On Rule Breaking in the Workplace

The old saying goes, "Rules are made for breaking." Yes, for the rules of invention and creativity, but people these days believe it applies to rules in games and rules in the workplace.

Professional athletes continue to break the rules by using performance enhancing drugs or using illegal maneuvers on the field. In defense of the NFL, players are still getting use the new rules of the game to keep players safe, but sometimes hits are so unnecessary players should know better.

An employer has a rule that no cell phones should be used and everyone continues to use their cell phones when no one is looking because 'I'm above the rules.'

The above the 'rules mentality' is plaguing the workplace. In this age with the cost of living going up and wages low and stagnant with those getting paid high wages losing their jobs to outsourcing while the CEO's and executives earn a million dollar bonus for destroying homes and the American dream. It's not that hard to side with employees, that have no job security, minimum wage salary, that breaking the rules is no big deal.

Except when they work for a company that isn't going anywhere and they make a big fuss about wanting more money, more benefits and more respect. The owners and managers can look to their 'rule breaking' for reasons why they don't deserve raises, benefits or respect. Then the employee falls back into their pattern of rule breaking and laziness to start the cycle all over again.

Integrity is said to be, "doing the right thing, when no one is looking." Leadership is said to be, "actions that influence others to act." Leadership and integrity are not just for management and supervisors, they are for everyone. When everyone shows tendencies towards integrity and leadership,  everyone wins. Plus it's something they can never take away from you and something you can take with you everywhere you go.

I know rules are arbitrary and sometimes unfair and if they other you that much then I would suggest looking for somewhere else to work. But not matter where you go there will always and forever be rules. Dress codes, break times, smoke breaks, no cell phones, don't be late, don't leave early,

Mangers have a responsibility too. To be respectful of those they are managing and be empathetic to their feelings. Being in charge of others is not open season for the manager to scream and yell, be cruel and emotionless or bring down the hammer of discipline. It is their job to let people go if they aren't working to the standards of the job. But you should first confront the infraction with a smile and have a calm conversation resolving the problem. If it continues, then you should repeat and never scream or yell even if you need to let them go and even if they get angry.

We are all human, we are all here for a short period time and we are all doing our best to live out the hopes and dreams set out in front of us. So we should work together to create environments that we can strive and be happy.

All About Lists

Everything now is a list. It's one of the strategies for social media marketers and you see it everywhere. The top 5 this, the top 10 that, and every so often a top 8. It doesn't matter how many you have in your list just as long as you have one. 

There is even a TV show called The List, a show about all the other lists out there. Not quite, but that would save a lot of people a lot of time. One of the best Twitter accounts you can follow is @SavedYouAClick. They read the stories with click bait titles, the ones that usually headline with a leading question, and tell you the answer without having to risk downloading a virus to your computer. Thank you @SavedYouAClick.

The television show The List makes their own lists and produce short segments about the things on their lists. Usually about tech, health fitness or upcoming events. Stuff that is popular on the web and things that are trending. It wasn't such a bad show. The information was useful, but (and there's always a but) the fast paced story cuts and motion graphics with the continuous high energy enthusiasm of the hosts got a little tiresome. It's a show for people with ADD. Despite that, I would watch it again if it was on. 

The real trouble with lists facing us today is not that there are lists, but how the lists are presented. A typical list used to be a simple one page countdown or count up of the top something within its focus area. Movie lists come to mind, the top 100 AFI movies list has been a standard in lists for a long time. A one page list of what they deem to be the best movies of all time. It's simple, easy to read, no fuss, no muss, no gimmicks, no pop ups, nothing. The best lists are that simple. Although, I'm not sure why Amazon hasn't paid them to add links to their site to buy the movies. 

All webpages aren't so simple. A list embedded in a web page and for whatever reason each time you click on the next button the whole page reloads all the static graphics and ads, sometimes the same sometimes new, again. Now with high speed internet maybe it's not much of a problem, but it's annoying. At one time it might of been the only way, but more and more sites now are getting away from this with the help of HTML5.

Most  good sites build a container where they put the photograph and text into it, they then embed that container in a webpage. Each time you click the next button the container changes, but the rest of the site doesn't. Genius. One site that does this really well is the purpleclover.com. Their site is a pop culture site for Gen X'ers. Kind of a niche I guess. What they do is make a story gallery, one in particular is a Marylin Monroe through the years (something Gen X'ers are into) and each time you click the next button the image and text changes, but the site remans the same. Little things in this world can make a person so happy.

I like lists. I have been known to make lists myself. I try to use lists more as a sequence; three things Dan Harmon said about telling better stories, number 1, number 2, etc., things like that.

Most lists are subjective and shouldn't be taken so seriously. Top 10 love songs or top 8 muscle building exercises. My favorite love songs aren't necessarily anyone else's and all exercises utilizing body weight or barbells are going to help lose weight and build muscles. I did watch a youtube video about the top 5 foods to help build muscle, that's why I eat more avocado.

Lists that are educational or fun are my favorite kinds of lists. Lists that promote low culture or propaganda are my least favorite lists. Lists that exploit celebrity gossip, lies and just plain dangerous ideas. And most times lists are dangerous and may be just click bait so spyware and spammers can get your information. These are the types of lists that prey on the low culture. Top 10 ways to enhance the size of your wiener. If there was a way, we would know.

So be careful out there when looking at lists. Go out and create your own lists of things you're interested in and if you make a list of articles about lists then put this one on your list. That would be nice.