What should you do when the boss is away? The appropriate response is: work. But everyone knows that this almost never happens. Instead it becomes the time to read the New York Times, catch up on celebrity gossip or chat it up with fellow coworkers. But a lax atmosphere at work while the boss is away may not be such a bad thing – and here’s why!
I once read that creativity and inspiration cannot be forced. Creativity, which is so important in the workplace today, doesn’t come while you’re sitting in a cubicle and trying to be creative. Ideas come when you’re interacting with other people, reading an article or even while you’re taking a long lunch. So the lax atmosphere we all experience when our boss is away can be a good thing. Fun activities while the boss is away will reduce your stress level and should get your creative juices flowing. Plus, it may even change your outlook on your job satisfaction or the company you work for.
So when your boss is away, have some fun. But don’t forget to do the things that can benefit your health, too. For example, organize your workstation. Clear your desk of unnecessary paperwork and file all the papers on your desk. You’ll be more organized and it will make it easy to pick up where you’ve left off when you come back to work. You might want to clean your desk area, too. Think of all the lunches spent eating at your desk and all dust and paper that lives on it. A good cleaning, especially with flu season approaching, doesn’t sound like such a bad idea, does it?
So remember, your boss being away isn’t a license to slack off. But it does mean the fun you have in between work projects could keep you happy and healthy over time.
Click Here to see what some employees did when their boss was away.
Justin – A Lumen
