The office candy dish- Something so simple and petite- A tiny accent in the corner of a giant, marble desk.
The glass dish has become somewhat of a staple for the buzzing lobby of our corporate office. Here’s the thing- It didn’t begin that way. In my position, I get to be in the center of a large multi-level office. My vantage point is filled with beautiful granite and marble, soaring windows, and a serene view of our own private pond. I hear the soft undertone of deals being made and deadlines being set.
Each person is navigating their day in the same space with the same ultimate goal in vastly different ways.
As I settled into my job, I quickly realized how many different personalities crossed my desk each day. They would walk up with enough time to breathe, vent their frustration, take in the views, and quietly move along after an impromptu pep talk.
The most common complaint in the corporate world has to do with differing personalities. We are challenged to not only get along with an wide range of opinions and work styles, but to do it productively. These differences affect really every aspect of our work day from projects and deadlines to the ability to work independently in peace. In my office, there were conflicts coming in at an alarming rate. The morale was dropping as the complaints and tension soared. Something interesting and refreshing happened, though. The fulcrum- A 5 pound bag of Tootsie Rolls.
I filled a glass vase to the top. The corner of my desk transformed into a peaceful space I lovingly dubbed “The Zen Zone”. The objective- Grab 5 minutes, a Tootsie Roll, and some perspective.
Before long, the jar was depleted and ready to be refilled. We now gauge our days on a scale of 1-19 Tootsie Rolls. We laugh more. The frustrations turned into stories. They turned into sharing about families and pets complete with photos. My coworkers started to relax even for a moment by stepping out of their spaces to share this one.
Employees-
In your daily work spaces, how are you interacting with your coworkers? How does your personality or experience evolve in 40 hours of sharing it each week?
Employers-
What ways are you contributing to employee morale? What policy changes might you consider to alleviate stress from the human side of your work space?
My challenge to everyone is this-
Find one easy, streamlined tool to center your space. We can find ideas for such things by listening between the words of your coworkers and employees. Check out Pinterest for fun office ideas. Better yet, collect various ideas and go for a vote. The effort to extend something purely beneficial to your peers is ultimately beneficial for your company.
What will become your “saving vase”?
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