Walking on Eggshells - Professional Or Not So Much?
Severe thunderstorms are rolling through Indy and the suburbs, so I'm hanging tight before socializing this evening. Why not rattle off a little blog post instead of taking cover in a sturdy structure (my apartment does not count as a sturdy structure - paper thin walls, zero insulation, and cheap construction)?
The professional work-force is boring and overly cautious in what they say and do at work. There, I dropped a bomb of a generalization. I have cracked jokes and received the follow up emails or conversations that are to the effect of "Easy there big fella." I think very few people enjoy being a robot of pure etiquette between the hours of 8 and 5 each Monday through Friday, but do so because it is accepted as the proper behavior within the walls of a business. When did becoming a stuck-up douche with no sense of humor become perceived as professional?
I would rather walk the line of "maybe we should have a sit down with HR" not because I'm a rebel without a cause, but because maybe that line is drawn too close to "church/funeral behavior" and not close enough to "summer bbq" behavior. I don't see a correlation between me sitting with my hands crossed, half-falling asleep, and wishing people would say what they really want to say instead of speaking business gibberish and me being more productive. I check my email, calendar, run data analysis tests, and work on another project all at the same time. What's wrong with cracking a joke or injecting humor into business conversations? Nothing. I do it all the time - in moderation of course.
I agree that there is a recommended mixture of comedy and seriousness that still allows the collaboration to move forward in a productive manner while having a good time. It does take a certain level of maturity, personality, and conversational experience (put that on your resume) to recognize when you are deterring the current movement or progress. Cross that line of "intelligent and fun co-worker" to "class clown" a few times and you will recognize the response and learn to not do it again.
So, lighten up, make the best of a situation that isn't always fun, and change the perception of what it means to be professional. Working towards your goals with the company you work for, starting a business, or running a business is rewarding but hard work that lasts many years. The stress will build up and you will release it one way or the other if you don't manage it.
The biggest stress reliever for me is comedy. Even at the office.
