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This is a question Oblique Strategies for Work

We want you to share solutions that solved work problems - but don't explain the problem it solved.

The idea is that someone else, when they have a problem can read this and see if your solution jolts them out of their problem.

(This is obviously a tribute to Brian Eno's Oblique Strategies cards which were filled with stuff like "add backing vocals")

(I helped save b3ta! rob, Tue 15 May 2018, 10:45)
Pages: Popular, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

This question is now closed.

Put fake meetings in your shared outlook calendar

(I helped save b3ta! cumquat may will not be commenting further on the allegations, Tue 15 May 2018, 23:14, 2 replies)
Ignore the client until they solve the problem by themselves

(I helped save b3ta! spacefish bong!, Tue 15 May 2018, 14:11, 1 reply)
Don't solve any problems.
Otherwise people will start bringing problems to you.
(I helped save b3ta! Draconacticus Reject shampoo. Demand real poo!, Wed 16 May 2018, 20:19, Reply)
Learn skills with a stupid, fun personal project,
not on a real boring project.
(I helped save b3ta! monkeon schmonkeon, Wed 16 May 2018, 19:43, 1 reply)
Can't think of anything to say?
"I echo the sentiments expressed so far. We must remain focused."
(ccc, Tue 15 May 2018, 11:26, 2 replies)
have a chat with somebody who's done it before. offer to pay for the coffee

(I helped save b3ta! cumquat may will not be commenting further on the allegations, Tue 15 May 2018, 11:15, 1 reply)
scream in your employees' faces to do some fucking work I'm not paying you to watch videos of cats singing all day

(I helped save b3ta! cumquat may will not be commenting further on the allegations, Thu 17 May 2018, 22:57, Reply)
Prioritise two things, set a deadline, and wait until there’s only time to do one of them
You can half-arse both, or fuck one of them off entirely and do the other one all proper
(dandelionburdock, Thu 17 May 2018, 20:25, Reply)
Set up forum threads on a website to get free content
Then disperse content using, I don't know, say, an email newsletter, to subscribers who are paying for the content they provided through a donation system
(I helped save b3ta! The_cold_stare Coming here only when very, very bored, Thu 17 May 2018, 16:34, 2 replies)
Go for a jog and think about the problem whilst your stress levels are down.
Or, get pissed and think about the problem whilst your stress levels are down.
(I helped save b3ta! monkeon schmonkeon, Wed 16 May 2018, 11:19, Reply)
Explain your problem to a rubber duck
useful for more than just coding problems
(horrid, Tue 15 May 2018, 11:37, 1 reply)
Define your fundamental idea and remove everything that distracts from it.
I was just looking at how many old games I messed up with long, whimsical rambling bollocks for instructions.
(I helped save b3ta! monkeon schmonkeon, Mon 4 Jun 2018, 20:57, Reply)
Book 'confidential' meetings at 4pm every day so no one can add you to their meeting
and thereby prevent you from going home when you want to.
(I helped save b3ta! Rotating Wobbly Hat That's not a banana. THIS is a banana., Tue 22 May 2018, 20:38, 2 replies)
Rather than cut the male and female separately,
cut together as two layers.
(I helped save b3ta! Smallbrainfield, Fri 18 May 2018, 9:18, 1 reply)
Ignore instructions that are clearly racist
Lie to racist client if you are just an oil rag and he is a chief engineer

Never be in first on a Saturday morning when the shop is next to a late night pizza/kebab shop
(I helped save b3ta! rachelswipe with a fork, Thu 17 May 2018, 23:13, Reply)
It may seem counterintuitive but,
ironically, your intuition may prove more beneficial than a targeting computer.
(I helped save b3ta! monster munch person, man, woman... camera... TV?, Thu 17 May 2018, 9:45, Reply)
Write a bot to do your work,
but don't tell anyone.
(I helped save b3ta! monkeon schmonkeon, Wed 16 May 2018, 19:43, 4 replies)
Sit in the stationery cupboard for twenty minutes

(I helped save b3ta! sp3ccylad carries on breathing all the way up to, say, Wed 16 May 2018, 19:09, Reply)
A 1-person excuse generator
Set an alarm with the same sound as your ringtone to give you options.
(Ogginblog, Wed 16 May 2018, 17:31, Reply)
If shape-shifting into a panther isn't getting the job done,
try shape-shifting into a hawk.
(I helped save b3ta! monster munch person, man, woman... camera... TV?, Wed 16 May 2018, 14:56, Reply)
Plot it on an X/Y graph
and arbitrarily mark some of it as red (for bad)
(lordfredatron lordfredatron, Wed 16 May 2018, 12:34, Reply)
Hide in a cardboard box until they stop looking for you.

(I helped save b3ta! monster munch person, man, woman... camera... TV?, Wed 16 May 2018, 9:59, 3 replies)
Hit it again and again and
again with the big hole punch, dragged what was left out to the disused garage behind the office and hid it in the basement. Moved it on again after suspicion had died down. The smell, oh god. The smell...
(Ooooh_cuntroversials_sockpuppet Make O/T great again., Tue 15 May 2018, 22:42, Reply)
Flick the little hidden switch that says "Wi-fi" on it.

(m4g1cF1ng3rZ Curious Aphorism, Tue 15 May 2018, 14:21, Reply)
caffeine

(horrid, Tue 15 May 2018, 13:29, Reply)
We'll just keep throwing hardware at it until it stops alerting.

(stevem2k, Tue 15 May 2018, 11:31, 2 replies)
Buy a tomato timer and force yourself to do 25 minutes.

(I helped save b3ta! monkeon schmonkeon, Tue 15 May 2018, 11:11, Reply)
Set up a Patreon page

(_Battered_, Tue 15 May 2018, 11:03, 1 reply)

This question is now closed.

Pages: Popular, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1