Bad Habits to Break (at Work) Part 1
In the next two videos, I want to focus on some bad habits that I find those on Production teams to be particularly guilty of, including, of course, myself!
As with all jobs, even if you are good at what you do, you can always get better. Most of the time we liken our shows to being marathons, not sprints. If you’re in it for a longer stretch, you may as well learn a few new tricks along the way, right?
I suggest the items across the next couple videos in particular as things that are relatively easy to achieve with maximum impact. Sometimes it’s not about making a new habit, merely tweaking or bringing a greater awareness to one you already have.
Habit 1: Are you really that busy?
Say what you mean. If you are focused on something you have a tight deadline for, say so. If you need a minute to concentrate, ask for it. Being “busy” has become a bit of a dirty word in the business world - at it’s best, it’s a catch-all for being under the gun. At it’s worst its superficial distraction to make it seem like you’re a #Girlboss or #hustlin.
I posit that when we say we’re “busy” we mean something else. The problem is that always saying you’re “busy” shuts doors. It tells people you’re not available, you’re preoccupied with something better or seemingly more important.I personally feel that Production staff in particular have a tendency to say they’re swamped or busy. While this may be technically true, we need to take responsibility for how we communicate the allocation and priority of our time to our teams.
Don’t get me wrong - yes, I firmly believe women are still overworked and underpaid, and that we have to work 2-3, 4 times as hard as men to get where we are. I also think there is a difference between focused, hard-working, and Busy.
I also think we have confused “busy” with being meaningfully and necessarily engaged with our work. The show you work on is not the You Show. It’s a team effort, and saying you’re busy or swamped when you’re not is not only disingenuous, it puts up walls. Admit you need assistance, five minutes, invite collaboration.
Habit 2: Resist the last word or always having to be right
I know this can be a tough one. In Production or other managerial roles, it can be common, even expected that we have the last word or that we WANT to be correct on all matters. The reality is, of course, that this isn’t always true, nor is it always helpful.
Think about it this way - when you look back on the relationships in your life, when has Being Right or Having The Last Word, actually improved the quality of your relationship with the person you are receiving the information from or giving the information to?
Habit 3: Say “folks, team, y’all” etc instead of “guys”
This is a relatively low-effort investment for maximum results. Just think: how will we get more women and non binary folks into this industry if we continue to behave in a way that suggests having more guys on the team is the norm?
If you are eye-rolling right now about being PC I invite you to think of this—how many types of telephones have you used in your lifetime? Have you used rotary phone, landline, clamshell or flip-phone, and then a touch-screen phone?
If so, I believe in you - you can handle these changes! You can adapt to simply saying ‘folks’ or ‘team’ instead of ‘guys’. It’s not a political statement, it’s small kindness you can do in your day to day
RESOURCES
Gender-Neutral Language Sheet by Qmunity BC
Season Three! Episode 62: Unpacking the WHY Behind ED&I podcast by Don't Be A Jerk at Work
