Handling Life in a Dysfunctional Office
What may look very funny at Dunder Mifflin in “The Office” may not be so amusing in the real world. There are ways to deal with life in a less than perfect office without losing your mind though. A few suggestions:
Remain Focused – Focusing your energies on the job at hand rather than at what others around you are doing can provide an effective way of coping as well as possibly a way to advance out of the chaos. Keep working on that report even while your coworkers are headed out for their fifth smoke break of the day or are comparing notes about this weekend’s social plans. Act how you believe a professional should and your efforts will not go unnoticed.
Tune it Out – If you are in the fortunate position of being able to separate yourself and tune the office out a little take advantage of it. Have the radio on low volume at your desk or even wear an Ipod if such a thing is permitted. And if any of your coworkers comment that they think you are being rude just tell them that the music helps you concentrate.
Stay away from the Fray – maybe you should start looking at the goings on around your office as if it were a branch of Dunder Mifflin after all, and treat it like you would a TV show. Sit back as an observer and watch but do not be drawn in. Dysfunctional behavior at work increases because more and more like minded people join in. And never be tempted to return the fire of the office “ego monster” however much they bait you – this is exactly want they want you to do so do not give them the satisfaction.
Leave – In the end though in many cases the best course of action is just to move on. Some managers just never realize that they are losing all their good, talented employees by failing to control a dysfunctional work environment and however much you try to point it out you may never succeed. Save yourself the stress and find a different environment where the work ethic is more in line with your own.
A Little Friday Fun – Dealing with a Creepy Co Worker
A little Friday fun – movie time. This is a funny little piece but the advice it imparts is actually on the mark. Watch and enjoy.
Preparing for a Performance Review
Do you remember when you were a kid how you felt when report card time came around? If it was good you could possibly look forward to praise from your parents and possibly a little treat. A bad one however probably meant more than a little trouble so there were butterflies in your stomach as you handed that envelope over to Mom and Dad.
A performance review at work can bring all of those memories and feelings flooding back. A good review could set your career on fire, a bad one who knows? So it’s just like being back in high school all over again.
In the case of performance reviews though there are certain things you can do to make sure that you are prepared for your workplace review and you are ready to handle whatever comes of it.
Self-evaluation is a good tool. Critique your recent job performance as honestly as you can. Are you really putting in 100% or have you been slacking off recently? If you are honest with yourself about the way you have been working then you will probably be better equipped to handle any criticism your boss might throw your way during the review.
Handle a Sabotaging Coworker Effectively
We would all like to get along with our colleagues. It makes for a better work environment and boosts the business as well. Sadly though, this is not always the case. Office politics can be a tricky business and it is not unusual to find yourself dealing with a coworker who seems out to sabotage you rather than help. If you are faced with this situation what should you do? Some tips:
Cover yourself – Taking precautions to protect yourself against a coworker with less than good intentions is a wise move. Keep written records for yourself of the work you do and the ideas you contribute. If a nefarious office mate should try to take the credit for something you did to get ahead, or worse tries to blame you for something you did not do, you have proof to back up your protests.
Will Going Back to School Really Help your Career?
College is four of five (or maybe even twenty) years in the past now but you have been thinking about returning to school to pursue an advanced degree to boost your earning potential even further. This however is a bigger decision than you might think and there are some points you should consider before you return to the academic world:
Why – Exactly what are your motivations for returning to school? Do you want to earn more money in your current profession or change gears altogether? Either option can be a good reason for resuming your education, as long as you have thought it through. If you are pursuing an advanced degree to further your current career make sure that the program you choose will actually translate into a real job in the future. Ask the admissions counselor about previous graduates, how many of them did land the kind of position you are looking for?
