Have you ever seen the movie "Office Space? ? If you have worked in any facet of corporate America and haven't seen it, I encourage you to do so. It is a comedy about a guy who rises up to rail against the hopelessly corporate fictional enterprise, Initech. The cast of characters includes the boss who always wants you to work overtime, the employee with too many bosses, two clueless consultants and one character who just wants his "stapler ? back. As outrageous as the film's plot is, it does reveal some of the secrets to getting ahead in the corporate world. I have known many incredibly capable people whose abilities weren't being noticed or recognized, simply because they did not know how to navigate a corporate environment. If you were raised in a suburban, professional household, some of these things are old hat. However, if you were raised in different circumstances, as many of us were, much of these customs or the "corporate culture ? as a whole, may seem as natural as two left feet. As with everything in life, work means finding the right balance. If we are off balance in any direction, our life suffers and we are unable to achieve our true potential or joy out of what we are doing. For example, a workaholic is often a doormat to their job, loving it but having a home life that suffers. Alternately, a person who salivates at the though of 5pm can't possibly be a person who enjoys what they are doing. And when we don't enjoy what we're doing, we don't do it as well as someone who does - and our work suffers. 5 Things to Avoid Taking it Personally I have a friend, let's call her Sally, who used to write people letters at the office whenever she was offended by them or when she was afraid she offended them. She was an assistant in her department and lacked confidence because she didn't have the education or rank that her co-workers had. However, what she didn't realize was that she had the talent, drive and intellectual capacity to outperform every other member in her department. What am I really saying here? Education is important. We should strive for it, hunger for it and value where it can take us in our personal and professional lives. However, just because a person doesn't have a formal education doesn't mean that they don't have what it takes to do a job. Mistakes are going to happen on the job, some people aren't going to like you and sometimes people may even say things that hurt your feelings. Just know that while your feelings are valid and important, you need to handle conflict in a straight-forward, professional manner. Look at the situation at hand. Is there anything you can learn from it that will make you a better worker? Could there be another reason for your co-worker/boss's comments or attitude? What can you do to show this person that, while you are not willing endure any rude or unprofessional comments, that you appreciate their input and will take them into consideration? I once had a co-worker who worked in a legal department of a publishing company. She received calls all the time from irate authors who hadn't received their payments who would curse her out. After trying every possible way to calm them, with grace, she would simply reply over and over again, if necessary, "well, I'm sorry you feel that way. ? Once she hung up the phone, she knew that she had done everything she could and that she had no control over their feelings. This enabled her to let it go. The "me ? Complex I am sure that your needs are at the top of your list - and let's face it, in most cases they should be. However, do not expect your employer to feel that way. You are not irreplaceable - no matter how well you think you do your job. An employee who is stuck in their own world of me, mine and myself, signals to an employer that they are not thinking of the business and the bottom line that keeps everyone employed. Items that fall under this category include; personal life excuses for not getting work done, a never-ending tirade of personal issues interfering with job performance and letting your employer know the intimate details of your life without being asked. Constant Complaining Just about everyone has worked with a complainer. If they won a Rolls Royce, they'd kick the tires and ask about the gas mileage. Then they would have a fit when they found out they would have to pay for their own gas. This person could be the most talented person in the company but, in most cases, they will never advance because their "can't do ? attitude will precede them wherever they go. True leadership requires the ability to motivate others and to serve others in a positive way that enables and inspires them to do the best job they can do. The Doormat Syndrome Going beyond the call of duty is necessary if you want to get ahead at work, but there is a line that should not be crossed. Make reasonable limitations about your time and what you are willing to do and STICK to them. This will show integrity and a good boss will respect you more for this. The doormat does everything without even thinking about it and often ends up getting walked on in the process. The Flirt Sure, you can get what you need more quickly if you strike up a charming discourse with the people who really matter - we're talking about the office management personnel and technical gurus. This is encouraged because these people are often the hardest working, yet least valued members of an organization. However, the big no-no is even the appearance of "sleeping your way to the top. ? Even if it is innocent, perception is truth to many. And who wants to be perceived as someone who slept their way to the top? Even if you get the title, you won't get the respect. So don't go there. Use your feminine whiles to make quicker, more effective decisions, to handle workplace friction and to increase efficiency in your organization. You'll respect yourself more in the morning. |
