Workplace Challenges
Self-analysisThe real cut-throat "Survivor" competition for dominance is happening not in the jungles or the desert, but in workplaces across North America. |
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Toronto Sun |
"An internal reality analysis should, at the least, help to remind you that your co-worker is not your brother or sister and the office isn't home," she writes. "You can, and perhaps should, do things differently than you did in that other environment."
When dealing with supercompetitive peers, she writes, your possible courses of action include ignoring certain behaviours, acting friendlier, keeping notes and tactfully approaching them to resolve matters; however, if you're dealing with an intentional backstabber, report the behaviour to management, and decide if you should leave.
Adapting to new technology is another source of stress for many office workers. For some, it's a fear of failure that holds them back; for others, it's the training format that may not suit them.
"Self-analysis"
"This kind of self-analysis can go a long way transforming the amorphous, free-floating anxiety you experience when staring at the new software or gadget on the job, into an understandable, manageable, maybe even interesting challenge," she writes.
Maintain a positive outlook, fight for the kind of training that suits you best and talk to your peers about their experiences, she advises.
If office politics plagues your work environment, you may need to play the game yourself -- to a point. Make yourself invaluable to your superiors, take fashion notes from colleagues on the fast track, join the corporate softball team -- but control the impact on your self-esteem by separating your ego.
"You need not value these behaviours; you can believe they're not highly admirable or a little silly. At the same time, you can convince yourself that you can and should adapt, and you will not take it all to heart so much. 'Playing politics' is an apt phrase. This is a bit of a game, like Monopoly. It's worth your while to get in the game."
Do you have you a bad boss?