Settling In: Lessons from My New Office

Settling in is never easy, whether it’s to a new country, city, home, or office at your workplace. It’s an exciting yet challenging experience.

At my new desk, I always need to set routines and have my tech and items positioned within easy reach. Upon settling in, I discovered an old pen holder that had seen better days. It was far from pristine, but with a bit of TLC, it could be restored to functionality. I checked if there were new ones in stock, but they were unavailable. Instead of opting for a brand-new replacement, I decided to clean and reuse the old one. While it wasn’t brand new, it served its purpose perfectly. I know it’s a small act of reuse, but for me, it’s not just about saving money; it also contributes to reducing unnecessary purchases and environmental waste. Every little helps, right? It’s the mindset that matters.

In a world where we often default to buying new hardware or software, it’s worth considering whether existing resources can be repurposed or upgraded. Asking “why” before every purchase can lead to significant cost savings and a smaller environmental footprint.

The pen holder was doing a great job holding pens as it should. I had decided to keep the older pens of different colours, shapes, and sizes. Rather than throwing them away, I kept them, though I hadn’t tested them to see if they worked. When I finally needed to use them, one after another failed to write—until one did. This simple example highlighted a crucial point: having items or technology is great, but until you test to see if they work and are fit for purpose, they’re essentially useless, although they might look great.

Whether it’s new software, hardware, or process changes, it’s not enough to simply acquire or implement them. We must ensure they function as intended and meet our needs. This involves rigorous testing, user feedback, and iterative improvements to guarantee that the solutions we deploy are truly effective.

1. Reuse and Sustainability: Before opting for new solutions, consider whether existing resources can be repurposed or upgraded. This can lead to cost savings and environmental benefits.
2. Testing and Validation: Having technology or processes in place is only half the battle. Ensuring they work as intended through thorough testing is essential for success.

By embracing these principles, we can make more informed decisions, reduce waste, and drive meaningful change in our organisations.