A very important skill to learn, not just in the entertainment industry, but in any job.
A balance is key to making new friends in the workplace, but also meeting your job requirements and hopefully exceeding them. It can be easy at times to just want to talk about your life and what your going to do at the weekend, but this is a big no! Your employer did not hire you to bore people about what you are doing at the weekend, by all means inform if your colleague is interested but don't stop working! Multitasking is key, if you can work and talk then personally I don't see a problem (however, i'm not your employer i'm afraid) as you can still be getting your work done, and at the same time making your company a social place to work, raising company morale and in turn making a bigger profit (subject to your employees).
At Cyclops Vision where I am currently residing, I feel that i'm able to talk to colleagues, but at the same time I know it's important to get my head down and get my work done (I'm a man, statistically multitasking isn't one of our strong points), fact is without concentration at times your quite likely to make mistakes - and in some cases this could pull a strain on your job. I would suggest every few hours making yourself a nice warm drink and offering your
colleagues one, this promotes a 'happy to help' attitude and people like this.
2.2 Explain the importance of sharing information with colleagues
This is pretty paramount to a smooth workforce, during the Pre Production process i've been requested to make a list of what i'm searching for, whether it be props or properties (see what I did there :D) as if a i'm not in due to sickness or holiday, depending on the urgency of my tasks another work memeber may have to cover what I had been undertaking. But without a list it would be alot more stressful finding out where I may have stood on a certain area, just because I know what motorbike prop we may need, doesn't mean my colleague will.
During the Pre Production stage at my company i'm currently trying to find props, despite having limited information at this time on certain things. I've created a document with different action vehicle companies with numbers and quotes attached or with personal comments regarding alternatives, despite this list helping me it would also be paramount to my colleague if I just died and couldn't tell them what I had been doing.
2.3 Identify ways of tactfully requesting others to change working arrangements to improve own productivity
Just ASK! Despite this being the best policy on requesting change in working arrangements, sometimes I find myself to 'scared' to bring up certain things (i'm working on it)
On a day to day basis i'm sure you will have to ask for something, whether it being a coffee, a contract, or even a word. But the best way to productively change working arrangements is with a smile and a reasonable amount of time. You could find yourself in a situation when your work ties in with possibly research someone else has done or haven't. In this case scenario when they haven't done the work, how should you approach it? Well getting angry and talking to them like shit probably isn't the way to go - I definately wouldn't like someone doing that to me! Personally I would approach it in a way that made them feel bad/guilty if they didn't get that work across to you, as surely it isn't fair to have the blame on your back for not getting your work in, and you don't want to be known as the person who can't address this issue with a colleague (not who they would want as management material). So approaching the colleague and calmyly with a smile enquire about the work, and address that it has to be in by the end of the day. Most work colleagues would respect this and make it priority number one as to avoid any work relationship strains.
In the case that they don't respect the way you have approached them in your little polite manner, then I would follow up with an email, even possibly cc'ing your manager in, I'm sure they would get on the task pretty quick then. I joke I wouldn't copy my manager in, but i'm sure that would be effective.
Sit them down have a coffee, tea, hot chocolate (take your pick) and discuss in a calm way, that despite there reassurance on getting the research done, they could have been honest with you and explained the reasons for not as soon as you first addressed the problem, then in this case you may have had time to conduct the work yourself or start from where they left off.
2.4 Describe how to explain own decisions clearly and constructively
This is something that i've done in the stages of development, originally we were going to rent a production office. So there I went researching offices and looking on a relatively small budget, in a low budget independent film this is imperative. Instead of going to and from with emails regarding this and that property. I made an excel document instead that stated address/location, cost per square meter, utilities included, contact details, and an online link. This simple document allowed me to breakdown the properties i've been looking at and then send it to those concerned. Due to the fact it was all in one place, management could quickly
decide what office's were suitable and within budget. In the end we were given an office by a friend of the company.
2.5 Describe how to resolve conflict situations or dissatisfaction
Generally an issue that none of us want to be in, but despite this it may happen - So lets be prepared!
The best way to approach this situation is by keeping things quiet and calm. Bringing anything up in a work environment especially if aimed at a work colleague can be embarrassing for both your colleague and also for you. You wouldn't like to be put on the spot and told what your doing is wrong! So I feel a suitable way to have a positive outcome would be by emailing the relevant person you have a 'problem' with and state your reasons on why you would like to speak to them as it may be upsetting you with the way they've been talking to/about you. By sending this email you can give them some time to think over what they have done, or give them time to fight there corner on the topic. This is constructive not destructive to your work relationship, and definately beats pussy footing around the situation and can give both parties peace of mind after the discussion.
2.6 Explain the importance of liaison with colleagues to productivity
WHAT?
No comments:
Post a Comment