Quotable quotes from the office
I caught up with a friend and former colleague via Facebook recently. Let’s call her JL.
JL is one of those people you love to be working with. She brings out the best in people, professionally and socially.
Beneath her laconic exterior lurks a cutting wit.
JL was the keeper of a book in which she scribbled “quotable quotes” and “memorable moments”.
The book must be nearly 25 years old now, and I feature in some of its pages from 1988 to 1990.
JL sent me some samples this week. Most of them I wouldn’t like to publish here, but some are okay for mainstream consumption. (more…)
Life before Microsoft Office
It’s hard to believe there was once a world in which Microsoft wasn’t the dominant developer of software for word processing and spreadsheets.
I actually don’t use MS Office much these days, but its presence is ubiquitous.
I like Atlantis for quick documents, saved to RTF format and OpenOffice is my main choice in Linux.
At work we use Pongrass for text editing and I only need Word for opening contributed documents. (more…)
Microsoft Office 2007
I can’t bring myself to like Office 2007. My Vista PC came with the software last year. I tried it for a while, got rid of it and installed Office 2003.
Liking to experiment, I reinstalled Office 2007 and now wish I didn’t.
It’s hard to know why Microsoft changed the traditional interface that worked. Using Word 2007 is like learning the program from scratch; so many things are different, even how to save a file.
The default Calibri font, point size and paragraph spacing is annoying. I’m sure this can be changed, but why upset traditional users the moment they open a blank file? (more…)
Five bad email habits
Continuing from the previous post, this list is based on observations and personal experiences:
- Sending group emails to people who don’t really need to know;
- Attaching large files;
- Sending an email to someone in the same room about a mundane matter;
- Asking to be notified when the email is deleted;
- Phoning to see if the email was received (true)!
Slaves to email
I don’t intend to cross-post regularly between here and OzComments, but the issue of being slaves to email seemed worth mentioning at both places.
Sharon MacNevin from Email Management Solutions issued a statement today after speaking at a conference in Perth. In summary:
MacNevin said the rapid growth of email means that many organisations and individuals have forgotten the business guidelines for written communication, sending, receiving and filing of mail.
“People feel compelled to reply to emails even with just a ‘thanks’ adding to the overwhelming number of emails people receive. A simple ‘NRN’ (no reply necessary) can reduce the overload significantly,” she said. (more…)
iPod etiquette
I don’t know if there’s such a thing as a code of conduct for iPod users, but there ought to be. One of my staff has taken to getting around much of the day with an iPod glued to his ear.
You can make a perfectly audible comment across the office and he just doesn’t hear. To get his attention you have to draw his eye.
He’s not in a job where he has to answer the phone much, or get involved with discussions, but occasionally he is required to engage in dialogue.
Sometimes I see him swaying about the office, and if he wasn’t a non-drinker I’d have every reason to suspect he was intoxicated.
He’s good at his work, and apart from sometimes talking to myself while talking to him, I have no reason for complaint. I’m sure chronic text messagers waste more time than he does.
Is this is a common issue in the workplace? How should I deal with it?

