Usually, The Lazy Vegan is about creating satisfying vegan meals on a budget; today is going to be a little different. Instead of blogging about the joys of being vegan on a budget, I've decided to share a few tips about three very important skills required for effective communication. But, I refuse to stray from the essence of this blog so I've decided to try and incorporate subjects from my blog to those three steps. This should be fun!
The first skill is by far the most important one: learning to adhere to applicable government regulations and guidelines. The USDA suggests that we make at least half of the grains we eat whole (easy for vegans since that's pretty much all we buy anyway), that we vary our veggies (gotta love the Farmers' Market), focus on fruits (you should try to vary those, too), get your calcium rich foods (mmm, kale), and get plenty of protein (toot toot for beans and legumes). These are guidelines to take into consideration when you are planning your meal plans. Beans are uber cheap and go a long way, so all you die hard vegans should have jars of dried beans lining your pantry. And every vegan should know that by shopping seasonal, your veggie choices will vary significantly.
The workplace, though, is very different from following simple USDA suggestions for adopting healthier eating habits.
In my line of work, these guidelines are extremely important. Plagerism in media is a big deal, so is slander, libel, defamation of character, etc. These are all guidlines that enable journalist to do their jobs effectively, and to communicate questions and concerns without breaking any rules or laws.
This second skill is the hardest for most people who are not exactly "proactive" like myself; it's using time productively. I don't always like to do things right away. I'm what you call a chronic procrastinator. I absolutely hate doing things ahead of time. For example, making my meal plans the day before or the day I decide to go to the grocery store. A lot of times that is how we go over-budget, when we don't use our time wisely. The key is to make sure you have enough time to survey and assess what you already have in your pantry or fridge and make your meal plans according to that, so you can purchase as few items as possible. This saves you time and money at home.
Using your time productively in the work place is something a bit similar. At work, it's easy (especially if you sit in front of a computer 8 or more hours a day), to stop working and surf the net telling yourself it's just a little break. Instead of trying to figure out what J. Lo wore to the club last night, use your "break time" to find out different ways to smooth out that email or proposal you've been putting off; try to format various ways to breathe some life back into that presentation. You know what would really rock your socks? Exploring the many gadgets that Office PowerPoint software has to offer to give that presentation an even bigger kick. Your boss will love you.
And last but certainly not least, is communicating effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and experiences. In fact, more vegans should take this skill into consideration. Some hardcore vegans can be insensitive to the experiences of others when they try to communicate their passion for veganism. Many times they can be callus and unattentive to the backgrounds of others, and vice versa. Plenty a vegan has experienced harsh, and insensitive responses when someone finds out they're vegan. If everyone took into consideration the background and experiences of others communicating our ideas and thoughts would be much simpler.
Especially in the workplace. How many times have we stood before our classmates and/or co-workers and made a reference about something cultural or ethical (maybe you referred to a person with mental retardation as a retard when they actually have autism) and didn't use the politcally correct term? You may have offended someone with a relative that has autism. If we learn to respect our teams backgrounds and experiences, we learn effective ways to communicate together.
So, the next time you feel like using your time unwisely, or decide to cut a few corners when it comes to guidelines or policy, remember that in order to make communication in the workplace (and at home) work, you have to practice these three essential skills.
Thank you for your time,
Danielle "Dani" Davis
The Lazy Vegan
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