Its a universal known truth that women cant be straight forward isn't it? We throw a hint and expect the man to pick up the clue. But how do women deal with ambiguity?
I mean its equally difficult for us as well. I am talking out more in terms of my professional experience than personal. Some are trained to read in between the lines, to understand body language but why cant one say it in plain language?
I have realized that ambiguity is what leads to stress. You do not know what to do, what to expect and what not to do. You tread that path in confusion and doubt. Is it tough to say "Look! I need you to step up since I have future plans for your growth" than asking "why don't you do this...that...? Otherwise even in personal life; why should it be complicated? Communication is dangerous as equally as being helpful.
Anyway. getting back to professional life. I have heard women cant handle ambiguity. Ambiguity is a prime factor while in leadership role. Its easy if things are binary but what starts you guessing and in turn stressing out is when there is no definitive expectations, role, responsibilities call whatever you want to.
How do you handle "You will be held responsible for his failure" and yet be told "Don't tell him what to do"
Isnt that crazy? I have heard of things like these in corporate world. It seems men can handle such situations better than women. Hmm, maybe they just take it easy or can draw out the black and white from the gray.
Enough ranting for today :)
Showing posts with label Office. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Office. Show all posts
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Global Communication
What happens with two people are talking to each other over phone? Hmm...you can follow each other, maybe not get the tone of the speech but its fine. What happens if a group of people are meeting in a room and having a conversation. They could take turns talking, or there could be one member talking and others listening, or there could be a synchronous Q&A session or there could be a situation when each one is talking and there are many meetings in progress :)
Now what if this is meeting over phone across geographies and among large group of people having their own sweet accents. There are no protocols as to how to take over a conversation, who should talk, who should listen, how to pass a topic. Its a chaos.
I attended a Global Communication skills training few days ago. The above scenario is not new; been in this situation since I joined this line of work. But what I discovered were those subtle things that we miss out. For e.g. It would be so easier if each participant mention their name each time before they mentioned something. It seems funny but it so helps everyone. It gets awkward when you have to answer a query but you don't know who asked that question!!
Another conspicuous factor is the tone and frequency when you speak; in person or over phone. A tone in which you state can change the dynamics of a conversation. "HEY! THIS IS NOT RIGHT" can always be mellowed down and instead said "Hey, You know what? This is fine, but it might not work effectively in our scenario".
What else changed apart from the tone? The choice of words. Stressing on NO, DONT, NOT is so so negative. Its a contradiction. Instead of contradiction, challenge the case in the form of a question. Instead of a "No! I don't agree!" ask "How do you think this will help our case?" This shows you are willing to pursue provided you have supportive data!
The cultural differences plays a important role in communication. Keep silent in a meeting among group of Americans; they would probably think why doesn't he go take a nap if he has nothing to talk? Keep silent in a meeting among Japanese, they will appreciate and assume you understood it all and probably thinking!! See! :)
Use words that the majority of the crowd connects with. It makes it easier to present your case and make the crowd understand what you are trying to say. Last but not the least, small talk. Americans talk about weather and pets. Indians talk about traffic and food. So get into the groove and have fun! :)
Now what if this is meeting over phone across geographies and among large group of people having their own sweet accents. There are no protocols as to how to take over a conversation, who should talk, who should listen, how to pass a topic. Its a chaos.
I attended a Global Communication skills training few days ago. The above scenario is not new; been in this situation since I joined this line of work. But what I discovered were those subtle things that we miss out. For e.g. It would be so easier if each participant mention their name each time before they mentioned something. It seems funny but it so helps everyone. It gets awkward when you have to answer a query but you don't know who asked that question!!
Another conspicuous factor is the tone and frequency when you speak; in person or over phone. A tone in which you state can change the dynamics of a conversation. "HEY! THIS IS NOT RIGHT" can always be mellowed down and instead said "Hey, You know what? This is fine, but it might not work effectively in our scenario".
What else changed apart from the tone? The choice of words. Stressing on NO, DONT, NOT is so so negative. Its a contradiction. Instead of contradiction, challenge the case in the form of a question. Instead of a "No! I don't agree!" ask "How do you think this will help our case?" This shows you are willing to pursue provided you have supportive data!
The cultural differences plays a important role in communication. Keep silent in a meeting among group of Americans; they would probably think why doesn't he go take a nap if he has nothing to talk? Keep silent in a meeting among Japanese, they will appreciate and assume you understood it all and probably thinking!! See! :)
Use words that the majority of the crowd connects with. It makes it easier to present your case and make the crowd understand what you are trying to say. Last but not the least, small talk. Americans talk about weather and pets. Indians talk about traffic and food. So get into the groove and have fun! :)
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Office Spouse
A famous newspaper that is known to contain ads and gossips more than actual news had an interesting article of late.
The article started with a question as to how would you like it if you had someone who would be constantly supportive, your agony aunt or a punching bag at work? A spouse without having to marry!!
Few things sound dramatic when you give a name to them. It might be as simple as having a supportive colleague; but look at the term. Office Spouse!! The term Spouse brings in lot of packages with it - Nuptial agreement, promises to love each other in sickness and health, be loyal and honest until death..err...job hops do us apart!
Can we claim a no harm being friendly with colleague relationship as a "spouse" type? This very word is going to draw flak and make people wary of a healthy relationship at work. So yeah! you definitely would be bound to like one person more than others in the group. Like minded people would like to steal few minutes to go for a walk and talk on topics they could relate with.
There could be situations where in you could work better with a person having similar working styles than in isolation. Its all team work and productivity. Sometimes you need a person who is going through the same pain of working in a stressed environment and could relate with your verbal diarrhea. You need someone who knows the working of the organization and the frustrations of working with some people who you both know can be a pain. Should one give just a controversial name to it? I find it out rightly hilarious.
These sort of friendships among colleagues are everywhere and its a no harm thing. Tagging it with a ridiculous word as these could be extremely misleading and could lead to complications. Well why not? one would think twice before taking a walk with a colleague; lest others dont start speculating and send wrong signals!!
Imagine, the work place would be then a boot camp.
The article started with a question as to how would you like it if you had someone who would be constantly supportive, your agony aunt or a punching bag at work? A spouse without having to marry!!
Few things sound dramatic when you give a name to them. It might be as simple as having a supportive colleague; but look at the term. Office Spouse!! The term Spouse brings in lot of packages with it - Nuptial agreement, promises to love each other in sickness and health, be loyal and honest until death..err...job hops do us apart!
Can we claim a no harm being friendly with colleague relationship as a "spouse" type? This very word is going to draw flak and make people wary of a healthy relationship at work. So yeah! you definitely would be bound to like one person more than others in the group. Like minded people would like to steal few minutes to go for a walk and talk on topics they could relate with.
There could be situations where in you could work better with a person having similar working styles than in isolation. Its all team work and productivity. Sometimes you need a person who is going through the same pain of working in a stressed environment and could relate with your verbal diarrhea. You need someone who knows the working of the organization and the frustrations of working with some people who you both know can be a pain. Should one give just a controversial name to it? I find it out rightly hilarious.
These sort of friendships among colleagues are everywhere and its a no harm thing. Tagging it with a ridiculous word as these could be extremely misleading and could lead to complications. Well why not? one would think twice before taking a walk with a colleague; lest others dont start speculating and send wrong signals!!
Imagine, the work place would be then a boot camp.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Communication
I think I figured out why I am wary of posting on my blog - choosing my words and typing in to be precise. Communication explosion at work. I have never earlier talked to 30 different people and respond to 40+ mails each day - choosing the words and framing statements so that the message reaches the way you intend to - firm, crisp and diplomatic.
I can segregate write-ups (emails, technical documents) as one of the below; with my experience :)
Another trick I have learnt is to not give the other party a choice of YES/NO but to be assertive and ask for next set of information. Its not "Can I please use the infrastructure?" but "I plan to start using the infrastructure; please share the relevant details."
So yeah, lot of things in BIG GOOD(pun intended) corporate world :) I am learning! I am learning :)
PS : I just noticed that its quite a short post for communication.
I can segregate write-ups (emails, technical documents) as one of the below; with my experience :)
- A long writeup which can help relieve ennui or might cause headaches; you scan for relevant and useful data but you find none.
- One that is scattered with too many morphemes the way Anil writes(for most of us thats giving our dictionary extra work); which can lead to a confabulation later. Anil, this is a compliment :)
- Firm and point blank, assertive ones which can be mistaken for aggression.
- Write ups which are not mindful of the language flow, continuation and grammar. It still could pass the intended message or cause chaos.
Another trick I have learnt is to not give the other party a choice of YES/NO but to be assertive and ask for next set of information. Its not "Can I please use the infrastructure?" but "I plan to start using the infrastructure; please share the relevant details."
So yeah, lot of things in BIG GOOD(pun intended) corporate world :) I am learning! I am learning :)
PS : I just noticed that its quite a short post for communication.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
We the IT folks
Information Technology Industry - the much talked about industry that is directly or indirectly contributing to our country's economy - be it in the form of R&D, services and outsourcing and business processing. The engineers who work in the IT industry - lets talk about them.
They are smart, pragmatic and the elite ones; agile, geniuses who can churn out new technology and new products at the snap of their fingers. If you thought this is what I am going to say; sorry! We engineers are as normal as everyone else; with limitations galore. We are not THE CHOSEN ONES. In fact, we are the most amusing and entertaining creatures one can find :-) Why so? Because we are so confused ourselves.
Most of them get enticed into the creamy seeming IT; and they remain confused - neither here nor there. They graduate from a different stream; major in a totally unrelated subject but get submerged in this mighty ocean. Systems, application, R&D, domain, development, QA, support, technical writing, analyst, consultant...........all these seem so very trivial and unimportant when all you want is a IT job.
Its only much later that you realize you are not meant to do what you are doing; you want to work on core product, but here you are working on some banking application. Gosh!! but yet its IT!!!! So yeah, we are consistently confused, always on the run to grab opportunities, constantly learn something new. We work hard to prove ourselves only to be told "You are not proactive". You successfully complete all your assignments only to be told "But why don't you write a paper? An IP? A Disclosure? You are so capable you now" and this stalls your promotion :-)
Amidst all this, we are a bunch of fun loving people; insane and confused. Only among us will you see the maximum and optimal use of technology that is offered to us. Two mates sitting beside one another would 'talk' to each other via internal messenger communicator than just turning back and talk directly. Here is a sample
A and B sits next to each other. A initiates a text conversation
A : Hi B, what is the status of the module you were working on?
B : Hmm, I am working on it. I think I can leverage some of your functionality.
A : OK, I need Pinky tonight. May I?
B : Sure. I am done with Pinky. Go ahead.
A : Cool, come lets go for tea.
Both go for tea. By the way, Pinky would be the name of a server or some piece of hardware.
We think we can get more out of technology. Like; we try to call from our desk phone to our own extension.....or keep punching the keyboard after powering off the laptop....or more; use our office badge to swipe to unlock our house gate :-) We are smart, didn't I say? We foresee a lot and thats how we invent new stuffs.
Gadgets - Aaahhh those are our toys! How we love them! From those complex multi-core processor servers to latest phones and music players to cameras to laptops. We can learn the functionality of these gadgets faster and so remain always ahead. We are crazy! When others use desktops, we use sleeker and less bulkier laptops, when they start switching to laptops, we use netbooks. When people start using netbooks, we use a 17" massive laptops. We are different! adapt to technology soon. The same with any gadgets. When you all use a "mobile type" mobile phones, we use a matchbox size phones, when you guys think that's cool and switch to these, our new toy is a 4" display keypad-less touchscreen smart phones.
We think too high as well. Engineers you see; computer engineers :-) Our lingo, our talks are on a level beyond comprehension for most layman. We can "fix" the most impossible of the issues; we "leverage" and "optimize". We "boil down the ocean" to get issues resolved. We are super humans who can multitask and yet deliver with perfection and remain proactive and consistently over perform :)
We are software engineers. Our world is a 4x4 feet cube. Oh! even those are for the privileged ones. Our companion is our laptop and desk phone. Our friends are messengers, emails and websites. We emote, we talk, we cry, we feel within this world. We are branded as geeks or nerds. Some of us are zombies, but all of us are morons. I found this apt image online.
Image courtesy - http://www.prashantmhatre.com/fun/software-engineering-classics/
No questions asked, not even promotions :-P
PS : I dedicate this post to all the engineers working in IT industry
They are smart, pragmatic and the elite ones; agile, geniuses who can churn out new technology and new products at the snap of their fingers. If you thought this is what I am going to say; sorry! We engineers are as normal as everyone else; with limitations galore. We are not THE CHOSEN ONES. In fact, we are the most amusing and entertaining creatures one can find :-) Why so? Because we are so confused ourselves.
Most of them get enticed into the creamy seeming IT; and they remain confused - neither here nor there. They graduate from a different stream; major in a totally unrelated subject but get submerged in this mighty ocean. Systems, application, R&D, domain, development, QA, support, technical writing, analyst, consultant...........all these seem so very trivial and unimportant when all you want is a IT job.
Its only much later that you realize you are not meant to do what you are doing; you want to work on core product, but here you are working on some banking application. Gosh!! but yet its IT!!!! So yeah, we are consistently confused, always on the run to grab opportunities, constantly learn something new. We work hard to prove ourselves only to be told "You are not proactive". You successfully complete all your assignments only to be told "But why don't you write a paper? An IP? A Disclosure? You are so capable you now" and this stalls your promotion :-)
Amidst all this, we are a bunch of fun loving people; insane and confused. Only among us will you see the maximum and optimal use of technology that is offered to us. Two mates sitting beside one another would 'talk' to each other via internal messenger communicator than just turning back and talk directly. Here is a sample
A and B sits next to each other. A initiates a text conversation
A : Hi B, what is the status of the module you were working on?
B : Hmm, I am working on it. I think I can leverage some of your functionality.
A : OK, I need Pinky tonight. May I?
B : Sure. I am done with Pinky. Go ahead.
A : Cool, come lets go for tea.
Both go for tea. By the way, Pinky would be the name of a server or some piece of hardware.
We think we can get more out of technology. Like; we try to call from our desk phone to our own extension.....or keep punching the keyboard after powering off the laptop....or more; use our office badge to swipe to unlock our house gate :-) We are smart, didn't I say? We foresee a lot and thats how we invent new stuffs.
Gadgets - Aaahhh those are our toys! How we love them! From those complex multi-core processor servers to latest phones and music players to cameras to laptops. We can learn the functionality of these gadgets faster and so remain always ahead. We are crazy! When others use desktops, we use sleeker and less bulkier laptops, when they start switching to laptops, we use netbooks. When people start using netbooks, we use a 17" massive laptops. We are different! adapt to technology soon. The same with any gadgets. When you all use a "mobile type" mobile phones, we use a matchbox size phones, when you guys think that's cool and switch to these, our new toy is a 4" display keypad-less touchscreen smart phones.
We think too high as well. Engineers you see; computer engineers :-) Our lingo, our talks are on a level beyond comprehension for most layman. We can "fix" the most impossible of the issues; we "leverage" and "optimize". We "boil down the ocean" to get issues resolved. We are super humans who can multitask and yet deliver with perfection and remain proactive and consistently over perform :)
We are software engineers. Our world is a 4x4 feet cube. Oh! even those are for the privileged ones. Our companion is our laptop and desk phone. Our friends are messengers, emails and websites. We emote, we talk, we cry, we feel within this world. We are branded as geeks or nerds. Some of us are zombies, but all of us are morons. I found this apt image online.
Image courtesy - http://www.prashantmhatre.com/fun/software-engineering-classics/
No questions asked, not even promotions :-P
PS : I dedicate this post to all the engineers working in IT industry
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Bomb Threat for Pizza....
Today was an eventful day.
Yeah at work. My day began as usual....a long day...a hectic day..Lot of stuffs to finish, what with that infra issues and other nasty stuffs that pop up at the last moment.
Around mid-morning, got a mail from our VP to evacuate as there was an emergency. I just carried my phone and walked towards the emergency exit. My bag, wallet all left behind. It was sort of fun. Fun because I got the much needed break; after taxing hours. I had time to pull my team mates' legs, teasing them, aah...how nice! Past few days, we haven't even been able to catch up on coffee.
If you have been wondering why the title of this post is "Bomb Threat for Pizza", read ahead.
Firstly, I had pizza for lunch today - Veg Extravaganza. While having the pizza, got reminded of John Grisham's novel "Playing for Pizza".
Yet, why the title Bomb Threat for Pizza? The story goes thus. Its short guys...So chill.
In between our taxing times at work, I have been asking my colleagues to lunch outside for a day. We regularly eat at our office cafe. I said I wanted to have Pizza; that sudden crave!! I have been asking them since a week, and we were never really able to go because someone or the other had work and were not ready to invest an hour into Pizza gorging.
And out of the blue today, some beautiful soul decided to scare the wit out of us and he placed a hoax bomb threat. Bomb squad and the police arrived and the sanitizing drill began. We were evacuated and were asked to move to a safer spot. Know where? Exactly to a food court which has a Pizza joint!
So after the usual leg-pulling, hair pulling and other stuff, we decided to lunch leisurely. As it was an emergency exit, all I carried with me was my phone. But that would not prevent me from indulging in a pizza, would it? So I went about and borrowed some money from my friends and ordered my Pizza and Coke and a bonus of Alphonso Mango and Cream ice cream with Strawberry sauce toppings...Yummy!!!!!!!
While enjoying my Pizza, one of my team member said "So finally, you got to eat Pizza".
Hmmm...A blessing in the form of a Bomb Threat!!! Anytime for Pizza again!!
Yeah at work. My day began as usual....a long day...a hectic day..Lot of stuffs to finish, what with that infra issues and other nasty stuffs that pop up at the last moment.
Around mid-morning, got a mail from our VP to evacuate as there was an emergency. I just carried my phone and walked towards the emergency exit. My bag, wallet all left behind. It was sort of fun. Fun because I got the much needed break; after taxing hours. I had time to pull my team mates' legs, teasing them, aah...how nice! Past few days, we haven't even been able to catch up on coffee.
If you have been wondering why the title of this post is "Bomb Threat for Pizza", read ahead.
Firstly, I had pizza for lunch today - Veg Extravaganza. While having the pizza, got reminded of John Grisham's novel "Playing for Pizza".
Yet, why the title Bomb Threat for Pizza? The story goes thus. Its short guys...So chill.
In between our taxing times at work, I have been asking my colleagues to lunch outside for a day. We regularly eat at our office cafe. I said I wanted to have Pizza; that sudden crave!! I have been asking them since a week, and we were never really able to go because someone or the other had work and were not ready to invest an hour into Pizza gorging.
And out of the blue today, some beautiful soul decided to scare the wit out of us and he placed a hoax bomb threat. Bomb squad and the police arrived and the sanitizing drill began. We were evacuated and were asked to move to a safer spot. Know where? Exactly to a food court which has a Pizza joint!
So after the usual leg-pulling, hair pulling and other stuff, we decided to lunch leisurely. As it was an emergency exit, all I carried with me was my phone. But that would not prevent me from indulging in a pizza, would it? So I went about and borrowed some money from my friends and ordered my Pizza and Coke and a bonus of Alphonso Mango and Cream ice cream with Strawberry sauce toppings...Yummy!!!!!!!
While enjoying my Pizza, one of my team member said "So finally, you got to eat Pizza".
Hmmm...A blessing in the form of a Bomb Threat!!! Anytime for Pizza again!!
Friday, March 27, 2009
Overheard at work
Software Engineers.................
Aaaahhhhh...Rings a bell huh? Intelligent boring geeks, who just stare at the black screen and code, code, code......
Actually, we are all dumb people, who don't have a care for the world, doesn't know what is happening with others. Guys, aren't we the ones who would wish "good morning" to a colleague via office communicator? Aren't we the ones who would call up a peer who is in the next aisle instead of walking up to the cube? Aren't we the ones who have forgotten what it is to hold a pen and write on a piece of paper? All we have is some teeny-weeny half-baked knowledge of the technical product, we don't seem to care where Norway is...errr...unless you are asked to go on a business trip!!
We don't seem to know anything, confined to our 3x3 cube space with laptop and gallons of coffee.....
We are DUMB. To prove that, overheard these conversations
Person X : Shall we go to KFC today?
Person Y : Yeah, sure. KFC, hmmm do you know its American fast food restaurant.
(I really didn't understand if it was necessary to be pointing this out. I mean, most of us knew it was American. But BONKERS)
Person X : Oh yeah? I didn't know.
Person Y : Yeah K-F-C Kentucky Fried Chicken.
So yeah, we do haunt fast food joints, we do gorge on burgers, sandwiches, pizzas. But we don't know that KFC is American
*************************************************************************************
Person 1 : Kathmandu kahan hai? (Where's Kathmandu)
Person 2 : Nepal mein (Its in Nepal)
Person 1 : Oh, mai socha Tibet mai hai (Oh! I thought it was in Tibet)
(Oh dear!.....Pathetic. An Indian does not know our neighboring country and its capital!!!!)
*************************************************************************************
We guys are so used to our "office lingo" that it rubs on to us even while having personal conversations. One of my friend got a call from his mom and she seemed to have asked about God-knows-what. His response was
"Yeah mom. I will weigh down the options and get back to you by End of the Day."
Hmm, 3 office lingos in just one sentence.
*************************************************************************************
Hmmm...I am sure I will hear more bunkum similar to these..Will update as and when I do...
Aaaahhhhh...Rings a bell huh? Intelligent boring geeks, who just stare at the black screen and code, code, code......
Actually, we are all dumb people, who don't have a care for the world, doesn't know what is happening with others. Guys, aren't we the ones who would wish "good morning" to a colleague via office communicator? Aren't we the ones who would call up a peer who is in the next aisle instead of walking up to the cube? Aren't we the ones who have forgotten what it is to hold a pen and write on a piece of paper? All we have is some teeny-weeny half-baked knowledge of the technical product, we don't seem to care where Norway is...errr...unless you are asked to go on a business trip!!
We don't seem to know anything, confined to our 3x3 cube space with laptop and gallons of coffee.....
We are DUMB. To prove that, overheard these conversations
Person X : Shall we go to KFC today?
Person Y : Yeah, sure. KFC, hmmm do you know its American fast food restaurant.
(I really didn't understand if it was necessary to be pointing this out. I mean, most of us knew it was American. But BONKERS)
Person X : Oh yeah? I didn't know.
Person Y : Yeah K-F-C Kentucky Fried Chicken.
So yeah, we do haunt fast food joints, we do gorge on burgers, sandwiches, pizzas. But we don't know that KFC is American
*************************************************************************************
Person 1 : Kathmandu kahan hai? (Where's Kathmandu)
Person 2 : Nepal mein (Its in Nepal)
Person 1 : Oh, mai socha Tibet mai hai (Oh! I thought it was in Tibet)
(Oh dear!.....Pathetic. An Indian does not know our neighboring country and its capital!!!!)
*************************************************************************************
We guys are so used to our "office lingo" that it rubs on to us even while having personal conversations. One of my friend got a call from his mom and she seemed to have asked about God-knows-what. His response was
"Yeah mom. I will weigh down the options and get back to you by End of the Day."
Hmm, 3 office lingos in just one sentence.
*************************************************************************************
Hmmm...I am sure I will hear more bunkum similar to these..Will update as and when I do...
Monday, March 2, 2009
Taking the Lift? Hop on to some annoyance
Call them lifts or elevators; we cant do without them in our daily lives. Office lifts have rich tales to tell, only if they had the ability to yell!
Alas! NO.
An office goer would use the lifts at least 4 times a day. The lifts are silent spectators of human embarrassment and an apt place for research on human behaviors. How does one initiate a conversation with someone who is going to share that tiny space with you for not more than 1 minute? How do you stand in the tiny confinement of cramped space and yet not invade the private space of others? How do you develop the art of staring into space?
Most people would prefer to have the lift all by themselves. Yeah me too! I revel in excitement when I get into a lift and there's no one around. I can make a phone call and talk loud. I can look at my reflection on the polished walls of the lift and make sure I am presentable. I can relax, lean against the wall....hum my favorite tune, take the entire space and practice dance moves, curse someone.....
Image from http://www.savagechickens.com/tag/elevator
But that's not the case always. More often than not; we happen to share this cramped heavenly space with number of others. Lift experiences have always been annoying to me.
Most of us would have been part of few of the annoying situations more often - either by being the VICTIM or the CULPRIT. Lets find that out.
1. People tend to shout loud speaking on the phone while on the lift. Yelling improves the network signal, is it? Why are they not considerate enough to hold the call unless they leave the lift.
2. Another obsessive attitude of folks is to stand right in front of the control panel even when the lift is empty! What are you trying to do? Its understandable if the lift is crowded and you would want to stay as away as possible. That's the proper etiquette; but protecting the panel such that no one else can use it.....argh!!
3. I would like to occupy any one of the four corners of the lift space to let people come in and go out of the lift with ease. If the corners by chance are the front ones, it doesn't mean I AM THE LIFT OPERATOR!. I would definitely offer to press the buttons and hold the floor. But no, I ain't getting paid for it Mr. Where has the courtesy of "Please" and "Thank you" gone when one offers to press the buttons?
Image from www.cartoonstock.com
4. Its coldly amusing to be confronted by people just right in front of the lift door as it opens. They want to rush inside the lift even before the people trying to get out of the lift. Its a feeling of getting slapped hard on your cheeks. Guys! wake up. The lift is all yours but only for 60 seconds. Why do you barge in? Whats in store? Nothing interesting, just few boring and frustrated folks. Likewise, don't ever assume people have supernatural powers to pass through you to exit the lift if you hijack the only exit available.
5. Conversing aloud when inside the lift. Its so annoying to hear people complain about their work and their bosses in the lifts. Keep your drudgery conversations to yourself guys.
6. LADIES! LADIES! Its not your rest room to give yourself a makeover, highlight hair and clean your nails! Its very embarrassing for others who is on the lift with you. And please no.. no.. no.. gossips. Get that...huh?
Image from http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/s/stressful_working_gifts.asp
7. What do you call people who get a sadistic pleasure out of pressing all the buttons on the control panel just before they get out at the ground floor? The lift stops at each floor, 10 seconds to open the door, 30 seconds waiting and 10 seconds to close the door and start all over again.....
8. The lift is full, why do you want to try squeezing in and delay others?
9. If your office is in 1st or 2nd floor, whats the harm in taking stairs? People using the lift to travel less than 3 floors must be PROSECUTED!
10. Another thing that could drive you barmy is when someone holds the lift and the whole bunch of folks doing a ramp walk to get in. Least considerations to people already in the lift. Or when someone holds the lift and has a conversation with a person outside the lift not wishing to get in. What the heck! Disembark! Finish off your lovely CHANGE THE WORLD conversation , there's always the next lift..
11. Pressing the lift button continuously does not speed up the lift to go faster. Yet, people tend to do it. the lift is no Cow or Horse, lash it out and it runs faster buddy!
12. The DISGUSTING of them all...Breaking wind! Please don't do it. Don't even try it silently. Your face will give away.
Image from http://www.savagechickens.com/tag/elevator
13. THE FATHER OF ALL PUNISHABLE OFFENCE
You are on the lift, you are about to close the lift and notice someone running for the lift, please be kind enough to hold the door so that they can get in. This exact thing happened to me last week. A lady was on a lift, she saw me running towards the lift and phut! she pressed the button and the door slammed shut on my face. She looked exalted and in high spirits with her success as if she was on a high after guzzling down a couple of beers!. I wanted to punch on her lovely face!
Image from http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/e/elevator_doors.asp
Folks, I tell you there is nothing worse than seeing the lift open as one tries to get in and the lift door slams shut in the face. At least try to put up a sorry sad face and not an amused one!
Hoping for better experiences...
And yes, before signing off, the most stupid question people ask...
IS IT GOING UP/DOWN?
People, look at the panel; which direction is the arrow blinking? Why do you waste 10 seconds of my precious time?
Alas! NO.
An office goer would use the lifts at least 4 times a day. The lifts are silent spectators of human embarrassment and an apt place for research on human behaviors. How does one initiate a conversation with someone who is going to share that tiny space with you for not more than 1 minute? How do you stand in the tiny confinement of cramped space and yet not invade the private space of others? How do you develop the art of staring into space?
Most people would prefer to have the lift all by themselves. Yeah me too! I revel in excitement when I get into a lift and there's no one around. I can make a phone call and talk loud. I can look at my reflection on the polished walls of the lift and make sure I am presentable. I can relax, lean against the wall....hum my favorite tune, take the entire space and practice dance moves, curse someone.....
Image from http://www.savagechickens.com/tag/elevatorBut that's not the case always. More often than not; we happen to share this cramped heavenly space with number of others. Lift experiences have always been annoying to me.
Most of us would have been part of few of the annoying situations more often - either by being the VICTIM or the CULPRIT. Lets find that out.
1. People tend to shout loud speaking on the phone while on the lift. Yelling improves the network signal, is it? Why are they not considerate enough to hold the call unless they leave the lift.
2. Another obsessive attitude of folks is to stand right in front of the control panel even when the lift is empty! What are you trying to do? Its understandable if the lift is crowded and you would want to stay as away as possible. That's the proper etiquette; but protecting the panel such that no one else can use it.....argh!!
3. I would like to occupy any one of the four corners of the lift space to let people come in and go out of the lift with ease. If the corners by chance are the front ones, it doesn't mean I AM THE LIFT OPERATOR!. I would definitely offer to press the buttons and hold the floor. But no, I ain't getting paid for it Mr. Where has the courtesy of "Please" and "Thank you" gone when one offers to press the buttons?
Image from www.cartoonstock.com4. Its coldly amusing to be confronted by people just right in front of the lift door as it opens. They want to rush inside the lift even before the people trying to get out of the lift. Its a feeling of getting slapped hard on your cheeks. Guys! wake up. The lift is all yours but only for 60 seconds. Why do you barge in? Whats in store? Nothing interesting, just few boring and frustrated folks. Likewise, don't ever assume people have supernatural powers to pass through you to exit the lift if you hijack the only exit available.
5. Conversing aloud when inside the lift. Its so annoying to hear people complain about their work and their bosses in the lifts. Keep your drudgery conversations to yourself guys.
6. LADIES! LADIES! Its not your rest room to give yourself a makeover, highlight hair and clean your nails! Its very embarrassing for others who is on the lift with you. And please no.. no.. no.. gossips. Get that...huh?
Image from http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/s/stressful_working_gifts.asp7. What do you call people who get a sadistic pleasure out of pressing all the buttons on the control panel just before they get out at the ground floor? The lift stops at each floor, 10 seconds to open the door, 30 seconds waiting and 10 seconds to close the door and start all over again.....
8. The lift is full, why do you want to try squeezing in and delay others?
9. If your office is in 1st or 2nd floor, whats the harm in taking stairs? People using the lift to travel less than 3 floors must be PROSECUTED!
10. Another thing that could drive you barmy is when someone holds the lift and the whole bunch of folks doing a ramp walk to get in. Least considerations to people already in the lift. Or when someone holds the lift and has a conversation with a person outside the lift not wishing to get in. What the heck! Disembark! Finish off your lovely CHANGE THE WORLD conversation , there's always the next lift..
11. Pressing the lift button continuously does not speed up the lift to go faster. Yet, people tend to do it. the lift is no Cow or Horse, lash it out and it runs faster buddy!
12. The DISGUSTING of them all...Breaking wind! Please don't do it. Don't even try it silently. Your face will give away.
Image from http://www.savagechickens.com/tag/elevator13. THE FATHER OF ALL PUNISHABLE OFFENCE
You are on the lift, you are about to close the lift and notice someone running for the lift, please be kind enough to hold the door so that they can get in. This exact thing happened to me last week. A lady was on a lift, she saw me running towards the lift and phut! she pressed the button and the door slammed shut on my face. She looked exalted and in high spirits with her success as if she was on a high after guzzling down a couple of beers!. I wanted to punch on her lovely face!
Image from http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/e/elevator_doors.aspFolks, I tell you there is nothing worse than seeing the lift open as one tries to get in and the lift door slams shut in the face. At least try to put up a sorry sad face and not an amused one!
Hoping for better experiences...
And yes, before signing off, the most stupid question people ask...
IS IT GOING UP/DOWN?
People, look at the panel; which direction is the arrow blinking? Why do you waste 10 seconds of my precious time?
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
हाती और हाता
I overheard this conversation while I was writing lines of code....
A south Indian colleague was trying to learn Hindi.
He was asking what is the word for "Elephant" in Kannada. Another colleague said it is आने
He was quick enough to relate it to आना meaning "To come" in Hindi.
Continued asking what was the Hindi word for "Elephant". Someone mentioned it as हाथी.
He was like "Oh! I thought हाथी means a Girl's hand and हाता is a boy's hand; as हाथ means hand.
LOL......I laughed away unnoticed .......
A south Indian colleague was trying to learn Hindi.
He was asking what is the word for "Elephant" in Kannada. Another colleague said it is आने
He was quick enough to relate it to आना meaning "To come" in Hindi.
Continued asking what was the Hindi word for "Elephant". Someone mentioned it as हाथी.
He was like "Oh! I thought हाथी means a Girl's hand and हाता is a boy's hand; as हाथ means hand.
LOL......I laughed away unnoticed .......
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