photo by brokenarts
One of the things that has always stuck with me from the stand-up comedy world was always having something to write with. You never know when inspiration will strike, and when your job relies heavily on creativity, you want to capture every idea you can.
Even though I now do most of writing and note-taking on my phone, I still always carry a pen with me, and here are 5 reasons you should do the same:
1. To Capture that Great Idea
I already gave this one away, but the number one reason to always carry a pen is to be able to take note of anything at a moment’s notice. And don’t think that this doesn’t apply to you if you aren’t a comedian–the solution to the budget crisis at work could come to you while standing in line at the grocery store, and you’ll want to make sure you’re able to remember it.
It also helps to have a notepad with you, but it’s much easier to find something to write on (such as a receipt, napkin or your forearm) than it is to find something to write with.
2. To Speed Things Along
While having a pen isn’t always required, there are instances it can speed things up. How many times have you been at a diner paying for your grilled cheese and chocolate milk only to have to wait 10 minutes as the cashier searches for a pen that works? When you have one in your pocket, there’s no wait.
This may not happen every day, but when you consider all the things that require your handwriting (credit card receipts, deposit slips, autographs for adoring fans), carrying a pen is easily justified.
3. To Highlight the Important Stuff
A recent revelation I had was that I could just as easily highlight key passages in a book or magazine using a pen as I could using a highlighter. Now instead of needing an additional utencil in my bag or at my desk, I’ve always got one in my pocket to take note of that life lesson from Watchmen.
4. To Improve Motor Skills
Before the days of iPhones and other gizmos, you had to find more creative ways to stay awake in class or meetings. With a pen, you can not only entertain yourself but also improve your motor skills and impress the one girl in your computer engineering class with your pen-flipping skills.
OK, so maybe flipping a pen won’t attract the opposite sex, but it can help prevent Alzheimers.
5. To Open a Letter
With the gradual decline of snail mail, a full-fledged letter opener seems a bit overkill. But when the mail fairy does bring you that special handwritten letter from a friend or loved one, you’ll want to be able to open it without destroying the letter inside. With a pen, it’s easy to do. Using the pen cap and a little finesse, you’ll have yourself a pen /letter opener in no time.
Got a utencil you love or a unique use for a pen? Share it in the comments.
photo by flaivoloka
With the advent of the Internet and the growth of International companies, building an effective team across timezones, languages and cultures is becoming increasingly more important.
Gone (or perhaps going) are the days when your entire team resides on the same continent, let alone floor, and it’s becoming more common to be working with someone you’ve never met before.
But there are ways to still have a fully functional team even when your team doesn’t share the same first language. Below are 6 tips for working with a global team:
Handling Timezone Differences
One of the most difficult work arrangements to handle is when one or more employees live at opposite ends of the timezones. A United States employee working with someone in China can mean a 12-hour difference in work schedules. To combat this remote challenge:
1. Be fully aware of the timezone difference.
Often times, many of the problems that arise from working in different timezones is people just aren’t aware of what the difference really is. Taking a look at a timezone map or changing your Outlook calendar to include an additional timezone is an easy way to realize that the call you’re about to make will be at 3am on the other end of the phone.
2. Take advantage of the difference.
When my manager worked in China for 3 months, we setup a system to leverage the fact that we worked 12-hours apart. I would track all of my questions and requests in a single email throughout the day and then send that one email before leaving work. My manager would answer my questions and provide any guidance when his day started, and I’d have a response sitting in my inbox when I started the next morning.
The added advantage to this was that I became more independent and found myself answering my own questions before ever sending the email.
Breaking Language Barriers
In many companies around the world, the designated language is English. But for employees who work outside of the United States or Kingdom, it’s rarely the first language learned. Avoid confusion and work better by:
3. Create a list of common phrases and jargon for your area.
One of the hardest things to learn in a new language are the colloqualisms and slang because you don’t often encounter it until you start conversing with native speakers–few English textbooks define the acronym CYA. By creating a lst of common phrases and jargon related to your work and your region, you’re providing a cheat sheet that can help avoid confusion. Of course in some companies, the corporate lingo can be so confusing that such a sheet is required even if everyone has spoken English their whole life.
4. Talk pictures.
If all else fails when trying to describe or communicate something, turn to visuals to convey your message. Pictures are worth a thousand translated words because regardless of what language you speak, a keyboard still looks like a toetsenbord (that’s Dutch for keyboard).
Team-building Across Cultures
A common mistake of International teams is neglecting important team-building exercises that can help create a group mind. Many people assume that there is little that can be done and so remote teams remain disjointed and ineffective. Build your global team by:
5. Use Telehumor.
There are a number of ways to take advantage of everyone’s remote locations to build your team. You can use video conferencing services, conference calls, and online surveys to conduct interactive meetings with an emphasis on learning about one another. With just a little extra effort and some creativity, you can come up with a number of ways to use humor in a remote office.
6. Learn about each other’s culture.
With programs such as Rosetta Stone, sites like Busuu, and techniques like those from Tim Ferriss, learning the basics of a language isnt as hard as it once was. You can also use sites like Every Culture to find out more about the culture of some of your fellow employees. This can generate personal discussions that will go a long way in building the dynamic of your team, as well as teach you something new.
Got your own tips for working in a global team? Share them in the comments.
