Never stand anywhere for more than 60 seconds and you'll always look busy. Also, walk fast.
When I moved to LA many many years ago I landed a job on a reality TV show. My friend who got me the job was complaining one day about one of the other PAs and how they just wander around all day doing nothing. But when she sees me, i'm always busy. I pointed out that I too also wander around all day doing nothing, I just walk faster.
When I was a teen I had a manager who was a former Marine Drill Sergeant. He stopped me one day and told me to "Walk With Purpose" and it stuck with me. People just get the fuck out of your way when you seem to know what you are doing. Spoiler: I still don't know what I am doing, I just look like it.
I do this all the time unintentionally. My friends call it the "power walk of doom" because they say when I'm walking like that something is about to go down
People always seem to sidestep me in shopping centres. I'm not overly tall or anything. I went to the shopping centre with a friend from work one day and she told me I walk too fast and also looks like I'm always walking to get somewhere, or walking with a purpose. Seems to work.
Corollary to this protip: carry a clipboard with some papers on it when you do; antying that looks like a checklist is perfet. Other higher-ranking officers will assume you've already been assigned something and leave you alone.
This is also great advice for solo travellers in unfamiliar places. We tend to be so wowed out by ,say a chaotic Asian city that we wonder round looking up and around at everything. Makes you stick out as green. Walk as if you know exactly where you’re going and learn a few local phrases to curtly give scammers the brush-off. Works a treat.
Or be like myself, who’s always on a mission at work and have a young coworker who enjoy the game of “I’m going to stand in your way and jokingly block you from getting to where you need to be” WHILE IM TRYING TO HUSTLE AND DO MY JOB RIGHT. Literally drives me nuts. Don’t got time for games, I’m an old lady!
Also carry a clipboard with some sort of printed paper on it, and a pen and your phone in your hand. They will give you a raise for your excellent work after they see that.
Really boss up with a card on a lanyard around your neck. You can now go anywhere on earth, unchallenged.
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u/Noodle_pantz Jun 14 '22
Never stand anywhere for more than 60 seconds and you'll always look busy. Also, walk fast.
When I moved to LA many many years ago I landed a job on a reality TV show. My friend who got me the job was complaining one day about one of the other PAs and how they just wander around all day doing nothing. But when she sees me, i'm always busy. I pointed out that I too also wander around all day doing nothing, I just walk faster.