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:

How Unsolvable Problems Can Benefit You

By in Learning 2 Comments Tags:

Big_Problem

At work, we’re sometimes presented with problems that can’t be solved quickly or easily. And sometimes, after working on a certain problem, it becomes evident that there is no solution at all.

This can be really disheartening, and it may lead us to believe that our time and effort has been wasted. But in reality, a lot can be learned and gained from working on unsolvable problems.

At Northwestern University, freshman Engineering students are required to take a Design Thinking and Communication class. In this class, they are put into small groups and asked to solve a challenging problem experienced by disabled people. For instance, they might be asked to create a device that will allow a person who only has the use of one hand to tie his or her shoelaces. Or they might be asked to devise a way for a person with weakened arms to pull on tight support stockings. Sometimes these problems can be solved. But sometimes, there is no solution.

The creators of this course designed it that way on purpose. They want their students to experience what it’s like to try to solve a potentially unsolvable problem, and they strongly believe that the process teaches their students important lessons. Indeed, according to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, there’s a lot you can learn from working on problems with no clear solutions:

 

Chart

So if you spend a lot of energy and effort trying to solve a problem that ultimately has no solution, it can be very frustrating. But remember, it’s not a waste of time! The process itself can be beneficial. It can help you to develop and strengthen some very valuable skills.

 

Shellenbarger, S. (2016, February 23). The power of unsolvable problems. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from: http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-power-of-unsolvable-problems-1456255158

 

Instant Messaging Your Coworkers – How to Do It Right

By in Communication, Technology 1 Comment Tags: ,

Happy_With_IM

My coworkers and I often use instant messaging (IM) to communicate with each other. Even though our offices are all really close together, we still IM each other. I guess that means we’re a little bit lazy.

Do you use IM at your office? If so, it’s a good idea to follow certain guidelines. Since the messages pop up on a person’s screen, IM can be annoying and intrusive. So here are a few suggestions:

  • Don’t IM people that you’ve never met. If you’ve met the person at least once, then it’s fine. If you’ve never met the person, then it’s weird.
  • Start by greeting the person and asking him or her if now is an OK time to chat. (Write something like, “Hi! Do you have time for a quick question?”)
  • Keep the conversation brief, and only ask a question if you know the person can provide a quick response. If you need to share a lot of information, or if you know the person is going to have to think about his or her answer, send an email instead.
  • Don’t use confusing abbreviations. Stick to the ones that everyone knows. LOL.
  • Don’t use IM to share bad news. If you have unhappy news to share, do it over the phone or in person.
  • Don’t change a meeting time or location at the last minute using IM. The meeting participants might miss the message. Try to give them a call instead.
  • At the end of the conversation, say “thanks.” Saying nothing seems rude and abrupt.

To be honest, I think my coworkers and I break most of these rules! I guess that means we’re both lazy AND rude! But hey – don’t be like us. Follow these guidelines and your coworkers will be impressed with your professional and polite approach.

 

Giang, V. (2013, November 15). 9 instant message etiquette rules every professional needs to know. Business Insider. Retrieved from: http://www.businessinsider.com/9-instant-message-etiquette-rules-2013-11

 

Are You Really Too Sick to Work?

By in Humor 1 Comment Tags:

Calling_In_Sick

It’s February – one of the most popular months to call in sick to work. And I guess that’s not surprising. People are more likely to get a cold or the flu during the winter. But viruses might not be the only reason why people are calling in sick. According to a recent survey by CareerBuilder.com, 38% of people who call in sick are actually perfectly healthy.

So why didn’t these healthy people want to go to work? Most reported that they just didn’t feel like it, or they needed a rest. And the most common excuse that these people gave their bosses was a simple, “I’m sick.”

A simple excuse is probably best. But some people got a little more creative. Managers who were surveyed were asked to submit some of the most memorable excuses that they’ve received. Here are the top 10:

  1. Employee claimed his grandmother poisoned him with ham.
  2. Employee was stuck under the bed.
  3. Employee broke his arm reaching to grab a falling sandwich.
  4. Employee said the universe was telling him to take a day off.
  5. Employee’s wife found out he was cheating. He had to spend the day retrieving his belongings from the dumpster.
  6. Employee poked herself in the eye while combing her hair.
  7. Employee said his wife put all his underwear in the washer.
  8. Employee said the meal he cooked for a department potluck didn’t turn out well.
  9. Employee was going to the beach because the doctor said she needed more vitamin D.
  10. Employee said her cat was stuck inside the dashboard of her car.

These excuses actually seem pretty legitimate to me! Who would make these things up? But it seems that a sizable percentage of employers aren’t as trusting as I am.

Survey results indicate that 32% of managers check their sick employees’ social media accounts to see if there’s any evidence that they aren’t really sick. So if you’re home sick, but feeling basically OK, you should still restrain yourself from posting a picture of you dancing around or playing badminton in the backyard. A picture of a mug of tea, a box of Kleenex, and your sad face would probably be a better choice!

 

The Benefits of Shoveling

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

ShovelingSnow

Are you getting a little bit tired of shoveling snow? I know I am. I used to think that shoveling was kind of fun – a socially-acceptable way for an adult to mess around in the snow. But after our most recent snowfall, the joy is gone. The novelty has definitely worn off!

But winter isn’t over, and we may have more shoveling to do in the future. So to make us all feel better about it, I thought I’d list some of the benefits of shoveling.

  • It’s a high intensity workout. It works muscles in your arms, shoulders, legs, back, and core.
  • It burns calories. You burn about 250 calories for every 30 minutes of shoveling. (And you burn even more if it’s especially cold outside, the snow is heavy, or you have to chop at some ice.)
  • If the sun is shining as you shovel, it’s extra beneficial! You’ll get a dose of vitamin D, which is critical to your health. And exposure to natural light can help to alleviate your mood.

So there you go! Shoveling is great! (Although I’m still hoping we won’t have to do a whole lot more of it in the future!)

 

Benefits of snow shoveling. (2016, February 12). In Daily Natural Health News. Retrieved from: http://www.dailynaturalhealthnews.com/benefits-of-snow-shoveling/

 

How Work Affects Your Weekend

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

Weekend

A recent research study revealed something that actually seems pretty common sense:

  • People who don’t like their jobs feel really happy when the weekend rolls around.
  • People who do like their jobs don’t feel as excited about the weekend. In fact, thinking about the weekend might not increase their level of happiness at all because they’re already happy and satisfied.

And that makes sense. If you enjoy what you do during the week and you’re happy at work, the weekend becomes less important.

But here’s the part that’s more surprising. You would expect that the prospect of getting to spend time with family and friends over the weekend would make you feel happy and excited. And to a certain extent, it does – but not that much. Researchers found that people who had plans to spend time with loved ones did feel a little more happy and excited about their weekends than people who didn’t have similar plans. But still, the factor that had the most significant impact on peoples’ level of weekend excitement was how they felt about their jobs. That’s how important our work is to us, and that’s how powerful an effect it has.

So what makes people happy at work? Research suggests that two things are vitally important:

  • Working in an open and trusting environment
  • Having a boss who is supportive and feels like a partner

So leaders, take note! Workplace happiness is important. It has a powerful impact on employees’ lives – and not just while they’re at work. So pay attention to the mood around your office. And if it seems like morale is low, try to take steps to improve it. You can make your employees more happy and satisfied by helping to create a work environment that’s open, safe, and supportive.

 

McGregor, J. (2015, July 24). How our workplace environment affects our weekend mood. The Washington Post. Retrieved from: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/on-leadership/wp/2015/07/24/how-our-workplace-environment-affects-our-weekend-mood/

 

Introverts at the Office

By in Learning No Comments Tags: ,

Introverted_Worker

Extroverts often get a lot of attention at the office. They’re the first ones to share their opinions in meetings. They’re good at chatting with their bosses, “networking” with colleagues, meeting new people, and forming new connections. But just because extroverts are vocal and sociable, that doesn’t mean that they have better ideas than introverts. And it doesn’t mean that they’re more productive or effective.

Introverts may be quiet, but they’re extremely valuable employees. Their strengths shouldn’t be overlooked. They tend to be creative, observant, and good listeners. They’re often focused and diligent. They’re self-motivated and able to work independently. And they also tend to be good at delegating – a quality that’s important for those in leadership positions.

But the modern workplace can sometimes be challenging for introverts. A lot of the things we do at work seem to have been designed by and for extroverts. (For instance, the open floor plans that are currently popular in many offices can make an introvert’s life miserable.)

So what can be done to make introverts a little more comfortable and productive? The website Quiet Revolution offers a few suggestions:

  • Even if the office has an open floor plan, try to give introverts their own, defined space. A bookshelf and potted plants can help to create a little bit of privacy.
  • It’s great to have big office parties that include employees, clients, and guests. But try to hold smaller work-related social events as well.
  • At meetings, if you want introverts to share their opinions, it’s a good idea to create an agenda and include those people on it. The agenda will give them time to prepare and think about what they want to say.
  • Give introverts the opportunity to structure their own workday and decide how to best spend their time.
  • Recognize an introvert’s good work with an email or brief acknowledgement. Avoid the long, public speeches. (A big speech would be more of a punishment than a reward!)

Are you an introvert? Do you have any other suggestions? If so, please feel free to share them in the Comments section below!

 

Fosslien, L., & West, M. (n.d.). An illustrated guide to introverts in a start-up. Quiet Revolution. Retrieved from:  http://www.quietrev.com/an-illustrated-guide-to-introverts-in-a-start-up/

 

The Benefits of Having “Frenemies” at Work

By in Learning No Comments Tags:

Frenemies

You’re probably familiar with the term “frenemy.” It’s a friend who is also, in some ways, an enemy. For instance, it could be someone who is both a friend and a rival. Or it could be a person who is fun to be around, but who also criticizes you and puts you down.

A lot has been said about how damaging it is to have relationships with frenemies. They can make you feel lousy about yourself, and undermine your feelings of self-confidence.

But surprisingly, they might not be all bad! Indeed, recent research suggests that having a frenemy at work could actually be beneficial to you. Apparently, working with a frenemy could help to make you a better, more productive employee.

Watch this video to learn more about the possible benefits of having a frenemy at work. And then let us know what you think about workplace frenemies. Are they beneficial or detrimental? Share your thoughts in the Comments section below!

 

How to Sleep Better

By in Learning, Living Well No Comments Tags:

Sleeping

When people don’t get enough sleep, it’s no surprise that they’re often less productive at work the next day. But productivity isn’t the only thing that can be effected by a lack of sleep. Researchers have found that sleep-deprived workers are also less innovative, more stressed and unhappy with their jobs, and more likely to behave inappropriately or unethically. (When you’re exhausted, cutting corners in order to get something done can sometimes seem like a good idea.)

So what can be done to fix this situation? Well, it kind of depends on why you’re not getting enough sleep.

For some people, their lives are so busy that it’s simply not possible to get seven or eight hours of sleep each night. If you fall into this group, you have my sympathies! And I’m sure there’s no easy fix. (Otherwise, you would have done it!) But utilizing time management techniques could help – things like creating a detailed weekly schedule for yourself, prioritizing your activities and responsibilities, and having a plan in place in case unexpected developments occur.

For others, the problem is that they’re simply not able to sleep easily or soundly. If you fall into this second group, check out the video below. I found it to be very interesting and informative! You might want to try a few of these techniques and see if you find them helpful.

Good luck and sweet dreams!

 

Gregoire, C. (2013, July 23). 5 things you should know about sleep health in the workplace. The Huffington Post. Retrieved from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/carolyn-gregoire/sleep-workplace_b_3294409.html

 

STOP Writing Reports – START Delivering Analytics

By in Learning, Technology No Comments Tags: ,

Happy_With_Reports

We would like to thank Ray Newton, CFO of System Source, for this article.

NEWS FLASH – the days of delivering static paper, or even electronic reports are gone (or at least should be). Save yourself and the users of your data the pains of obsolete data and manual data manipulation. Instead:

  1. Make it the standard in your organization to deliver data sets that are dynamically linked to databases in real time.
  2. Educate your information users in the use of Pivot Tables, Filtering, Sorting, Subtotaling, Correlations, and Trending tools.

PivotTables

Providing information in this way allows users of data to not only get the information they are seeking, but allows them to (do I dare use the word?) “creatively” analyze their data in real-time. Empower your users to not only find the immediate answers they are looking for, but also to move forward and answer the questions that arise from their initial findings.

It is time to STOP writing reports – and start delivering meaningful, real-time, flexible analytics.

 

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