Author: Shubhadeep B.

Quotes To Live By

“Destiny is not a matter of chance,
it is a matter of choice;
it is not a thing to be waited for,
it is a thing to be achieved.”
– Winston Churchill –
Work
(Photo courtesy “Cave Canem” )
“If we all did the things we are capable
of doing, we would literally
astound ourselves.”
– Thomas Edison –
“Let us so live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry.”
– Mark Twain –
“Strength does not come from winning.
Your struggles develop your strength.
When you go through hardship
and decide not to surrender,
that is strength.”
GaneshaStrentgh 
(Photo courtesy Hartwig HKD )
“The greatest mistake you can make in
life is to be continually fearing
you will make one.”
– Elbert Hubbard –

Best Friend At Work

BestFriendPhoto courtesy *USB*

"The development of trusting relationships is a significant emotional compensation for employees in today’s marketplace."

Gallup has made the term "best friend at work" popular through it’s Q12 framework for employee engagement. Every time I’ve come across this question, it’s made me wonder what characterizes a best friend at work.

Come to think of it, a "best friend at work" can’t be too different from a "best friend". A person who knows you well & you regard with affection & trust. Someone you like spending time with. Well, all of this applies & then some more.

"If you really want to know how your behaviour comes across to your colleagues and clients, stop looking in the mirror and admiring yourself. Let your colleagues hold the mirror and tell you what they see."

What characterizes a best friend at work?

  • IS willing to be a mirror & tell you for who you are professionally, rather than wait for your foes to have a field day at your expense
  • IS truly interested in your well being & your development
  • GOES the extra mile to understand your point of view
  • DOES NOT always get swayed by what you want to hear
  • IS NOT just a buddy who pretends to remain friends but secretly despises you (this happens a lot)
  • IS NOT just a buddy with mutual animosity towards a common enemy

"While companies often pay significant attention to loyalty toward the organization, the best employers recognize that loyalty also exists among employees toward one another. All employees have "leaving moments" when they examine whether to leave or stay at an organization. The best managers in the world observe that the quality and depth of employees’ relationships is a critical component of employee loyalty."

Its one thing is for the organization & its managers to be aware of the importance of a "best friend". But why should you as an individual be too bothered about it?

  1. A best friend measurably improves your life. Studies reveal that if your best friend has a healthy diet, you are five times as likely to have a healthy diet yourself. If your best friend is not physically active, you are probably not, either.

  2. Organizations are but a collection of individuals. You can individually contribute to building a trusting & positive work environment by being someone’s best friend. 

“Life is partly what we make it, and partly what it is made by the friends we choose.”

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Some other reading on the topic:

Links of Interest – 14Jul2010

Facts that make you go hmmmm…

In the 1400’s a law was set forth in England that a man was allowed to beat his wife with a stick no thicker than his thumb. Hence we have ‘the rule of thumb’

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Many years ago in Scotland , a new game was
invented. It was ruled ‘Gentlemen Only…Ladies Forbidden’.. .and thus, the word GOLF entered
into the English language.

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It is impossible to lick your elbow.

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The State with the highest percentage of people who walk to work: Alaska.

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The percentage of Africa that is wilderness: 28%.
The percentage of North America that is wilderness: 38%

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111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987, 654,321

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If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle. If the horse has one front leg in the air, the person died because of wounds received in battle. If the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes.

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Q. If you were to spell out numbers, how far would you have to go until you would find the letter ‘A’?
A. One thousand

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Q. What do bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers and laser printers have in common?
A. All were invented by women.

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Q. What is the only food that doesn’t spoil?
A. Honey

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Q. Which day are there more collect calls than any other day of the year?
A. Father’s Day

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In Shakespeare’s time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes. When you pulled on the ropes, the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer to sleep on. Hence the phrase…’Goodnight , sleep tight’

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It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride’s father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the honey month, which we know today as the honeymoon.