Cubicle-Fu

I was talking to Axel, 1/2 of the TinyGigantic team, this weekend. Axel is a Cubicle Fu Master, so skilled that he left corporate and created his own industry. See more at Language In Common.

We were talking about watching our food intake and noticing how our bodies feel after certain meals. I told him that I’m focused right now on enjoying each bite, slowing down, not shoving a huge plate of anything down my throat. Axel pointed out that a great way to slow down is to start eating with chop sticks!

Why eat with chopsticks?

• It forces you to slow down. You might even enjoy your food.
• The slower pace also prevents overeating, so you’re full on less and don’t fall face down on your keyboard after lunch.
• You can really eat almost any food with chopsticks. Even soup, you can sip on the broth, and grab chunks with your sticks.
• They fit in any bag or pocket, so you can bring your own
• They’re a good conversation starter

Meetings must be the new black, they are so hip, everybody’s doing it. It seems like every time I turn around, someone is planning another meeting. The reason is always that it’s easier to just sit down and “hash it out quick” or “just bang it out together.”

I call bullshit.

Meetings in most cases (and realistically, some are needed) are around because people have a hard time listening or they just love showing how smart they are. I challenge anyone to pitch a meeting that couldn’t be handled over email or in a quick one-on-one conversation or IM chat. In the past two weeks I have actively declined every meeting that I’ve been invited to, including “can you just stop by my desk for 5 minutes, and I think we can just clear it up,” and nothing blew up. In fact, by taking on the no-meeting-challenge, I’ve been creative in finding new ways to get things done, and found new ways to listen.

How to get out of meetings, forever:

1. Ask if you have to be there (you might not! it’s easy to find out. just say “hey, I’m a little overwhelmed, am I required at the meeting or can I try to get ahead of the work on my plate?)
2. Listen carefully (when a meeting is called, listen for the goal of the meeting. if the goal can be achieved offline then…)
3. Ask for a clear set of goals and agenda (in so many cases meetings are called because that’s just done. once an agenda and goals are clear, not only do you have the opportunity to really assess whether you can handle it another way, but you have something to stick to so Joe Garrulous doesn’t have an open soapbox.)
4. Defer to a superior (yes, this won’t get you promoted, but if you hate meetings then try suggesting that your time is better spent on doing your work, and your boss really has a handle on the team needs so you trust them to make the right call)
5. Suggest an alternative, or handle it proactively (if you can really meet the goal in another way, do it. if the meeting is just for someone to hear your ideas, then give them your ideas in another medium. “Hey, I know you want my ideas on your proposal, so I read it through, and here they are. Let me know if you have questions, and we can schedule a meeting if things aren’t clear.”)
6. Take a mental health day (this is extreme, but if the meeting will happen anyway, and your sanity is at risk, why not use a sick day to get things done at home or hit the beach?)