Yasser Mattar

@yeezermac (145)

Singapore, Singapore

Joined myLot 9 years ago

I am an organizational behaviorist and a paranormalist. Boo.

www.amazon.com/Workplace-Warfare-Incompetent-Colleagues-Organizational/dp/1515085643/

Responses (20)

Yasser Mattar's Responses

Courageous job applicant

scheng1 @scheng1 (24649) • Singapore 3 Oct 15

My friend just called to complain about the attitude of one job applicant. She came for interview, and had to fill up the job application form. She managed to write just her name, and address, and then decided that she did not...

2 responses •

2 people

Yasser Mattar I am not sure if the job applicant didn't want to fill up the form because he was lazy, or because he didn't like the company to begin with. If he didn't like the company or industry, he could have just not turned up for the interview. My gut instinct tells me...

29 Oct 15

Dilemma in the workplace

scheng1 @scheng1 (24649) • Singapore 25 Oct 15

I think all of us have some ways to get our jobs done quicker, but we are all reluctant to make suggestions. At every meeting, the manager will talk about process improvement or whatever improvement, and calls for...

6 responses •

5 people

Yasser Mattar "All suggestions are equal, but some suggestions are more equal than others". That's how the story goes. Suggestions, unfortunately, go by rank. The more senior you are, the more your suggestion holds weight. Doesn't matter if you're a dumb piece of tish....

29 Oct 15

are you a punctual person?

alina @swissheart (6482) • Romania 15 Oct 15

I see this as a matter of respect so unless something new happens I'm always on time when it comes to meetings.

6 responses •

3 people

Yasser Mattar I personally am a punctual person, but it's only because I live in a society where time is seen as a valuable resource. In other words, time is short, and should not be wasted. I also understand that there are societies which do not see time as being as...

23 Oct 15

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2 comments

Would you like to be promoted?

chiwasaki @chiwasaki (4694) • Philippines 7 Oct 15

If you will be given a chance to be promoted to a higher position, with higher salary, are you going to grab the chance? What if your work will be more stressful and more difficult after your promotion? Are you going to pursue...

6 responses •

2 people

Yasser Mattar I agree with you. Getting promoted feels great. We feel great that our performance has been recognised and rewarded with a step up. We feel exhilarated with the pay rise. We feel excited about the new job scope. We entertain the thought of having more power...

22 Oct 15

Is it okay to be dating or having a relationship with your co-worker?

laydee @laydee (12798) • Philippines 15 Feb 13

I came about a topic in lifehacker where the author was asking whether or not it's okay to be dating (or having a relationship) with someone you work with. Though generally, I think it would be okay, however, concerns about being...

dating

relationships

workplace

25 responses •

4 people

Yasser Mattar Some companies are perfectly fine with it. Some companies aren't. For a couple of reasons. Some companies think that having a romantic relationship at work affects productivity. Maybe they think that employees will be too caught up in romance to work. Maybe...

22 Oct 15

This guy sold his last name. Would you sell yours?

Cahaya @cahaya1983 (11116) • Malaysia 29 Sep 15

His name is (or was?) Jason Sadler, now known as Jason Zook and he became famous for selling his last name to the highest bidder. Twice. Why would anyone sell their last name, you ask? The same reason why blog/website owners...

22 responses •

18 people

Yasser Mattar The problem with changing names is that one would have to go through the hassle of informing all the institutions which one is listed in of the change. From public libraries to banks to government offices. One would have to see whether this hassle is worth...

22 Oct 15

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2 comments

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1 person

are you a model employee?

cherigucchi @cherigucchi (14876) • Philippines 22 Apr 13

We hear a lot of people ranting about how they hate their job and their bosses every now and then but have we ever thought how good we are as an employee? Our stinginess can prevent good things from coming our way. We always...

16 responses •

7 people

Yasser Mattar IMHO, we all started our careers wanting to be the best that we are. We gave everything and expected nothing. But along the way, things started to disappoint us. We encounter horrible bosses. We encountered incompetent colleagues. We encountered tasks that...

22 Oct 15

Is life too long or too short?

scheng1 @scheng1 (24649) • Singapore 3 Oct 15

Sometimes I think that life is too long, and sometimes I feel that life is too short. When it is the beginning of the work week, and I see those kids in school, I start to wonder about their working life ahead. They probably have...

9 responses •

4 people

Yasser Mattar Indeed. The length of life is quite dependent on how satisfying we find life to be. And our satisfaction is in turn dependent on how we compare our lives with the lives of others, or with what we had before, or what we could possibly have. Happy with life =...

22 Oct 15

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2 comments

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1 person

When you lost your hope in career

Arunraj K @Arnraj (1) • New Delhi, India 10 Oct 15

When lost your hope in getting right job or tired of doing repeated small jobs and are worried with your current job/salary,don't worry.Simply try the below tips to get rid of your problems. 1.Foget about past. 2.Start smiling a...

3 responses •

1 person

Yasser Mattar I agree with especially number 10. Whatever opportunities that come by, I would also advise that you assess its strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities. Some opportunities should be jumped upon, while others need to be taken with caution. One might...

22 Oct 15

Will you change job if you can get 10% pay increment?

scheng1 @scheng1 (24649) • Singapore 6 Oct 15

The professional advise is not to switch job if the pay increment is just 10%. In most cases, the annual increment is about 5% of salary, so if a person switches job for the sake of getting extra 5% salary increases, he is taking...

2 responses •

1 person

Yasser Mattar 10% is too little for me to switch jobs. That is indeed a pull factor, but I also have to assess the push factors. There is also the fear of the unknown. Look, at the next job, you boss might be more horrible than the one in your current job. At the next job,...

22 Oct 15

Anyone has any ghost stories to share?

Kumako @kumako (60) • Singapore, Singapore 1 Jul 15

Here's mine! This happened many years back when I was living in Melbourne. I stayed in my first apartment on Flinders Street for almost a year and nothing really happened until a classmate came to stay over for the night. He...

4 responses •

3 people

Yasser Mattar Friend of mine had an experience with his own grandmother. One fine day without warning, she started to curse and swear in the middle of the night. My friend thought that his grandmother was going senile. Apparently not. Upon advice given by another person, he...

21 Oct 15

Shadow People & Other Paranormal Topics Debate

Annette Lewis @blaqwynter (218) • Canada 26 Sep 15

Do any of you believe in ghosts, demons, or shadow people? Have you ever experineced anything paranormal such as phantom calls, or recieved messages from deceased loved ones? There is tons of supernatural thins happening all...

3 responses •

2 people

Yasser Mattar I am a paranormalist in Singapore. Here in Asia, there are various degrees of belief in the supernatural. For some, it is fear, and a topic to stay away from. For others, belief in the supernatural is so commonplace that one expects to encounter such beings on...

20 Oct 15

The Art of Letting go...how to handle?

smurfysmurf @smurfysmurf (651) • Philippines 2 Jan 13

Hi Mylotters, I am counting my days now since I am resigning from my work. It wasn't a tough decision since I needed to move on and head on to my next big step. But as the days are coming to my last day, everything just sink...

letting go

resign

resigning

9 responses •

2 people

Yasser Mattar This part is indeed very hard, especially if emotive bonds have been made. It would be so much easier top treat it like a bandaid and just leave. No goodbyes, no tears. Just go.

20 Oct 15

Customer Is Always Right

wiLLmaH @wiLLmaH (8802) • Singapore, Singapore 20 Oct 15

We are service oriented company and the clients are requesting for me to handle their accounts. Why? Because for me, they are always right. For my 10 years in this industry, no one shouts at me and point finger that it is my fault...

job

import coordinator

office

26 responses •

23 people

Yasser Mattar That is a great way to convince yourself to carry on even when faced with adversity. Having said that though, I am also aware of customers who exist only to make sales persons lives hard. They themselves have not had a bad day. They themselves are not being...

20 Oct 15

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1 person

very talkative colleague

wander_n_wonder @wander_n_wonder (27) • Philippines 16 Apr 13

How do you deal with a colleague who just keeps on talking? I have this colleague who dominates almost all meetings and he does not even feel that everyone listening to him is getting bored or annoyed already. He does the same...

colleague

people

7 responses

Yasser Mattar As an organizational behaviorist, I would advise you to look at his position vis-a-vis the Managers. If the Managers do not mind him talking a whole lot, then I suggest you do not even broach that topic. Just let him talk. He has the Managers' blessing, and...

20 Oct 15

Taking Risks Working Abroad

cherigucchi @cherigucchi (14876) • Philippines 15 Oct 15

Many people decide to work abroad for the purpose of seeking a greener pasture to provide their family with good life. This is not bad at all but of course there are some of the things that one considers before doing it. Are you...

6 responses •

3 people

Yasser Mattar I agree with you in that moving overseas to live and work is a huge leap of faith. Uprooting is one issue. Culture shock in the next country is another issue. Getting a job and setting down is yet another issue. One can always prepare oneself but there are...

20 Oct 15

Went for a job interview

Kevin @kevin1877uk (36988) 14 Oct 15

Went for a job interview I went for a job interview today at the post office (Royal Mail). The job is only until Christmas but at least it could be work if I get the job, fingers crossed. I personally hate interviews, I was so...

interview

job

work

39 responses •

25 people

Yasser Mattar Hi Kevin. I hope you remembered the cardinal rules of going for a job interview. Here's the top 3, to me: 1. Never say anything negative about your previous workplace 2. Do not sell yourself more than what the job description requires 3. Always wear a tie....

20 Oct 15

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1 comment

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1 person

Stinky Workplace

frontvisions101 @frontvisions101 (16043) • Philippines 4 Apr 13

I have to work to keep the apartment. I've been jumping from one company to another because most of them are promising *great* working environment, then what you get is garbage, figuratively speaking. I guess most companies lie...

3 responses •

2 people

Yasser Mattar According to a Herzberg's 2-factor theory, employees are motivated to do their best if they are given respect and empwerment at the workplace. Money is important, but it is not important enough for employees to sacrifice their dignity. Is that what you mean by...

20 Oct 15

Singapore 50th Birthday

Kumako @kumako (60) • Singapore, Singapore 10 Aug 15

Singapore just celebrated our nation's 50th birthday on 9th Aug. It's been 50 yrs since Malaysia kicked us out. In the midst of our celebration, we can't help but miss our late founding Father, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, who brought us out...

national day

singapore

3 responses •

1 person

Yasser Mattar I personally stayed away from it because I am left wondering if the money spent on the gargantuan celebrations could be better spent where it is most needed, ie, in healthcare, in charity etc.

20 Oct 15

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2 comments

Are you into crafting?

sofs @sofssu (23662) 14 Oct 15

What kind of crafts do you enjoy doing. I am into clay modelling, I play around with home made clay, enjoy bead and mirror work, making cards, painting and working with clay on pottery, etc.. I also love mixed media, altered...

crafting

mixed media

homemade clay

14 responses •

11 people

Yasser Mattar I am always awed by people who are into crafting weapons and armor from the medieval ages, such as the folks in medievalist renaissance groups

20 Oct 15