Workplace

I’ve been on enough contracts now that I’ve started noticing patterns. Some good, some not so good. This is a collection of the things I check before signing, and the things I wish someone had told me about earlier. Before you sign There are three administrative questions that can catch you out if you don’t sort them early. The first two are about checks — whether the client needs a BPSS or DBS check done, and whether they’re going to organise it. The third is about timing. Some start dates are real, others depend on the client actually getting you a laptop and sorting your access. If their setup process is slow, your start date slides whether they realise it or not. ...

Self-promotion gets a bad reputation because people confuse it with boasting. Done well, it’s just making sure the right people know what you’ve done. Use “I” when it’s your work If you led the project, say “I led the project.” Saving “we” for genuinely collaborative work means your individual contributions stand out when they matter. Performance reviews are your moment If your organisation does annual reviews, prepare a list of accomplishments before the meeting. Don’t rely on your manager to remember everything you did over twelve months. ...

I used to gossip. Not the dramatic, scheming kind — just the everyday variety. The “can you believe what so-and-so did” chatter that happens in offices, group chats, and among friends. It felt harmless enough. Social bonding, right? Then I realised something uncomfortable: the people who gossip the most are usually the same people who will gossip about you the moment you leave the room. Once I noticed that pattern, I couldn’t unsee it. And honestly, it made me tired. ...

Some things that help keep negativity at bay: Notice when you’re spiralling. Naming the pattern breaks it. Set boundaries with people who consistently drain you. Limit social media. Curate your feeds so they’re not just outrage and comparison. Take walks. Physical movement changes mental state. Keep a gratitude list. Three things a day is enough. Learn to say no without over-explaining. Don’t participate in gossip. Change the subject or leave the room. Forgive yourself for mistakes. You’ll make more of them. Get enough sleep. Everything feels worse when you’re tired. Do one thing well each day instead of doing ten things poorly. Journal when your head is noisy. Getting thoughts out of your head and onto paper helps. Surround yourself with people who challenge you constructively, not ones who just agree with everything. Accept that some things are out of your control. Focus on what you can influence. Take breaks. Regular ones, not just when you’re burning out. Declutter your workspace. Physical mess feeds mental mess.

Most people treat office politics as something to avoid. They’d rather focus on their work and hope it speaks for itself. But the truth is, everyone is already playing the game — whether they admit it or not. The difference is between people who understand how it works and people who get surprised by it. Here’s what I’ve learned about developing political awareness at work. Know where you’re going You can’t navigate an office if you don’t know what you’re looking for. What do you actually want? A promotion? A transfer to a different team? More influence over decisions? Be honest with yourself about it. ...