HEARD IN THE LUNCHROOM

Take Your Lunch, Please

As companies tighten their budgets and curtail hiring, employees may be asked to take on more responsibilities. This can come with sacrifices, including a shortened lunch hour. According to a Robert Half survey, executives polled said their average lunch break is 35 minutes, seven minutes less than what they reported five years ago. Taking that mid-day break is important because it allows you to recharge and renew your creative juices.

Here are some tips for keeping your lunch break.

• Plan your day. Schedule your break to fall between projects, if possible, and set morning deadlines for important tasks so you can relax over lunch.
• Schedule lunch with colleagues. During a busy period, change a team meeting to a working lunch outside the office. The time away will improve your energy while maintaining productivity.
• Book an appointment. Block off your online calendar so coworkers don’t schedule calls or meetings during that time. Be flexible, though, if there are no other options.
• Step away from the desk. If you are unable to leave your building for lunch, take a walk around the office. If possible, eat in the lunch room or break area with colleagues.
• Put work aside. If you have to be near your computer or phone, face your chair away and do a nonwork activity, such as reading a newspaper or magazine.

Playing Office Politics

Unlike the presidential race, office politics is not limited to the election season. Here are some of the people who may be contributing to office politics in your workplace and how to deal with them:

• The Pundit. This person loves to talk office politics and rarely tires of speculating about what’s really happening. While the Pundit may provide useful insights on occasion, it’s best not to share too much information with this individual, as it could fuel the rumor mill.
• The Lobbyist. The Lobbyist is a strong advocate for his or her projects and is adept at gaining buy-in for ideas. While some Lobbyists are effective at building cross-departmental support, others may be unreceptive to outside points of view. When interacting with this person, be aware of the agenda being pushed, and be willing to stand up for your ideas.
• The Covert Operator. The Covert Operator often uses manipulation rather than hard work to get ahead. While this type of person can be charming, keep your guard up when dealing with anyone who criticizes a coworker or takes credit for other people’s projects.
• The Activist. This professional likes to facilitate change within an organization and is quick to take on causes, even those that don’t necessarily advance the company’s big-picture goals. While the Activist can be a valuable advocate, carefully evaluate the merit of the issues when asked for support. 
• The Advisor. This person often is closely aligned with a company’s leadership and serves as their “eyes and ears.” For example, the Advisor could be a senior aide or an executive assistant. Because the Advisor wields significant behind-the-scenes influence, develop a good rapport with him or her.

Heard in the Lunchroom^SM is provided by Robert Half, the world’s largest specialized staffing firm and a leading authority on workplace and management trends.  For more information, visit www.rhi.com.