Standard Office Procedures

Do you know what’s expected of you at work? Or are you left thinking, “I really don't know what I’m supposed to do…”

Or maybe you're asking yourself, “Does my work even make an impact?”

If you lack role clarity in your current position, then you probably haven’t any clue how your contributions benefit your company as a whole. It’s certainly not motivating to feel like what you do every day doesn’t even matter.

On this week's episode, Grace and Shannon talk about role clarity, why it's obviously so important, and if you don't have it — how to ask for it, when to ask for it, and just who to ask.

Read the article that inspired this episode on the blog at BlueSummitSupplies.com.

Connect with Blue Summit Supplies for more helpful professional development content on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Listen to all episodes of the Standard Office Procedures podcast and reach out to us to be featured on the podcast or offer feedback by emailing [email protected]

Having a bad day at work happens to all of us. The car won’t start. You spill your coffee all over your shirt. Things just aren’t going your way.

But it’s important to remember – a bad day is just a day.

Bad days have a knack for putting you in a royally bad mood – making you feel frustrated, powerless, and hopeless.

But the important thing to remember is that you’re in the driver’s seat. While things can feel hopeless, they very rarely are.

On this week's episode, Grace and Shannon tell us about a few bad days of their own, how they coped with the unexpected and made an attitude change, and also share 8 actionable strategies you can use to do the same.

Read the article that inspired this episode on the blog at BlueSummitSupplies.com.

Connect with Blue Summit Supplies for more helpful professional development content on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Listen to all episodes of the Standard Office Procedures podcast and reach out to us to be featured on the podcast or offer feedback by emailing [email protected]

Whether you're trying to grow your business, build partnerships, or advance your career, making connections and knowing the right people can help.

And that’s where networking comes in.

This week on the podcast, Grace and Shannon talk about exactly how (and where) to start networking, and how to put your best foot forward and do it successfully. It's not all stuffy cocktails receptions and blazers. Networking can simply be about making organic connections with people who are passionate about the same things you are passionate about.

Joining us as a special guest, to give his wisdom and insight into the wonderful world of networking, is Jeremy Westmoreland, President of Huntsville Young Professionals. Jeremy talks about how networking helped him land a new job, how to think outside the normal networking box, and where to search for your unique tribe.

To learn more about Huntsville Young Professionals and their events, or to get involved, visit them online at their website, on Facebook, or Instagram.

Read the article that inspired this episode on the blog at BlueSummitSupplies.com.

Connect with Blue Summit Supplies for more helpful professional development content on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Listen to all episodes of the Standard Office Procedures podcast and reach out to us to be featured on the podcast or offer feedback by emailing [email protected]

This special episode might be our best one yet.

After recording Episode 38, we realized there was much more to dig into in regards to this engaging and relevant topic, and so we sat down to do just that.

We spent a lot of time and effort putting this together in the hopes that it might resonate deeply with you, our audience, and your personal career journeys.

We hope you enjoy listening to Part 2 of Embracing Change in the Workplace, just as much as we enjoyed making it. Happy listening!

And, oh yeah — Happy Aprils Fool's ;)

For some people, chatting with a coworker is as effortless as breathing. For others – making small talk can cause full-on panic.

What if I say something stupid? What if I offend someone? Does anybody care what I have to say anyway?

But whether or not you hate small talk, being good at it can be a game changer. 

On this week's episode, Grace and Shannon -- along with special guest, Brad Drogos -- walk you through what it means to be more approachable and how to be better at it, how to ace that potentially awkward water cooler talk, and even list a few fun conversation topics to get you started.

Read the article that inspired this episode on the blog at BlueSummitSupplies.com.

Connect with Blue Summit Supplies for more helpful professional development content on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Listen to all episodes of the Standard Office Procedures podcast and reach out to us to be featured on the podcast or offer feedback by emailing [email protected]

Negative, toxic people are easy to identify in a workplace. They can hinder productivity and motivation, and they bring all of the people surrounding them down too. But what about toxic positivity? Too much of a good thing, in this case, can truly be a bad thing.

Toxic positivity is this ‘good vibes only’ mindset — a belief that no matter how bad circumstances get or how disastrous or painful a situation is, people should just stay positive.

Now, positive thinking is powerful thing, and it has its time and place. But on the extreme end of the positivity spectrum, toxic positivity can have serious negative effects — especially in the workplace.

This week on the podcast, Grace and Shannon talk about how toxic positivity can destroy a healthy work culture, why it isn't always the best idea just to keep looking on the bright side, and how to replace this mindset with a more strategic way of positive thinking, called realistic optimism.

Read the article that inspired this episode on the blog at BlueSummitSupplies.com.

Connect with Blue Summit Supplies for more helpful professional development content on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Listen to all episodes of the Standard Office Procedures podcast and reach out to us to be featured on the podcast or offer feedback by emailing [email protected]

How do you cope when change happens at your workplace? Maybe it's a large-scale company-wide shift, or maybe a new process is introduced, or maybe someone quits or is fired.

How does it make you feel?

If you're like most people, change makes you feel uncomfortable or afraid. What if this change makes you lose your job? What if your working conditions change so much that you'll want to quit?

The fear of the unknown affects us all.

This is where Grace and Shannon come in. On this week's episode, they'll discuss how to use empathy and emotional intelligence to not only understand why a change may be happening, but how to embrace it and use it to your advantage.

Do you greet every new task with the fear of failure? Do you set unrealistic expectations for yourself and become upset when you do not meet them? Do you feel like even when you try your best, it is never enough?

If you answered yes to any of these questions or know of someone on your team who might, you’re probably dealing with perfectionism at work.

Being a perfectionist at work is a double-edged sword. It can motivate you to perform with excellence, but it can also set you up for failure with its unattainable goals. But there's a way to recognize it, understand it, and harness its power.

This week, Grace and Shannon dive deep into how perfectionism can affect your physical and mental health, as well as your work performance. They also share about their own personal struggles with perfectionism, and break down actionable strategies they use to help them to deal with its negative effects.

HOT TIP: If you have an other-oriented perfectionist boss — you may want to try the Grey Rock Method.

Read the article that inspired this episode on the blog at BlueSummitSupplies.com.

Connect with Blue Summit Supplies for more helpful professional development content on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Listen to all episodes of the Standard Office Procedures podcast and reach out to us to be featured on the podcast or offer feedback by emailing [email protected]

Are you experiencing disrespect at work? Respect isn’t something that should only be reserved for those in charge—a healthy work environment is built on mutual respect that permeates throughout the entire organization.

A business that champions respect will ensure everyone feels valued, turnover remains low, teams are able to collaborate effectively, and everyone trusts one another.

This week, Grace and Shannon talk about the different ways you can identify disrespect at work, how to combat it, and how you can foster a culture of respect within your workplace.

Read the article that inspired this episode on the blog at BlueSummitSupplies.com.

Connect with Blue Summit Supplies for more helpful professional development content on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Listen to all episodes of the Standard Office Procedures podcast and reach out to us to be featured on the podcast or offer feedback by emailing [email protected]

We all know that the more you exercise your body, the better you feel.

Well, your brain is just the same. Reading engages a number of different areas in our brains, helping us to build and strengthen our mental muscles.

In this week's episode, Grace and Shannon go over 8 specific benefits of reading regularly, revealing the reality that it improves memory, reduces stress, enhances empathy, and even prevents cognitive decline.

Read the article that inspired this episode on the blog at BlueSummitSupplies.com.

Connect with Blue Summit Supplies for more helpful professional development content on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Listen to all episodes of the Standard Office Procedures podcast and reach out to us to be featured on the podcast or offer feedback by emailing [email protected]