15 Professional Life Hacks from People of the Internet

Photo taken by Brooke Lark

The corporate setting is tricky. Working in a multinational company or a huge government institution involves office politics, overlapping task deadlines, team encounters, and the clash of personalities. Hence, the idea of being an adult, applying and getting a job can be frightening for first-timers. On the other hand, it becomes a vicious cycle for the long-time citizens of the professional world. Both groups need a refresher from the culture of their workplace.

Whether you are a freelancer on commission for a condo for sale Philippines or a full-time employee of a promising company, you need some hacks to survive your daily life. Below are fifteen hacks from the Quora community who shared some nuggets on how to tread the waves of the corporate world.

Joel Kaplan, Digital Atlas Founder

1. Experiment.

You won't learn anything if you always play it safe. Pushing your limits and taking the risk to try new things will not only expand your knowledge and skillset. It will also help you stand out. You become part of the 1% of the population willing to cross the line. Instead of asking for permission on doing things, go for it, and ask forgiveness later on.

2. Get to know new people.

Having a vast network of successful and like-minded individuals is one way to advance in your field or industry. Start expanding your network by getting to know people near to you. Colleagues, team leaders, managers, and clients are people you can chat over coffee. You can share insights and find common interests which can be beneficial to both sides. If you want to reach new people, you can use your weekend to send an e-mail to entrepreneur, business tycoons, famous personalities, professionals, and other people in your field. Sending personalized e-mails to a hundred people won't guarantee that all of them will reply, but it's a sure bet that five people will get back to you.

3. Target a goal each month.

People are likely to accomplish monthly goals over annual or life-long bucket list. Targets with the least amount of time are achievable because of the time-constraint. Meanwhile, those with long to-do lists spread across the years would take more time as they encourage procrastination.

4. Identify the needs of the organization.

• What does your boss want?
• What are the common traits of the people on his or her team?
• What is the goal of the company?
• How can you contribute to your team?
• What must you improve to provide effective solutions that your company needs?

These questions will help you identify the needs of your company and colleagues. It will also guide you to perform better and beat your current record.

5. Negotiate your work schedule.

Life isn't just about your 9-to-5 job. You are not a machine programmed to come to your day job during weekdays and rest during weekends. There are other activities you can and must do besides being in your office desk. If you can, request two to three days of your work week done at home. The setup cuts off your travel time you can use to catch some sleep, read a book, or exercise.

Erick Diaz, Writer at The Odyssey

6. Be open to your boss.

Light roasting or throwing a punchline or joke now and then show that you are confident and comfortable around him or her. They will appreciate the effort and put you on good graces. The tactic also diffuses tension during brainstorming situations or tackling the challenges of a project. Most of all, it shows off your good-natured humor which is highly attractive.

7. Dive in the middle of a task.

Screenwriters start crafting in the middle of a scene and end it once the key interaction is in place. Apply this strategy in everything you will do in the office. Skip the preparation and get on the wagon of what you need to accomplish. Head to the next once you finish, so you keep you going.

8. Treat everyone like they bought you an ice cream.

Release grudges, avoid passive aggressiveness and avoid spreading rumors. As much as possible, don't indulge in gossip. You may not like everyone, and the same goes for the rest of the office staff but pretend they like you. The cold, cutthroat environment of corporate politics will smooth out.

9. Say nice things.

It wouldn't hurt to send out a compliment now and then. Admiring your colleague's new haircut or congratulating them for losing weight and overcoming fear creates a shill and positive environment. However, be consistent about it. Don't stop on one person or a specified period. Make it a habit so others will follow.

10. Bring an extra pair of shoes.

You can't precisely pinpoint the day when you will step on poop. If you can, always carry a pair of shoes in your bag. Better yet, leave one in your cubicle or station. That way, the floor won't be stinking, and no one gets mad at you for the accidental brush up.

Grant Gill, Marketing Director at Lifebox Nutrition

11. Use Friday to plan and dream.

Most teams set their meetings on Friday. The same goes for company activities. Thus, you can't perform your usual workflow. As much as possible, concentrate on doing the bulk of your work from Monday to Thursday and leave the finishing touches for Friday. You can also use this day to work on passion projects or quality time for yourself.

12. Have a physical representation of your goals.

Write your metrics on a whiteboard and place it on a focal point - somewhere each team member can see. It is a useful method to evaluate the team's progress. You can look at the metrics in real time, so you have an idea which road you are taking.

13. Switch to silent mode.

Turn off all notifications including e-mail. It's an invitation to create a reason to be out of necessary yet tedious and repetitive work. Checking an e-mail can lead to browsing a shopping a catalog and placing an order for an item you don't need. Chatting and scrolling social media feeds which employees do during their micro-breaks are also forms of distraction. Limiting interaction with these by switching to airplane mode maintains productivity levels.

Sneha Susan Jacob, Works at The Jacobs

14. Assert on your beliefs.

Stand up for your beliefs. Your work life is still part of your existence. At some point, it will collide with your personal life, especially with your morals and ethics.Own up to your foundations everytime your integrity, character, and values are on the line.

15. Wear appropriate clothing.

Just like stepping on dog poop, a meeting or presentation can come unexpectedly. You never know when the company requires you to represent them in a forum or face a group of strangers to explain your brand. Therefore, always put your best foot forward.

These fifteen hacks from real people who understand the upswings and downturns of a corporate setting. These hacks aren't only for the office. They apply to life in general. As you spend more time at work, you will have your own hacks to share with struggling professionals.