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The above statistic was recently discovered in a survey conducted by The Conference Board, an independent economic and business forecasting company. It’s unfortunate that many people feel dependant on the job they have either due to financial reasons or because there is simply nothing else out there! If this sounds like you or you have lost the will to live, (I mean work) do not fear. You are not alone and you don’t have to be a prisoner in employment. Here are some easy tips to keep your cool and to make your life easier in the workplace. Your boss won’t know what’s hit them!
Determining the problem
If your manager is acting more beastly than usual, maybe there is a simple explanation for it. Are they annoyed or grouchy due to immense pressure on their shoulders? Is someone not doing their job properly? There are numerous factors involved – humans are complex creatures. Chances are they hate their job every bit as much as you do right now. Don’t take it personally. If you do, you risk putting your head on the cutting block. I should know – my boss has beheaded many in her time! I think being a dragon is part of the job description.
Avoid nasty confrontations
When your boss decides to reduce your contracted hours at the drop of a hat or picks on you for no apparent reason, it is more than tempting to scream at them or set fire to their office. This won’t do you any favors though, no matter how great it would feel! Instead, take a moment on your own to think things through logically and as calmly as possible. Be as rational as you can and gather all the facts you have (not rumors) and construct a solid argument before confronting your boss. Take down notes and rehearse your words with a friend (or your trusty reflection) if you really have to.
If you are the sort of person that gets swept up in the heat of the moment, calm down at all costs. Play darts using a picture of your boss’s face – whatever it takes to let off steam first. Perhaps you could write a letter if know you will lose your cool. Try to avoid accusations or bold remarks because written evidence can be used against you in the court…yep…some of us have learned the hard way. Gutted, huh?
Build up a great reputation
Being good at your job can win you a lot of respect at work from your colleagues and even from the general public. It’s a sad fact that some of us have to brown nose a bit to get what we want. If your boss has an ounce of sense, they will realize that your intent is for the good of the company. This team-spirited attitude will also contribute to:
- Better group morale and working relationships
- A more pleasant atmosphere to work in
- Greater trust between colleagues
- More work getting done!
If your boss has little acknowledgment for the hard work you do, you probably feel like banging your head against a brick wall, right? If you work hard, your manager says nothing. If you do nothing, you get a letter; it’s a catch 22 situation. At the end of the day, does your boss want any employees left at all? If the answer is yes, then it is in the company’s best interest to keep the troops happy. Without you, they will have no job.
It doesn’t take a blind person to realize that zero motivation leads to poor performance at work. The best way to approach a situation like this is to adopt a light-hearted attitude – say hey! I tried my absolute hardest today and I got this done this done and this done. Let it be known that you do work late some nights or at home – not because you have to but because you want to. Some people just aren’t very observant; therefore you need to offer them a kind reminder of your efforts
Just because some workers are lazy doesn’t mean everyone in the company has to be branded the same. If your boss can see that you do your job properly, she will hopefully get off your back and target the people that really do need telling off.
Taking stress home with you
When you have had a hard day at work, it is tempting to take your worries to bed with you or pass on your rage to immediate family such as friends and loved ones. It won’t take long before you have arguments; something you could really really do without! Make your personal time sacred. Not many of us get enough ‘me’ time which is why we have to make the most of it when we do get the chance.
Next time you go to work, relish in the fact that you can leave it all behind in just a few hours.
Keep busy
By immersing yourself in your work, you will have less time to dwell on all the bad stuff happening to you right now. You could either cave into the temptation of gossip and scandal (there is always one person at work who likes to add the cat amongst the pigeons) or you could take a different and rather refreshing approach and simply knuckle down to what you got to’ do. In fact, hanging out with people who talk too much is often the catalyst for problems in the first place. Most of what they have to say isn’t true either!
Stay on good terms
In my personal experience, becoming friends with your boss is actually more damaging to your professional reputation than if you were to act hostile towards them. Sure, your boss will like you, but everyone else in the workplace will think you are trying to get one up over them! One of my colleagues has done just that and she is paying the price ever since. It’s all about balance. Naturally, nobody would tell her to her face though. That’s the worse part really.
Look for another job
If push comes to shove and you have tried your absolute hardest to be accommodating towards your boss, yet you find yourself more unhappy than ever, ask yourself the question – is this job really worth it? If the negative aspects outweigh the positive, you are putting your health on the line and potentially destroying your personal relationships in the process. Not even the best-paid job on the planet is worth justifying that kind of treatment.
On the other hand, you might come to the conclusion that it is better the devil you know than the devil you don’t. Whatever your decision…have faith in your decision and stick to it.
If you have any crazy work experiences you would like to share or any comments, drop us a line below! Cheers everyone 🙂
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