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NonsenseAtWork

NonsenseAtWork

By James McIntosh

Boost your career and success by learning to deal with the nonsense of pleasing a boss, playing nice with colleagues, making subordinates productive, and living a life. (Why should you learn to deal with nonsense at work? Because nonsense stops you from being successful. Nonsense is always at work. It never stops. That’s the bad news. The good news is that there is always some sense in nonsense, if you look for it. And if you are willing to look for it, time and again you will find that you can make the nonsense at work work for you.)

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#159: Why We-the-Insecure Are Led by Bravados on Display

NonsenseAtWorkSep 22, 2020

00:00
01:00
Insight #299: Being Ahead Does Not Make You a Leader
Mar 28, 202402:26
Trigger Question #19: What Do You Do When the Going Gets Tough?
Mar 27, 202402:16
Insight #298: How To Recognize Real Change When You See It
Mar 26, 202402:24
Trigger Question #18: Do You Choose To Be Pre-Stressed or Flat-Bedded?
Mar 22, 202403:51
Insight #297: This Is the Moment You Like Your Work Enough To Make It Matter
Mar 21, 202402:18
Insight #296: Please Hold, Your Suggestion Is Unimportant to Us
Mar 19, 202403:02
Trigger Question #17: Who had you covered, but got your back up?
Mar 18, 202402:01
Trigger Question #16: Were You Hostile or Just Angry?
Mar 15, 202402:24
Trigger Question #15: Have You Kicked an Employee Lately?
Mar 08, 202404:12
Insight #295: Face the Right Way or Back Into the Wrong Problem
Mar 07, 202401:57
Trigger Question #14: Did You See Differently or Your Same Old Same Old?
Mar 06, 202403:49
Insight #294: The Evolved Way To Survive Is To Simplify Your Focus
Mar 05, 202402:29
Trigger Question #13: Are You Aiming To Win or Trying Not To Lose?
Mar 04, 202402:46
Trigger Question #12: Who Do You Feed When You Give Feedback?
Mar 01, 202403:30
Insight #293: Find the Time To Make Your Point Quickly
Feb 29, 202403:17
Trigger Question #11: How Did You Treat Others This Week?
Feb 28, 202401:56
Insight #292: Getting Fired Began With Adam and Eve, but It Still Hurts
Feb 27, 202403:14
Trigger Question #10: What’s your attitude now that your vote is history?
Feb 26, 202402:31
Trigger Question #9: What Wise Thing Did You Do?
Feb 23, 202402:09
Insight #291: The Secret to Making This a More Meaningful Year
Feb 22, 202402:11
Trigger Question #8: Did You Drop Any History This Week?
Feb 21, 202402:50
Insight #290: How To Decide How To Decide
Feb 20, 202401:44
Trigger Question #7: Did You Pick the Right Mask for the Moment?
Feb 19, 202402:31
Trigger Question #6: Do You Zoom Out to Recharge?
Feb 16, 202402:08
Insight #289: Want To Succeed? Don’t Zigzag. Weave.
Feb 15, 202401:32
Trigger Question #5: Did You Follow Your Gut or Your Heart?
Feb 14, 202401:39
Insight #288: Don’t Be Resolute. Aim for the Power of the Easy Way.
Feb 13, 202401:31
Trigger Question #4: What worried you away from doing your job?
Feb 12, 202402:31
Trigger Question #3: What's the point of the Trigger Question?
Feb 09, 202402:35
Insight #287: Your Formula for Failure Will Trigger Success
Feb 08, 202402:30
Insight #286: More Might Be Merrier, but It's Often Less
Feb 07, 202401:40
Insight #285: When Knowing More Could Mean Less
Feb 06, 202402:15
Insight #284: It’s Over Once You Celebrate
Feb 05, 202402:24
Trigger Question #2: Did you argue to win or to be right?
Feb 02, 202401:54
Trigger Question #1: Were you prejudiced or pre-judging?
Feb 01, 202401:45
Insight #283: Disappointed by the Low Price of Beauty
Nov 29, 202201:00
#282: There Is No Art to Cleaning Fouled Communication

#282: There Is No Art to Cleaning Fouled Communication

The annual office festivities are returning. Unless, of course, you still WFH, in which case you will be PAT (partying at home). Annual office parties always remind me of this true story from way back in 2015. (Maybe I can't forget it because modern art befuddles me. Maybe because corporate communication baffles me. Maybe because cleaning ladies are privy (ha!) to secrets. Maybe all the above.)

Nov 22, 202201:00
#218: This simple financial strategy works wonders when times are bad. Or good.

#218: This simple financial strategy works wonders when times are bad. Or good.

In case the threat of recession does not recede, heed this radical advice: Don’t be seduced by fancy financials. Just follow the (real) money.

Nov 15, 202201:00
#280: Success Comes From Lobbying in the Lobby

#280: Success Comes From Lobbying in the Lobby

Here's my favorite definition of politics, from Merriam-Webster: Politics is "the art or science of government."

Why is it my favorite? Because it not only applies to countries, counties and municipalities. It also applies to organizations. The art of leadership might get all the attention, but if a leader cannot govern.... 

And surprise, surprise. Lobbying is a huge part of governing well. But only if those who lobby know how to lobby well.

Nov 08, 202201:00
#279: If You Drop Your Standard, You Signal Defeat. Ask Any King.

#279: If You Drop Your Standard, You Signal Defeat. Ask Any King.

Here's an uncomfortable truth about (raw) capitalism. When there's more than a sniff of risk in the air, we are more than willing to compromise our values to stay "successful."

Nov 01, 202201:00
#278: Don’t Protect Yourself From Enjoying Yourself

#278: Don’t Protect Yourself From Enjoying Yourself

There's a lot of gloom and doom coming our way. Yes, I know, it depends who you're listening to. But let's assume "they" are right. (This time.)

When faced with approaching doom and gloom, what do the wise do? I have no idea. However, I suggest you enjoy the little things, good and bad, just a little more than you did yesterday. As if today is "It", the end of times. (Without taking your eye off the future, because the future has a nasty way of happening.)

Here's how.

Oct 25, 202201:00
#277: Decent Habits Dressed in Decent Feathers Get the Job

#277: Decent Habits Dressed in Decent Feathers Get the Job

How things have changed, thanks to virus, virtual and vanity. Whoa. Surely not vanity. Not after how some people dress for their on-camera work sessions.

This work from home lack of dress-vanity is now likely to infect the office as well. The unemployment rate went down in September 2022, giving (scarce) workers more power to demand changes. Such as to the dress code.

This is a piece I wrote during the previous recession. (Remember that one?) Compare what I wrote then to what is likely to happen during the coming recession. (The one that is predicted daily, even though employers, nervous of the skills shortage, are hiring and placating workers.) 

Oct 18, 202201:00
276: The Recession Is Always in the Past

276: The Recession Is Always in the Past

In my previous post, *bp275 It’s Time To Become a Skeptic Again*, I suggested the best way to view the economy is as a skeptic. But that blog is already in the past, so here's another (nonsense) reason you should be a skeptic today. At least about the economy.

Oct 11, 202201:00
#275: It’s Time To Become a Skeptic Again

#275: It’s Time To Become a Skeptic Again

Way back in 1933 George Bernard Shaw said that "If all the economists were laid end to end, they would not reach a conclusion." But apparently he was not the first person to use that expression. At least, according to people who research these types of quotes. The funny thing is that these people don't seem able to agree on who said what when.

Another funny thing is that by the time I graduated as an economist, I was convinced that George Bernard Shaw had not used the word conclusion, but the word agreement. ("If all the economists were laid end to end, they would not reach agreement.") I had been exposed to conclusions aplenty. But agreements? Few.

Which is why I find myself in an economy that is in a mild recession as it continues to grow. (Maybe you don't agree, because you've reached a different conclusion.)

Oct 04, 202201:00
274: Are You Asking for Workplace Wrangling and Social Strife?

274: Are You Asking for Workplace Wrangling and Social Strife?

At work, should you ask open-ended questions in the wrong tone of voice? Of course you should! That is, if you are a "real" manager. It's your job to put employees on the spot and trip them up. How else will you know what's really going on? 

Hang on, hang on. If that's your go-to questioning style, then maybe you could be making things worse. Not sure what I mean? Well, I don't know how you react to open-ended questions asked in a certain tone of voice, but below is how I feel about them.

Sep 27, 202201:00
#273: Designed To Play the Red-Tape Blame-Game

#273: Designed To Play the Red-Tape Blame-Game

I handed over thousands of dollars to a major US corporation over a period of four years. One would think that we had built up a respectful mutually beneficial relationship: You scratch my back (provide the service) and I'll scratch yours (contribute to your bottom line).

One would think. But one would be wrong. When circumstances beyond my control meant that I had to end the relationship, they showed me just how much they valued our relationship. They sent me a final bill... wait for it... for $0.28. In the mail. (Current USA postage rates are at or near $0.60. Excluding cost of paper and envelope. Go figure.)

I plan never to do business with them again. Obviously, their "our customers matter to us" was a fake promise. But whose fault was it, really?

Sep 20, 202201:00
#272: Ask Why Repeatedly To Irritate Others Into Success

#272: Ask Why Repeatedly To Irritate Others Into Success

Work from home is over. Time to get serious again about work. Wait. I’m joking! Joking or not, here’s a question that might help you get serious about the rest of the year.

.

Did I steal this idea? No. Nor did I have to read a book about asking why. Wise people have been asking, "Why?" ever since Adam and Eve found themselves on the wrong side of the garden gate. (Come to think of it, even little people, before they can read books about why, know to ask "why?" all the time.)

Sep 13, 202201:00
#271: Laboring Under Confusion

#271: Laboring Under Confusion

Here's a quote that, I hope, will settle the work from home debate: "Whether you work from home or work in the office, it's still labor. And so are you." (The Chief Nonsense Officer. September 2022)

Sep 06, 202201:00
#270: Make Assumptions Loudly and Clearly (so That We Know What You’re Up To)

#270: Make Assumptions Loudly and Clearly (so That We Know What You’re Up To)

I assume that by the time you read this, NASA's latest rocket will be on its way for a trip around the moon and back. Assuming all goes according to plan.

(Well, you already know that it did not. Take-off as scheduled nor go according to plan. So much for assuming.)

Aug 30, 202201:00
#269: Thank Goodness Friday Puts You Closer to Monday

#269: Thank Goodness Friday Puts You Closer to Monday

Many companies are compromising in the office fight. No, not the fight in the office. The fight about the office. Whether you work there five days a week or stay home five days a week.

The most popular compromise seems to be to stay away on Mondays and Fridays. Notice that I said "stay away", not work from home. That's because when I first went to work in an office, anyone who was sick on a Monday or on a Friday had to get a doctor to swear on paper that illness indeed caused the absence.

At least the following true story now makes more sense to me. It is about a quick-witted woman who linked Friday to Monday in a motivational sentence. 

Aug 23, 202201:00