Workplace
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Do not pick up calls from work during your designated time off.
You deserve your day off.
one person who lived it
Require staff to submit time-off requests via email to create a verifiable audit trail.
This prevents disputes where employees claim verbal approval for absences they did not take.
one person who lived it
State when you plan to move forward if no issues are reported, such as 'I'll proceed unless I hear otherwise', to cut down on delays.
This approach cuts down on delays.
one person who lived it
Instead of pretending not to know a task, invite the coworker to watch you perform it to compare methods and share tips.
This allows you to ensure you are doing it the way the team prefers while remaining open to new techniques.
one person who lived it
State your request or main point immediately before engaging in small talk.
Leading with small talk can appear as if you are buttering someone up.
one person who lived it
If you are on call, negotiate an exorbitant rate of pay for any communication outside normal work hours and get it in writing to hold them accountable.
It makes it worth your while.
one person who lived it
Log in early in the morning to clear overnight emails and appear productive, allowing you to log off earlier.
This allows one person to avoid working a full 8 hours while appearing to work more than they actually do.
one person who lived it
Create an intake form for low-priority assistance requests to categorize, focus on, and add them to your backlog.
It makes work life easier by systematically handling requests.
- Some people may push back, thinking their time is more valuable than yours.
one person who lived it
Work tactfully and quietly to avoid outshining the master or making colleagues look bad.
Raising the bar can create enemies because it makes others look bad in their minds.
one person who lived it
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Batch read emails at specific intervals rather than reading them instantly as they arrive.
reading instantly sets you up to be constantly distracted
- Some find bulk processing laborious and prone to being put off or dreaded.
one person who lived it
- Batch emails received while on vacation and send them all at once upon returning, rather than responding intermittently.1
Ask only one question per email because recipients typically answer only the first item they see.
People rarely read the entire email.
one person who lived it
Use the 'send later' feature to delay sending responses by 2 hours if you completed a task in only 5 minutes, to avoid establishing an expectation of immediate turnaround.
Avoids setting a norm that you are always available and fast.
one person who lived it
Keep meetings small by including only essential participants and a few superiors.
to improve efficiency and decision-making
one person who lived it
Email colleagues on vacation only about tasks that are solely their responsibility.
It is annoying to sort through urgent-looking tasks only to find they have already been resolved by others.
one person who lived it
Delete recipient addresses from the 'To' line while drafting a 'Reply All' email, then re-add them only when ready to send.
This prevents accidental premature sending while typing.
one person who lived it
Keep emails short and include details in attached documents only when necessary for record-keeping or data.
Recipients want the summary and action items; they generally will not read long emails.
one person who lived it
Ensure your calendar reflects your vacation status, not just your email Out Of Office.
Otherwise, your calendar may show you as working, leading to scheduling conflicts.
one person who lived it
Walk over to a colleague's desk or call them directly if you need an immediate answer.
it involves much less ambiguity and delay than email
one person who lived it
Carry a notebook and pen to meetings or discussions to show confidence and appear less distracted than if using a mobile device.
It gives the other person confidence that you won't forget discussed items and makes you look less distracted compared to using a phone, which may be perceived as social media use.
one person who lived it
Attach your resume to follow-up emails immediately instead of waiting for a second request.
It shows initiative.
one person who lived it