Sasha Grutzeck

About Sasha Grutzeck

Sasha Grutzeck is a Senior Instructional Designer at Johns Hopkins University. She’s a member of the Learning Solutions department, where she writes and designs e-courses (and other training materials) for Johns Hopkins University faculty and staff. She enjoys learning new things, collaborating with her coworkers, watching movies, taking ridiculously long walks, and eating the leftover baked goods that always seem to miraculously appear in the Learning Solutions kitchen.

Posts by Sasha Grutzeck:

Spring Cleaning

By in Learning, Living Well 10 Comments Tags: , ,

Clutter

Is your office a mess? Do you have trouble finding important papers, books, or files? Do your pens keep mysteriously disappearing? If the piles of stuff on your desk ever toppled onto you, could you potentially be trapped or crushed? If so, then it might be time to clean up your act! Here are five ways to do it:

  1. Get rid of the junk – It’s painful, I know. But try to get rid of all the stuff in your office that really doesn’t serve a purpose.
  2. Create a filing system – Get yourself some trays and file folders, and set up a filing system. And clean up your computer desktop too. Once that’s done, you’ll no longer need to spend your valuable time searching for stray documents or pieces of paper.
  3. Dust – Use wipes that are made for electronics to clean the dust off of your monitor and the crumbs out of your keyboard.
  4. Find a place for everything – Make sure that everything on your desk has a specific place to go. For instance, put all binder clips in a certain box and all pens in a specific container. Add some labels if you think that would help. And leave some empty storage space. You’re going to accumulate more stuff over time, and it will need someplace to go.
  5. Spend a few minutes organizing each day – Keeping your office clean is an ongoing effort. But it shouldn’t be too difficult if you dedicate 10 – 15 minutes a day on organizing your space.

 

Sennebogen, E. (2010, December 13). Work harder, work smarter: 5 office cleaning tips. HowStuffWorks.com. Retrieved from http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/household-hints-tips/cleaning-organizing/5-office-cleaning-tips.htm

 

What to Do When You Feel Unappreciated at Work

By in Learning No Comments Tags:

Unappreciated

It’s terrible to feel unappreciated at work. I certainly felt that way when I was a teenager working at McDonald’s. The manager didn’t like me. Even though I was trying hard, he never seemed to notice. And my picture never got added to the “Super Employees” bulletin board. So wrong! I deserved to be included!

Since then, I’ve had a lot of different bosses, and most of them have been great. But I do remember what it feels like to be working hard, stressed out, and trying your best – but not getting any recognition. If you feel like you’re in that type of situation, here are a few ways that you can make things better:

  • Take care of yourself – When you’re tired, angry, anxious, or not feeling your best, it makes everything worse. Take care of yourself by going for a walk, eating healthy foods, getting more sleep, and spending time with people you like. You may also want to talk to a trusted friend or colleague about how you’ve been feeling at work, and ask him or her for advice.
  • Make sure your boss knows what you’re doing – It’s possible that your boss might not know exactly what you’re working on and what you’ve accomplished. Schedule some time to talk to him or her about the things you do and what you contribute to the team.
  • Figure out what would make you feel more appreciated – Everyone is different, and we all have different ideas about what it means to be appreciated. So think about what would make you feel valued. A promotion? Additional resources? Or just having your boss say “thank you” or “good job” when you finish a difficult project?
  • Talk to your boss about why you’re feeling unappreciated – Be calm and specific. Don’t get angry or emotional. Don’t go off on a tangent and start complaining about your coworkers or the amount of stress that you’re experiencing. Talk about the reasons why you’re feeling unhappy or unappreciated – and, if possible, offer ideas about how to make the situation better.
  • Show your appreciation for others – If your boss or your coworkers accomplish something great, congratulate them. And if they do something nice or help you out with something, thank them. The more appreciation you show others, the more you’ll get in return.

 

Harden, P. (2016, March 10). What to do when you feel undervalued at work. Washington Post. Retrieved from https://jobs.washingtonpost.com/article/what-to-do-when-you-feel-undervalued-at-work/

 

Surviving Awkward Moments

By in Humor, Learning No Comments Tags: , ,

Awkward_Moment

Human interactions can sometimes be so complex and awkward! If you’ve ever waved back at someone who wasn’t actually waving at you, or forgotten someone’s name two seconds after the person told you what it was, you know what I’m talking about.

That’s why I particularly enjoyed this list of “The 11 Most Awkward Moments That Happen When You Physically Greet Someone.” (I can especially relate to items 3, 6, and 10!) It includes both handy illustrations and tips on how to avoid or alleviate various cringe worthy situations.

When you’re short like me, it can sometimes be hard to figure out where everyone’s arms should go.
When you’re short like me, it can sometimes be hard to figure out where everyone’s arms should go.

 

Have you ever experienced any of these situations? Feel free to share your stories (and helpful suggestions) in the Comments section below!

 

Pyle, N. W. (2014, May 22). The 11 most awkward moments that happen when you physically greet someone. BuzzFeed. Retrieved from http://www.buzzfeed.com/nathanwpyle/the-11-most-awkward-moments-that-happen-when-you-physically#.hcYWx44PXq

 

How to Enhance Your Credibility

By in Learning No Comments Tags: ,

Credibility

To be successful at work, it’s important to have credibility. Your managers and coworkers need to trust you, value your ideas, and have confidence in your abilities.

So what should you do if you lack credibility? Well, don’t despair! With time and effort, you can earn your coworkers’ respect and trust. Here are a few ways to go about it:

  • Do what you say you’re going to do – Do the work that you say you’re going to do, and get it done on time. If you do this consistently, your managers and coworkers will realize that they can rely on you.
  • Have empathy – To be credible, it’s not enough to just do good work. You also need to be able to connect with your coworkers, listen to them, and be sympathetic and supportive when they’re having problems.
  • If you make a mistake, admit it – Don’t try to hide your mistake or shift the blame onto someone else. If you’re honest and you admit your mistake right away, people will respect you for it.
  • If you don’t know the answer to a question, admit it – Don’t try to make something up. You might end up being wrong, and when people find out, it will put a serious dent in your credibility. Instead, just tell people when you don’t know something. It’s OK to not have all the answers.
  • Keep your coworkers’ secrets – If a coworker tells you something in confidence, don’t tell other people. Your coworkers need to know that you’re trustworthy, and that they can safely confide in you.
  • Don’t let your feelings cloud your judgment – If someone criticizes your work or your ideas, don’t get angry. Instead, calmly evaluate what the person has said, and see if it has merit. Similarly, if you’re working with a coworker that you don’t get along with, and that coworker offers an opinion, don’t immediately discount it. Try to be objective and give all suggestions fair consideration.

 

Green, A. (2009, June 22). How to build credibility at work. U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved from http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2009/06/22/how-to-build-credibility-at-work

 

Jacobs, D. L. (2011, November 22). Boost your credibility at work. Forbes. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/deborahljacobs/2011/11/22/how-to-boost-your-credibility-at-work/#2548349c3de3

 

Avoiding Generational Stereotypes

By in Learning No Comments Tags: ,

Different_Generations

So much has been written about the different generations of people in the workforce, what they’re like, and how they can be managed effectively. We’re told that the people in these groups all behave in a certain way and share certain characteristics. A few common stereotypes are listed below:

  • Traditionalists – Behind the curve, unable to learn new forms of technology
  • Baby Boomers – Resistant to change, bureaucratic
  • Generation X – Grumpy, cynical
  • Millennials – Entitled, expect promotions without paying their dues

So are these stereotypes true? Research indicates that they’re not. Although people in different generations do share certain qualities and beliefs, for the most part, these stereotypes are false and misleading. People are unique and shaped by a variety of factors – not just the time period in which they grew up. So people of the same generation are often very different from one another, and people in different generations can have strong commonalities. For instance, surveys have indicated that people across all generational groups have similar interests in technology and feel comfortable communicating in variety of ways (face to face, emails, texts, etc.).

So why do these stereotypes exist? Because they make our lives easier! It takes time and effort to learn about a bunch of different people’s personalities, strengths, and interests. It’s much easier to separate those people into groups (based on their age) and draw general conclusions about them. But if you rely on stereotypes, you can miss out on amazing opportunities. You might overlook the 60-year-old employee who happens to be brilliant at programming. Or you might discount the 25-year-old employee who has leadership potential.

It’s best to avoid generational stereotypes and not make assumptions about people simply because they fall into a certain age bracket. Instead, try to evaluate people individually. Talk to them about their interests and preferences, and discover who they really are.

 

Cettina, T. (2015, April 9). Overcoming generational stereotypes in the workplace. Inc. Retrieved from http://www.inc.com/bankofamerica/overcominggenerationalstereotypesintheworkplace.html

Kadakia, C. (2014, May 11). Blatantly incorrect generational stereotypes: Communication methods by generation. The Huffington Post. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/crystal-kadakia/blatantly-incorrect-gener_b_4935179.html

Kriegel, J. (2015, September 3). Millennial stereotyping is hurting corporate America. Forbes. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/oracle/2015/09/03/millennial-stereotyping-is-hurting-corporate-america/#6ccf7bed4d97

 

The Upside of Failure

By in Learning, Living Well, Quotations No Comments Tags: ,

Failure_at_Work

I’m not a good cook. But last night, I attempted to make Chicken Tikka Masala because I think it’s delicious, and I loved the idea of being able to make it at home. Unfortunately, things did not go well. It turned out so terribly, in fact, that I’m not even going to eat the leftovers. (And I almost never throw away leftovers!) It was a definite, unqualified failure.

So yeah, I’m kind of unhappy about it. But as one of my coworkers informed me, “That’s how you learn.” And he’s right. When you’re trying to cook something new, you learn from making mistakes. The same is true in the workplace.

Author Jeff Stibel has written about the importance of failure in the workplace. He believes that it’s more instructive than success. He argues that when we succeed, we’re often not even sure why. We’re happy about it, but we don’t really take the time to analyze exactly why things went right. In contrast, when we fail, we tend to spend a lot of time thinking about it. We carefully identify the missteps that were made, and we learn from them.

Stibel believes that people have to be free to fail. People who are afraid of failing (or are afraid of being punished for their mistakes) never take chances or try anything new. In order for a company to be innovative and successful, employees need to be free to take risks and occasionally fail. And they have to be encouraged to talk about those failures rather than trying to gloss over them or hide them. We all experience failures from time to time. As Thomas Edison allegedly said about his attempts to design a light blub, “I have not failed 10,000 times. I have successfully found 10,000 ways that will not work.” Failure is nothing to fear. It’s critical to success.

 

Stibel, J. (2016, March 25). How bringing failure into your workplace can maximize success. Forbes. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffstibel/2016/03/25/how-bringing-failure-into-your-workplace-can-maximize-success/#392870ae5628

 

Team-Building Exercises Gone Wrong

By in Communication, Learning 2 Comments Tags:

TugOfWar

At the last company where I worked, we had a “Team-Building Day” once a year. For some reason, this always happened in the middle of the summer when the heat and humidity were brutal. We were given matching t-shirts to wear and sent off to some remote, outdoor location. Once there, we had to divide into teams and compete in a variety of really ridiculous events. We threw water balloons around. We played tug-of-war. And – I’ll never forget this – we raced each other on giant tricycles. (Don’t try that one at home! It turns out that giant tricycles are really hazardous!)

Everyone dreaded Team-Building Day. We never knew exactly what was coming, but we knew that it would be awful. The activities were dumb, and the oppressive heat made everything worse. And in the end, it was really pointless. I mean, I suppose it’s possible that we might have bonded a little bit due to our shared hatred of the day. But other than that, not a lot of team building occurred. And we didn’t come away with any innovative new ideas or problem-solving skills. After it was over, we just returned to the office, and life proceeded as usual. Nothing changed or improved as a result of a sweaty potato-sack race.

So why weren’t these team-building exercises effective? According to author Kate Mercer, there are four reasons:

  1. It’s hard for most people to see how team-building activities relate to their everyday work. It takes a very skilled facilitator to help people make a connection.
  2. The activities are often embarrassing. Some people won’t mind. But other people will be cringing inside as they have to run around, balancing an egg on a spoon.
  3. It’s kind of patronizing. Forcing employees to have “fun” can have the opposite result – employees can come away feeling angry and resentful.
  4. Socializing and competing don’t necessarily lead to team-building.

Effective team-building activities should help employees to learn more about each other, communicate better, and work together more effectively. Activities could focus on exploring each person’s individual strengths, clarifying the role that each person plays, or investigating how each team member prefers to work and get things done.

Social events are also a great idea! What’s better than going out for lunches, dinners, or drinks with coworkers? But these events should be optional. If people don’t want to socialize with their coworkers outside the office, they shouldn’t be forced into it.

 

Cave, A. (2016, March 25). Four reasons why team-building exercises can actually damage your workplace. Forbes. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewcave/2016/03/25/four-reasons-why-team-building-exercises-can-actually-damage-your-workplace/#3776a05975cc

 

Feeling Exhausted? Here’s What You Should Do.

By in Living Well No Comments Tags: ,

SleepyWork

We all have our tired days. If your life is stressful and hectic, or if you didn’t sleep well the previous night, exhaustion can set in. And when you’re tired, it can sometimes be difficult to be productive (and fully conscious) when you’re at work.

So if you find yourself in this situation, here are a few things to try:

  • Be very specific about what you want to accomplish. When you’re tired, it can sometimes be hard to keep yourself on track. So having a detailed list of what you want to get done that day can be very beneficial.
  • Drink a lot of water. When you’re dehydrated, it’s even harder to concentrate. And even though coffee and soda can provide you with a jolt of energy, they’re a temporary fix. Drinking water throughout the day should help you to maintain your focus.
  • Get up and move around. Wake yourself up by standing up, taking a walk around the office, or just stretching at your desk. Any form of exercise can be very energizing!
  • Try to avoid distractions (even more than usual). When you’re tired, it’s easy to get sidetracked. A quick glance at Facebook can turn into a long scroll through your friend’s vacation pictures. Make things easier on yourself by avoiding distractions altogether.
  • Work on tasks that are easy and straightforward. If possible, save the demanding, challenging tasks for another day when you’re more rested.

 

Hale, A. (2010, March 1). How to work when you’re tired. Forbes. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/2010/03/01/tired-energy-work-forbes-woman-time-business.html

 

Are You an Integrator or a Separator?

By in Living Well No Comments Tags: , ,

Integrator

Technology has changed the face of the modern workplace. It’s no longer uncommon to get work-related texts, calls, and emails in the evenings and on weekends. The line between work and home is blurry and indistinct. This suits some people just fine – but can make other people feel stressed and unhappy.

In a recent Wall Street Journal article, Sue Shellenbarger suggests that there are two types of people in the workplace:

  • Integrators – These are the people who are able to seamlessly combine work and home activities. They don’t mind sending out emails and taking calls while stuck in traffic or sitting on their couch in the evening. They’re good at multitasking and don’t feel the need to have separate, personal time.
  • Separators – These are the people who see work-related texts and emails as an intrusion into their personal time. They want their work and home lives to be separate – and when work intrudes, they react negatively.

Unfortunately, there can sometimes be conflict between these two types of people. Integrators might think that Separators aren’t dedicated enough. (If they’re willing to work on weekends, why aren’t their coworkers?) Meanwhile, Separators can see Integrators as demanding and intrusive.

So what can be done to bring peace and harmony to the office? Well, both types of people feel happiest when they can control when and how they get their work done. Integrators love to multitask, and shouldn’t be prevented from sending out late-night emails. But they also have to be respectful of the other people that they’re working with, and not expect to get an immediate response. Separators need to keep their home life and their work life separate. So they should be clear about what they consider to be “personal time” and let their colleagues know that they’ll be unavailable during these periods.

 

Shellenbarger, S. (2016, March 29). Late-night work email: Blessing or curse? The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from http://www.wsj.com/articles/late-night-work-email-blessing-or-curse-1459275326?tesla=y

 

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