
I have a co-worker that I cannot stand. In part my boss has played a major role b/c he treats this guy like the golden child. For example, he is the only person in the office allowed to work from home every day. Anyway, him and I had a pretty nasty ruin in cuz he was frankly being an a*s, which he is known to be and I was not taking his crap. It got messy and i talked to my boss about it. The waters eventually calmed, but I still interact with him as little as humanly possible.
Dia
That’s honestly not even right. Everyone should have the same privalges. I had a boss do that, he let someone work from 7-3 when the office was only open 10-7, just to fit her lifestyle….so she wasn’t there the second half of the day when most of the workload came in.
But good job keeping it together and avoiding him lol sometimes thats all you can do.
Dia
Thanks Grady! It really is something you have to look at. You can normally tell if it’s just a bad fit but sometimes it’s harder to realize if it’s you
Leslie Rossi
i have a couple of coworkers and a boss who are in their own world. passive aggressive comments are all too regular here unfortunately. it just creates a negative work environment.
Angie Scheie
What a great way to follow up on the Twitter Chat, and you had a lot to offer! As for the age thing, it really is that people are jealous, and they probably don’t think it’s offensive because they think it’s a compliment. Kind of like when strangers comment on my height, or lack of weight challenges (at times lol). It still is inappropriate and unnecessary, but I try to remind myself it comes from a good place. I’d LOVE to be 26 again lol.
Dia
It’s funny you mention that, my mom is right under 6 ft (Which is tall for most women but not like a giant) and people say the most off the wall stuff to her about it lol
Dia
It’s true. No matter what job you have there will either be some tasks you don’t like or people you don’t like but you have to realize where the limit is. Somethings you can just deal with and then others you have to draw a line or move on. I hope it gets better there for you
zan
I am glad that the Twitter 140 character thing does not only bother me..LOL! Anyway, I do not work outside the home but I did in the past. I have never considered the talking negative about “age” was a form of bullying. But now that you mention it, I can see how it can be. I can so think of times when I have had that happen to me. Thank you for sharing!!
Dia
I love Twitter and the character limit is great (95% of the time lol), I just meant it’s kind of hard to give detailed answers to these types of questions in 140 characters or less. That’s part of the reason I wanted to post this with more details to explain my points more.
I do wish using an image didn’t take away from your character limit…. oh well. Thanks for stopping by
brianna
Sometimes people just don’t thin before they speak…at all. I have been outside the office culture for awhile…but this holds true…people just don’t think before they speak. 🙂
Becki S
What a wonderful topic and something that we certainly need to have more conversations about! Don’t forget to come and join The Sparkle Life chat on Sunday, February 14th!
Paola
When you enjoy what you do everything becomes easier and not everyone works on what they love. That tends to make people bullies, for them is a pass time. I wish they found something else to keep their heads at.
Dia
Right if the reason you are rude to your coworkers is because you hate your job it’s time to look for a new one.
Dia
Haha they don’t at all. But even sadder some people enjoy being jerks and are well aware what they are doing. Just have to do what you know is right, is what my mom always says
Dia
You’re having a sparkle chat on Valentines day :/ I honestly will probably be busy depending on the time. Sundays tend to be busy for me even when they arne’t Valentine’s lol
katie
I love when blogs allow an open place to talk about workplace culture! The question about lunch and not having a traditional break room really resonated with me because most days, I eat lunch at my desk and there is no real reprieve from work. I’ve started walking around more and it’s really helped me be re-inspired when I sit back down after my post-lunch walk!
xx katie // a touch of teal
Kusum
This is such an excellent topic for a twitter chat and you totally rocked the recap here, I felt as if I was part of the twitter chat myself, you go girl!!! Cool break rooms with TV is such an awesome idea 😉 What I feel really frustrated about corporate America is that there is no set work hours, we work early mornings and late into the night, value for quality personal life seems to have disappeared 🙁
xx, Kusum | http://www.sveeteskapes.com
Justine Y @ Little Dove Creations
These were interesting questions with some really thoughtful answers, well done! I hate age discrimination the workplace, and really I think that stems from something you talked about–professionalism, or lack thereof. I think that’s a problem a lot in today’s world. Whether it be in speech, dress, or manner, professionalism seems to be lacking severely. Thanks for your insights Dia!
Amanda
Great post! I’ve dealt with the age issue in the past and it’s definitely irritating. It sometimes doesn’t occur to people that age discrimination affects both ends of the spectrum and that it’s just as rude to say something to/about a 20- or early 30-something as someone who’s older.
Victoria
I’m so lucky to have not run into this problem yet! Sometimes, being one of the youngest, I feel a different kind of pressure to perform. But, for the most part, I’ve been lucky to be in safe, inspiring workplaces. This was a great overview though and something to think about.
michelle
i love a relaxing break room but i have noticed that break rooms can be a cause of drama too. with people stealing food, wanting to change the tv channel, hogging the outlets and more. i have dealt with bullying from co workers and i think sometimes its simply because they know i’m young and probably won’t tell
Ashleigh
This is such a wonderful post… I really could have used this when I worked with other people! So many were toxic because of how often they complained about our job! At a Twitter chat, how fun for you! I’m pinning this for when I need it. Thank you for sharing!
Dia
Yes just going for a walk around the office can really recharge you!
Dia
It really is a shame how work life balance seems to be talked about all the time but rarely practiced. Thanks for stopping by Kusum!
Dia
Right people sometimes get too laid back in the office and stop being professional. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Dia
It totally goes both ways. I’m actually writing a post about that. Have a wide range of ages in your office is a great thing but those attitudes will end up pushing out the minority age groups
Dia
Thanks so much Ashleigh! Right sometimes you are unhappy at your job and it’s great to have a friend to rant to that gets it but not if you are just making each other focus on the negative more.
Dia
I’m sorry you’ve had to deal with that, I know how frustrating it can be. I keep my lunch/snacks in a smaller cooler with ice packs in my desks because the people at my office will eat anything not glued down lol
Dia
I’m glad you have such a positive work environment! I do understand the feeling to prove yourself more.
Kerry
I’ve been out of the workplace for a little over a year and this made me miss it! I miss the drama, friendships and office shenanigans! Great answers! 🙂
Reginia Cordell
I’ve worked at a company with a TV in the break room. It definitely cut down on the nonsense and cooled tensions. We had two break rooms actually, one with a TV and one with a reading area overlooking the water.
Rutuja Bhagwat
I hate the office-bullying. I did not face it as such, but surely faced some traces of it.
http://www.theprettycitygirl.com/
Tisha
This is a good read. I am working fulltime and what I hate the most is when some co workers or collegues keep on whining too much about their jobs. Well, I can really be a friend and can listen to them but really there should be a limit for everything!
Dia
Right. It’s hard when they keep complaining but aren’t trying to change things or leave. It’s one thing if they are actively job searching or trying to fix the problem but complaining is not a solution.
Dia
I’m sorry about that!
Dia
I think 90% of the time thats what people miss is the friendships but they can keep the drama..thats why I watch Greys Anatomy lol
Dia
That’s awesome. That was one of my favorite things about one of my older jobs there were all these little areas for you to just relax alone at lunch and a gym!
KimiWho.com
I suffered through a lot of these issues in my previous job. The biggest issue was the double standards, stretching of truths, and unwillingness to cooperate with employees.
A huge reason I quit was that I had time and time again been the employee with top sales, the longest standing best records, and had demonstrated willingness and ability to take on more responsibility. Yet when I asked for these things and requested more responsibility and a promotion in title (not a raise – just the title), I was denied and they acted like I was crazy for even asking. They didn’t want to let go of control of anything and in the end, that was their huge downfall – failure to delegate work to others.
Dia
You make a great point. You have to be willing to let people step up…especially when they are showing that they can handle it. I’m glad you got out of there.