101 things Mr. Boss Man never bothered to teach you

January 31, 2007 1:50 PM

If there was ONE thing that you wish you had been taught at your current job what would that be? What I am looking for is not something like...."Don't talk to Spencer in HR, he is a perv," more on the lines of "how to get information on X when Y is not working," or "What things can program Z do to make my job easier?" I need to design some sort of educational media for workplaces (software or internet based) and I am looking for some juicy leads. General is better.Thanks
posted by Meemer to education (29 comments total)

If you're not sure, don't be afraid to ask.
posted by chrismear at 1:52 PM on January 31, 2007

We recently had a mandatory session on security and one of the things that we are required to do is lock our workstations when we leave our desk, even if it's only for a minute.

They explained the whole ctrl-alt-delete > click Lock Computer process and most people were aware.

What surprised many people, is that they could just hit windows key + L to instantly lock things up with no multiple step BS.

That's a pretty specific example, but a lot of non-power users are surprised by some of the handy keyboard shortcuts that exist.
posted by utsutsu at 2:00 PM on January 31, 2007 [3 favorites]

From my last corporate job -- some variation on "if you don't like the weather here, wait around 5 minutes -- it will change. E.g., if you don't like what you're doing right now (or what department you're in, who you're reporting to, what your responsibilities are, etc), just do it for another month or two -- whatever it is, it will change.
posted by treepour at 2:07 PM on January 31, 2007 [1 favorite]

Don't let people know you can fix the printers and help set up their email.
posted by bonaldi at 2:08 PM on January 31, 2007 [5 favorites]

I wish I had a better sense of who was an expert in which areas. For instance, there might be a large IT department, and each person there knows some subset of information. A chart explaining who knows what would have been helpful. I'm thinking of this more in terms of client service - a client calls me and wants to speak to someone about X. I know nothing about X. But I know someone in this building does. How do I find out who?
posted by dpx.mfx at 2:29 PM on January 31, 2007

I read an article years ago about trying to find who the real go-to people were in an organisation.

They asked everyone in the organisation who they'd go to, not if they wanted stuff done the slow way through official channels, but if they were in a real hurry and wanted it sorted out A.S.A.P.

They came up with a list of secretaries and admin people who were able to cut through the red tape and call in favours and really get stuff done, but they couldn't figure out what the connection was.

Then they realised that they were all smokers, and smokers had to leave the office and go to a designated area to smoke.

Because these people actually got out of their offices and socialised and cross-pollinated with others (smokers are always asking for a light or a spare cigarette I guess) they had become much more knowledgeable, more efficient at navigating the bureaucracy, and more likely to know people in other parts of the organisation who could help them.

There's got to be a moral in that somewhere...
posted by AmbroseChapel at 2:44 PM on January 31, 2007 [6 favorites]

Take the high road.
posted by desuetude at 2:51 PM on January 31, 2007

basics of how to collaborate electronically. specifically, in my job those would include:
- how to use (particularly read and respond to) microsoft track changes, but this may be most useful to editorial
- scheduling and accepting outlook calendar requests
- appropriate use of attachments/vs docsharing spaces (on the lines of when to use plain-text email vs a word attachment)
- how to filter in Excel or view other basic information

other:
- how the budgeting process affects non-manager employees (basics of how companies decide to allocate resources)
posted by ejaned8 at 2:58 PM on January 31, 2007

I wish there were a company glossary. My company has a number of Proprietary Tools(tm) that are captilized, and a few of those I caught right away, but there were other terms that they threw around that took me a long time to grok (i.e., "creative" = designers, not anyone in a creative position). The first thing I'd include, however, is "the phrase is 'flesh it out' not 'flush it out'."

That tech support responds to email last, so if you're trying to be polite, they'll ignore you. Walk over to their desk and tap your foot. Otherwise, you're at the bottom of the queue.

The jumble of files and information that is on the company servers and when each one is most useful.

The real starting time and the official starting time are two separate things.

The weird, arbitrary tricks for getting a time sheet accepted by the Oracle system. The ways to hide a PPV movie in a hotel as sundry expense rather than eating the cost.

A way to search for "the bald guy in accounting" to find out his name.
posted by Gucky at 3:02 PM on January 31, 2007

I wish I had started scripting/batching/automating repetitive tasks a lot sooner.
posted by pmbuko at 3:46 PM on January 31, 2007

One of the most interesting things I've ever done at my work is fill in for our administrative assistant while she was on leave. I got to learn a great deal about how the store works, and it helped me get a lot less frustrated as a manager when supplies didn't come in, etc. If I'm short on supplies, I know how to requisition them. Or if something broke, I'd know what to do.

Understanding how payroll and scheduling work is huge. Now, when people come to me and complain "I have no hourrrrrssssss?!@?!?!?!", I just explain that we have half the payroll that we had in October-December, and then they sort of understand, and leave content, not frustrated and without solid answers.

Anyway, moral of the story? Everyone with any sort of power should fill in for or work with their subordinates doing the work their subordinates do every once in a while. In one of my management classes, they called it an "executive reality check". It's really a good thing.

I think this's the sort of thing you're looking for, based on everyone else's responses, but if it's not, ignore me.
posted by Verdandi at 3:58 PM on January 31, 2007

If you have a piece of hardware but you don't know what it is (the exact size of a hard drive, for example,) but you can see a part number, do a search for the part number on eBay. Someone somewhere is selling it.
posted by Cyrano at 4:01 PM on January 31, 2007

Especially in a bureaucracy -

How to get things done. eg. who to call if your lightbulb goes or your bin hasn't been emptied for three weeks.
How to order stuff.
Who can sign the relevant documents get the stuff above done.
Who does the step before you and the step after you.
What is the big picture of the company. ie. bigger than what you do, more specific than the missions statement.
How to use random pieces of software, particularly for timesheets.
Who your supervisor is, who you'll actually answer to, who you should ask questions.

A lot of this stuff is explained to you on your first day, but you forget it, or it's not actually done in the 'policy' way by anybody else, and so should be written down somewhere in a easily accessible and searchable manner.
posted by kjs4 at 4:32 PM on January 31, 2007

If there is a guy who is the only one who knows how to do something, he likes it that way and thinks it makes him indispensable.

Don’t stand next to an IT guy’s desk tapping your shoe impatiently. You will only make him angry and angry IT guys are very dangerous to you and your work.

If the company is bothering to train people on how to do their jobs 90% of the battle is won.

If policies allow, Store duplicate data on a USB thumb drive so you’re not tied to a desk or taking up limited server space.

The Nicotine Mafia (smoking area) provides a valuable back channel for communication in any company.

A Call in “Heat” can easily be lost forever if you attach it to the wrong profile.

Your job is what they say it is. It doesn’t matter if what they are saying is nonsensical, redundant, and stupid.
posted by Megafly at 4:50 PM on January 31, 2007

Management doesn't want to hear about problems; they want to hear solutions. Don't ever hoist the red flag without at least two suggestions for how to fix the problem.
posted by browse at 5:02 PM on January 31, 2007 [4 favorites]

Make yourself available to help--but don't make yourself too available. Made that mistake when I started my current job, and it's taken me months to make myself be able to say "no" to people.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 5:28 PM on January 31, 2007

While I appreciate the reflections...I am looking for a way to help. A way to help. Tell me how to help you, or a former you.
posted by Meemer at 5:30 PM on January 31, 2007

Not to be afraid to ask for what you need (software, hardware, a new chair). Most companies want you to be able to work efficiently. My boss was frustrated to learn that a coworker was using a mouse lefthanded because the cord was too short and she didn't want to bother anyone. A few months ago, I asked if some software could be budgeted in for 2007-I got it that day.

Keyboard shortcuts.

Training the company might be willing to pay for.
posted by clh at 6:00 PM on January 31, 2007

>That tech support responds to email last, so if you're trying to be polite, they'll ignore you. Walk over to their desk and tap your foot. Otherwise, you're at the bottom of the queue.

Keep that up and you'll be asked to stop being such an ass by someone who can get you fired.
posted by damn dirty ape at 6:53 PM on January 31, 2007

Make friends with IT support. This doesn't mean you have to be a doormat, but always be courteous, kind, and good-natured to them. Not only are they able to fix your machine so you can do your job, they work with everyone in the organization and can probably tell you who you need to talk to in order to solve any number of unrelated problems.
posted by wildeepdotorg at 7:29 PM on January 31, 2007

Oh one more. If you have access to share drives, they are a valuable source of institutional knowledge and background information. Never take anything you find on a share drive as gospel, but often any documents you read may be a good starting point.
posted by wildeepdotorg at 7:30 PM on January 31, 2007

Oh one more. If you have access to share drives, they are a valuable source of institutional knowledge and background information. Never take anything you find on a share drive as gospel, but often any documents you read may be a good starting point.

Good point. Advice from a former me: Read EVERYTHING. Quickly flick your eyes over anything you see at the copier, on the fax machine, on the shared drives, etc. The more you know about the company, the better position you will be in to do the sort of 'pitching in' with large projects that will get you noticed as helpful and competent.
posted by desuetude at 6:22 AM on February 1, 2007

Specific procedures for different complex tasks. There are some things I don't do that often but always have to try and stumble my way through. Others in the office have their own ways to accomplish the task but it would be simpler if there was an office standard for doing the task efficiently.

If you can compile efficient procedures for tasks, everyone would love you long time.
posted by JJ86 at 6:32 AM on February 1, 2007

Common themes in this thread:

- Information is power
- Communication of information will get you what you need
- The people who deal with the largest range of employees are the most valuable to you
- Don't piss off helpdesk.
- NEVER let anyone know that you can fix computers.
posted by softlord at 6:50 AM on February 1, 2007

how to touch type. I can't beleive I have been working on a keyboard and I still type with three fingers.
posted by brinkzilla at 1:35 PM on February 1, 2007

as you can see by they typos, it just stinks.
posted by brinkzilla at 1:35 PM on February 1, 2007

The most useful thing I wasn't taught at my job (and didn't find out until I found a "how to make your job easier doc on my computer) was how to do batch jobs through photoshop.
posted by drezdn at 4:08 PM on February 1, 2007

If the customers like you, it's tough to get fired.

Expect to be taught how to meet the minimum requirements for your position. Don't expect to be taught how to do it well. You'll have to come up with that on your own.

Whenever humanly possible, stay out of other peoples' conflicts.
posted by Clay201 at 2:34 AM on February 2, 2007

There are people who become known as "the one to go to" even when they're not experts. It's because they know who does have the answers.

So, ask people "who do you go to when you're stumped?" My wife was one of them. She had a guy in the Australia office call her in the middle of the night with a computer problem. She didn't know the answer, but did know someone in Singapore, who was in a similar time zone to Australia, who would know the answer.

If you can't be one of those people, at least get to know who they are.
posted by KRS at 11:30 AM on February 2, 2007