So, you have been in your new position for a while now, you are settling in nicely but it seems that you are handling duties that go well above and beyond your original job description. The problem is that nobody – especially your boss- has seemed to notice or acknowledge all this extra effort. You are now simmering with resentment and you are determined to gain some of the recognition you deserve, preferably with a new title and a raise. But what is the best way to go about doing so? Some advice:
Make a List – Before you do anything else make a list of all the extra responsibilities you have taken on and all the time that you are putting in on these new projects. Perhaps you have begun orientating new employees and that is taking up a certain amount of your time every week now. Calculate how much time that is exactly and note it down. You should also get down on paper the amount of time you spend performing the tasks you were originally hired to do.
Invent Your New title – Have a second look at your list of extra responsibilities. Does it look similar to that of a fellow employee who has a “higher” title than the one you have? If so, you should note that down too. If you do not see anybody else with remotely the same responsibilities as you currently have invent a title that you think might be appropriate to more accurately describe your real roll in the company.
A Word about Money – A new title is great, but with it should come a new salary structure as well. Have a look at a few job classifieds or salary comparison websites . How much more does your desired new title make you worth?
Taking it to the Top – Once all of this preparation is complete the time has to come to request a formal meeting with your boss to discuss it all. Let her know in advance what you propose to discuss so that she can allot you a reasonable amount of her time instead of fitting you in between phone calls.
In the end it is up to you, and you alone to look out for yourself at work and take the initiative to ask for the recognition you deserve. Chances are that your boss may be so busy herself she has barely had time to notice how far your job duties have expanded. Present your case in a clear, calm manner and you should stand a great chance of getting what you want.
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.
]]>
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.
Ignore the Drama – A troublesome colleague is just that – someone out to distract, disturb and upset you. Maybe they would like your position, are competing with you for a certain promotion or simply want to be the office superstar and will step on everyone else to achieve their goals. You do not have to be drawn into their dramatic world; do your job and try to avoid rising to any bait they set for you.
Laugh it off – This is not an easy thing to do but it can work. Instead of becoming angry at the situation and upsetting yourself try to find the humor in the situation. Take heart that you are obviously good enough at what you do that someone wants to spend time and energy on sabotaging your efforts in the first place.
Communicate – When all else fails confronting your co worker directly is the next step. Approach the situation calmly and ask them why they are doing what they are. The fact that they realize that they have been “caught out” may be enough to make them stop, or they may not even realize that their actions were out of line.
]]>
Over the last year or so a great many companies, large and small, have been forced to make some changes to keep their heads above water and ride out the recession. Unfortunately it often means inflicting a certain level of “pain” on employees. This can mean layoffs or reassigning duties, titles and tasks in order to try and keep the business on an even keel. Doing so can be a difficult balancing act for managers. The changes have to be made but you still need to keep the goodwill and loyalty of those staff that remain.
This is often where negative energy begins to creep into the work environment. It commonly displays itself in one of four ways:
- Sheer fear amongst employees that their jobs may be gone tomorrow, even this afternoon, and that fear becomes all they are focused upon.
- Employees feeling helpless because although they know how to do their jobs properly some of the resources they are used to have disappeared.
- As resources and staff are cut people on the team begin to fight with each over jobs not being done properly.
- People are unhappy in their jobs but feel they cannot leave because the poor economy limits their choices.
As a manager it is up to you to counteract this negativity so that the whole department/company/team stays together and pulls through the bad times in the best shape possible. Some tips:
Increase Communications – You may have explained the reasons for the changes once but that is simply not enough. Employees need to understand what is “in it for them” to go through this pain and if you have to repeat yourself ten times a day to five different groups of people until the actions are understood that is what has to be done.
Acknowledge Success – In times of crisis it is tempting to focus simply upon things that have to be improved or done better. But many things are still being done well and that needs to be acknowledged, even if it is just with a simple thank you.
Management has to be at its best – If employees are being asked to work harder for less, you as their manager need to be seen doing so as well. If you are asking an employee to undertake the work of two this is not the time for people to perceive that their leader is slacking off.
Most people head into a new job full of vigor and enthusiasm, not thinking about the job ending one day. Getting fired is not something that would happen to them. However, there are a lot more reasons for you to be shown the door than you might think. Here are some of the most commonly made mistakes that have employers rethinking their hiring decision.
Padding your resume – Tell the truth from the start, right on your resume. In this day and age most employers do perform background checks but if a “little white lie” does slip through and you are hired if your embellishment may be discovered at a later date. This could result in the cleaning out of your desk.
Too Many Personal Calls – Most employers will tolerate the occasional personal phone call, especially if you are a working parent. Do it too often though and you are probably going to end up being able to spend as much time chatting with your BFF as you like ..from home.
Too Much Web surfing – Spending hours updating your Facebook or twittering about how your day is going is a waste of your employer’s time. Most likely there will be consequences when they find out about it. While, this may not result in immediate termination visiting adult sites or other off limits web pages can result in separation.
Tardiness – Well its only 9:05 am, that doesn’t matter right? Perhaps not, if you only do it once in a while. But, if you regularly arrive at work after everyone is else is settled in or your lunch “hour” is usually 65 minutes, then you are putting yourself in the position to never have to worry about getting to that office on time again.
Gossip – You may have stumbled upon the juiciest piece of information about the girl in the cubicle next to yours but, suppress the urge to share with your coffee crew and keep it to yourself. People may instinctively love to hear a juicy rumor or two but, no one ever wants to be fingered as the one who started it. Indulging in office gossip can quickly lose you the trust and admiration of your colleagues, including the boss who has the power to let you go.