How to deal with a chatty coworker

Hi friends! I recently discovered the Netflix docuseries MerPeople (you’re welcome) about real-life professional mermaids. And now I’m practicing breath control and considering a career change so I can tell everyone that The Thirteenth Year is actually not *that* unbelievable.

Friday feels: Next time your coworker is talking your ear off, play them this Black Eyed Peas banger and maybe they’ll get the hint.

—Rod

How to Mute Your Coworkers IRL

 question 
I'm a fairly new manager of a department of three, and my youngest report and I share an office (don't get me started). Some days I get annoyed by his constant chit chat and just want to get work done. How can I tell him this without hurting his feelings?—K.

 answer 
When my direct report and I shared an office, we listened to Jessica Simpson’s memoir on Audible and played tic-tac-toe, but we also knew when to stop gasping at every word Jess said about Nick Lachey and get back to work.

As a manager, setting the bar for honest and open communication is on you. And working in close quarters means doing that early and often…unless you want some really awkward lunches in your future.

It can be as simple as saying something like this: “As your manager, I’m so glad we get along and are able to have some fun every now and then. But I’ve recently found myself a bit distracted. Let’s set some boundaries to help balance our work and social relationships.”

Then, you can suggest specific times for doing your jobs and specific times for discussing the headline news that has gripped our nation (Scandoval).

This way, you’re 1) not being so harsh by putting all of the blame on them (see: the “we” language) and 2) suggesting something that benefits them as well, which is what a good boss should do.

Should I Quit My Job To Pursue a Hobby Full-Time?

 question 
I work in healthcare but during the pandemic I explored the wine industry, taking classes and working part-time jobs to gain experience. I now want to shift fully into the wine industry because it’s my passion, but I’m worried I’ll be giving up the work-life balance I have at my other job. Any advice on whether I should move forward with an industry shift or keep wine as a side passion?—K.

 answer 
“Do what you love and f*ck the rest” from Little Miss Sunshine is amazing advice, but it’s not always the most practical. Some elements to keep in mind as you make yours up:

Got a Q for me to A? Submit yours here.

Sponsored by WorkLab

The Cure for Burnout? We’ve Got an Idea

Hearing your manager say you can beat burnout with breathwork and a to-do list is the workplace equivalent of Kris Jenner saying “what would happen if you just called Taylor up?”

It totally misses the point. Burnout is a major challenge for all of us, especially given the crush of data, constant communication, and overwhelming workloads.

• 64% of people struggle to fulfill their job responsibilities due to a lack of time and energy, according to Microsoft's 2023 Work Trend Index. Thank you, constant chats and emails. 🫠

• We either have too many meetings, meetings that feel inefficient, or goals that are anything but clean, clear, and under control.

So we need bigger, bolder solutions…like artificial intelligence. Microsoft found that 70% of individuals would delegate tasks to AI to reduce workloads.

Translation? We’re ready for AI to help out in managing our growing list of work demands.

Learn more about how AI can help us keep up with work from Microsoft right here.

Things to Slack your work besties

…after you nailed leading that meeting you forgot about until two minutes before.

A big thanks to Verywell Mind for highlighting me as one of the people using their platform to talk about the importance of mental health on the Verywell Mind 25. Mental health is super important to me, and I’m proud to do my part in eliminating stigma and helping others. 🫶

No shade to Sweetgreen but the hold that the Kardashians’ favorite La Scala salad has on me lately makes me want to change my name to Kod and see if Kris wants a seventh kid.

The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai is a Chicago-set historical fiction book capturing the HIV/AIDS epidemic from the 1980s to now. It’s a powerful and moving story about friendship and heartache—and an important reminder of how millions of lives were forever changed.

Thanks for hanging today! Hope you have a great weekend. See you back here on Monday!

IDK WHAT DO I KNOW?! LMAO!

—Rod