Best Practice Advisory : How To Be Jacqueline Broyer
Best Practice Advisory is a series created to give the most professional, ethical, and effective procedures for entry-level awkwardness.
One of my all-time favorite movies is "Boomerang." The 90's comedy follows Marcus Graham, a charming executive and womanizer, who loses his allurement when new supervisor and villain Jacqueline Broyer, gives Marcus a taste of his own medicine.
I have always been obsessed with Jacqueline. From the moment the camera panned up her leg while she was reading the newspaper in the lobby, I thought, "I want to be her." She was intelligent, unimpressed, goal-oriented, sexy, successful, and more than anything, in control. I wish the movie would have focused more on her lifestyle. We never got to see Jacqueline's friends or what she did when she and Marcus broke up. What we did get was a lesson - healthy lifestyles require boundaries.
Marcus was obsessed with her and was insistent on conquering her attention (among other things). He was successful in one way, but Jacqueline warned Marcus that she did not date men she worked with. I can imagine that viewers thought that the rule was created so that Jacqueline wouldn't be hurt, but in the end we see that without those boundaries, doom can befall all parties and any work involved. Coming into adulthood and starting the entry point of my career, I see that boundaries are essential. There are so many different lines to draw, and here are a few rules I follow to protect myself.
1. Personal Cell Phone.
More and more jobs are ditching the direct lines or the Avaya phone systems and either: A) Providing their employees with cell phones for their work or B) Offering to pay their employees' cellphone bill as long as their personal phone is used for work. These options, while monetarily efficient, can erase boundary lines. I've had positions where clients call me at 7:30 p.m. on a Friday night while I'm enjoying friends. I've also had situations where a supervisor texts me at 6:30 a.m. before the workday to ask about a client's status. As a best practice, I only give my cellphone number out to clients when necessary. If a supervisor texts or calls me at an inappropriate time, I try to address it with them in person rather than on the phone. I try to direct clients and work to my direct line and work email as much as possible. It really depends on your line of work and your work climate.
2. Staying Late.
I'm really not the person to be giving advice on this topic. I will stay until 10:00 p.m. if a project needs to get done. You want to give your best, especially when you are in the beginning phases of your career. What you don't want to do, is end up feeling burnt out, overworked, or taken advantage of. It's important to assess what you're gaining in staying past 5:00 p.m. Are you learning valuable lessons from putting in extra hours? Are you getting compensated for staying longer than anticipated? Are you exposed to networking opportunities? Like Jacqueline, you also need to make others aware of your boundaries. Make certain that supervisors, co-workers, and clients know your schedule and that if you do stay late, it's because you want to or you're making an exception.
3. Social Media.
A co-worker saw me snap-chatting at an event last week, and the immediate "OMGOSH! What's your username?!" question was prompted. I quickly shared my new-found principle, "I don't share with co-workers until one of us get a new job." I was actually very proud of myself for sticking to my rule. Be sure to create a standard to protect yourself when it comes to co-workers. Some people have two twitter accounts - personal & professional, others keep their social media accounts private, and then there are there very few who are inclusive of all co-workers. Assess your work environment and govern yourself accordingly.
4. Drinking At Work.
I work in the legal field. It's not an "event" unless there's liquor. I remember as a law student, the prerequisite for my attendance was an open bar. However, drinking while representing your organization can be a bit of a balancing act. I've limited myself to two glasses. If I want more, I'll have to continue after hours. You know your drinking capacity. If you feel that you cannot effectively work and represent the organization, or that you'll make an ass out of yourself, create a personal limit when there's liquor involved.
Sorry, no advice on office romances.
