La Coccinelle

Yesterday, I delivered a mini talk on work ethics during the JUANted general assembly.

Ralph was supposed to do it, but he had an exam. I dunno how I ended up being the one to deliver it. I am not really the best person to talk about this, because I know there are rules I fail to follow at times. But maybe that’s just it, because I’m still learning too. And because I learned most of what I know through experience.

I actually googled to prepare this presentation. It was a bit difficult because I think the kind of working environment in UP, and specifically in Eng’g is very unique.

At dahil maarte ako, and mostly because I need a blog post, here’s what I came up with using a bit of research and mostly personal experience. :)

The slide pretty much speaks for itself. I want to shed a little more light on the last two points though.

I think it’s very helpful when you work with people whose company you enjoy. It helps that you look forward to weekly meetings and do-days and whatever because you get the job done, and enjoy at the same time. Work becomes easier. Stress and pressure lighten somehow. Your project becomes even more successful because you do not only work together for a single goal, you do it willingly and wholeheartedly. :)

Avoid blame shifting - this is very important for me. When you screw up, you have to own that mistake. But at the same, when someone screws up, you can’t let them take the blame alone because everyone is to blame. Everyone could have done something to prevent that mistake, but didn’t. You are a team. Whatever mistake someone in your team makes is yours too. And so everyone should work together towards a solution.

Manage your time well because your time isn’t really your own when you work in a team. Your work affects other people’s work. Your timeline affects other people’s timelines. They affect the whole team and its efforts. Don’t be the person who ruins everything because you failed to manage your time well.

The world be a much better place if only everyone respected other people more. :) Respect your heads or bosses, no matter what their age, sex, religion, beliefs and whatever are. Also, respect the team or your head’s decision even if you don’t agree. When that decision turns out to be a wrong move, you don’t go around telling people, “I told them we shouldn’t, but did they listen?” You should go down with your ship and your captain. And still help save the boat if still possible. :)

Respect other people’s time. Don’t be late. Ahem. :) And never miss meetings or events for invalid or lame reasons. Other people are busy too. Hindi lang ikaw may acads. Hindi lang ikaw pagod. That’s why you should manage your time well. :)

Be honest enough, but not too much that you hurt other people’s feelings. Be constructive, not destructive.

Be transparent with your progress because again, your work affects other people’s work! If adjustments need to be made, you need to tell your colleagues. When you’re behind on your timeline, you need to be honest. When you fail to do something, you need to speak up.

CONFLICTS OR PROBLEMS. INTERNAL ISSUES. I think this might just be the hardest to live up to :) hahaha. You must always face personal issues and problems head on. Talk directly to your problem, not anyone else. Do not rant about or mention your issues — not even as a joke, or a side comment — with your head, your colleagues or your members to anyone else but the person concerned.  It is very unprofessional, not to mention a poor show of character on your part, to dish dirt on your teammate, however true it might be. It does nothing to help the team, the project, or the persons involved. 

Lastly, some basic do’s and don’ts. Restraint in times of stress prevents you from saying anything you’ll regret later on. Do your share of work and more. It’s always better to give more than what is expected from you. Extra effort is always appreciated and won’t go unnoticed. You might even be rewarded.

Don’t share confidential information. Just like with the honesty and integrity slide, internal things should stay internal. Period. No excuses.

Don’t disappear on your team. I made a typographical error on that one. I wrote “Don’t leave your team hanging,” first. haha. So there. You committed to the team. You committed to your position, and accepted the responsibilities that come with it. Panagutan mo. Even just one disappearing act and people won’t ever trust you with any type of work ever again.

Never, ever promise anything you can’t, and won’t deliver. Don’t give people a false sense of security and then take it away from them at the worst time. Don’t tell them not to worry when they should. Sasayangin mo lang oras nating lahat. Wag ka magpresenta kung di mo naman papanagutan.

It’s okay to panic — just don’t make it obvious. :) Know your task, and make sure you’ve accomplished it, bago ka mangialam sa ibang bagay. Actually this applies to the preparation as well. Do your job first before you meddle help other people.

And finally my last slide. Haha

TRUST. Trust your head, trust your colleagues, trust your members. And in return, do not betray the trust that the people who put you in your position gave you. :)

P.S.

There was something I forgot to mention because I forgot to put it on my slides. ALWAYS REPLY. to anything —text, email, FB message, IM, etc. Reply even if just to acknowledge that you received the message. And when you reply, make sure it’s not at the last possible minute. Nakakabastos kasi. Especially when it’s urgent. It’s especially annoying to get the “Ay, hindi pala ko makakapunta,” text at the exact , sometimes even already past the moment when you’re expecting them. 

If you think about it, these apply not only in a working environment. You can apply these anywhere, everyday with your friends, with your academics, strangers everything.

And if ever you’re stuck in an ethical dilemma, weigh your options. Think about what would be best for everyone involved. Just shut up, and think first. :)

There you go. I hope you learned at least a few things from this. :)