I'm going to start a list of things to remember when I'm not the one at the bottom of the totem poll. (I'm assuming this will happen someday.) This could also be good for managers or greater that have lost touch with us "little people".
Respect employees' personal space. Even if they have a desk that is out in the open, their workspace is their personal space. Don't walk up and take items off of it as if they are for general use. Ask before picking up papers or mail or even using their stapler. They wouldn't walk in your office and take something off your desk - don't do it to theirs either.
Don't wait until something affects you to understand where they are coming from. If employees have to go through the men's room to get to the office supply room, don't ignore that fact until they walk in on you standing at the urinal. Empathize! Waiting until it affects you just shows how self absorbed and ignorant you are of other peoples' feelings.
Remember how lonely it is to be left alone in the office day in and day out. Even if an employee is an 'office person' it really sucks to be abandoned all the time. How worthless would you feel if all you were allowed to do was answer the phone and pay the bills regarding all the activities going on outside of your reach. Even trips to buy supplies at Wal-Mart or Staples are off limits to you. It's almost like having an over-protective spouse that won't let you leave the house. It's not because they love you, it's more like it's because they OWN you.
Ok, this sort of reads like a rant, so I'll tag it as such, but I still hold strong to the notion that I will be in charge of someone's duties someday and will need to remember this.
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