November 8, 2009

  • More ^ What I’ve Concluded About Work Thus Far

    1. Not Letting Things Get To Me

        Snarky phone callers, coworkers' negative attitudes, an impatient supervisor… it's enough to put me in a bad mood or even tear up if it gets really bad.  Reminding myself not to take things personally doesn't have the intended effect.  But when the copier breaks down for the third time and everyone's looking at you… just shrug it off.  You don't have to invest yourself so deeply a.k.a. take it eas(ier).  You're probably making something a priority that shouldn't be one -- not at all.


    2. Projecting Ability and Confidence

        You let prospective employers know at job interviews why they should hire you.  They don't know what you know about your qualifications unless you convey that to them.  Once you're hired, it's just as important to focus on your strengths over your weaknesses.  Learning the ropes for the first time can be stressful and overwhelming, but focus on what you're doing well.  Even if you do 9 out of 10 tasks well, you shouldn't let stressing out over one error to take away from the 9 excellent jobs you did do!


    3. Ditching The Anxiety

        No "small vision."  That is, nitpicking, or thinking that this phone call is THE phone call that determines how the rest of your day goes, or that this conversation with your coworkers is THE conversation that makes or breaks how they relate to you.  Be bold in being yourself.  Take it one thing at a time and don't expect to see the full picture until it's completed.  Being more at ease with yourself leads to others being more at ease with you, which is likely to improve your work satisfaction.


    4. Taking Myself Less Seriously

        When it comes down to "playing well with others," I have had to ignore some of my tendencies, like taking middle of the road stances and not having opinions (agree or disagree but don't not make up your mind), or voicing disagreement over insignificant details which would only serve to confuse or bring conversation to a standstill (saying something to show you're listening is fine).  It doesn't feel like "betrayal" or not being true to myself surprisingly, but feels like I’m doing something right in learning something new.




    During my first three months at work, I felt some near breaking points (days when I felt most like a pressure cooker from inside).  On those days, you'd have seen me with furrowed brows + clenched jaw + mood of displeasure.  Somatization.

    Somatization preceded any action I might take (or not, because of nerves).  It might have served to propel people away from me.  Mostly, I was the one suffering in silence with the thoughts of indignation, anger, and frustration.  But I'm hoping three months was the turning point for me.

    Taking it easier means: never finding yourself making excuses for other people's poor behavior, esp. not blaming it on your, real or imagined, flaws.  No more fuming or suffering hurt in silence.  No more being left emotionally confused.  Less anxiety.  Less mentally-drained. Time goes by faster.  Like your coworkers better.

    And I might even like my job.

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