We have a pantry in our department with a Keurig coffee maker, and unless each person on my staff drinks 10 cups of coffee per day, I think someone may be stealing the K-Cups. I’m reluctant to accuse anyone on the staff and I don’t want to explain why I am taking away the machine. Any suggestions?
The only thing more fun than watching a staff juiced up on that much java would be watching the withdrawal if you cut them off. But I think you’re right, Sherlock — as I am always in sticker shock at the cost per pound of coffee by using those K-Cups — and you know some employees do the craziest things. Instead of accusing anyone of stealing, why not pull your staff together and tell them what you told me: Say, “Hey — K-Cups are flying out of here faster than a caffeine-powered rocket — more than can possibly be consumed. So we’ve got a few choices: Take the machine away, dispense K-Cups like meds or install security cameras around the coffee machine.” People sometimes make light of helping themselves to office supplies — the reality, however, is that it’s theft to the tune of an estimated hundreds of millions of dollars each year.
I’ve just joined a new company, and different people are trying to show me the ropes and tell me how things work around the place. I think their intentions are good, but they seem to be trying to influence my thinking about different people and how things are done. How do I avoid alienating people if I don’t want to follow their advice?
You are right to reserve judgment and form your own opinions. There is a difference between helping a new person acclimate and trying to influence their thinking. If they are trying to do the latter, then their intentions may not be as good as you think. It’s not for you to speculate — just give everyone the benefit of the doubt, reserve judgment, form your own opinions and act accordingly. Colleagues with truly good intentions will respect you for that. As for the others, well, who cares what they think?