Four Truths of the Workplace and How to Make Life Easier
Working in one industry for a long period of time has lent itself to some very interesting truths. While I enjoy the work I do, there are very important things I learned over time. It doesn't matter what industry you are from, all have the same pluses and minuses that once learned, can help you make your work more fulfilling and less stressful. Each of the four truths are simple yet we tend to overlook them as things we can change and accept it as how we have to live. There is no worse truth than acceptance that you can not change your environment to a more positive and nurturing work space.
Truth 1 - Management sucks! This is a no brainer to anyone that has worked in a management position, especially if you are middle management. You have to become a baby sitter to your whiny employees other wise you are frowned upon by the higher management team. If your employees are not happy for any reason, then your life will be miserable. Also if your boss is not happy for any reason, guess what? You will be miserable. It is a lose-lose situation because there will always be employees that think you owe them something, and a manager that thinks they own you. Unless you need the money, weigh the stress of the job over the extra income and make a choice if it is truly worth your anxiety to be in management.
Truth 2 - Co-Workers are just that, co-workers. This is a very important truth that took me a long time to learn. I have always tried to see the good in everyone and to a fault have tried to think they also had my best interest at heart. WRONG! Your co-workers will not hesitate to throw you under the bus if it means they stay out of trouble and can continue to wreak havoc on others with no consequences. You have to remember that you are the only thing that is important to you and they feel the same way. If you come between them and their ability to pay their bills, then you are going to be tossed aside. Occasionally you will find that diamond in the ruff that becomes a true friend and you can share a life outside of work with, but even they must think of their family first. This is not to say you can not be a good co-worker, just be mindful that others are not looking out for you.
Truth 3 - Negativity begets negativity. If you share all that makes you unhappy, then you leave yourself open for unhappiness back. People that start the day with gruffness and short tempers will spread their darkness through the office and like a black mold, it is hard to remove. No one wants to work with negative people and even if you just pretend to be a little happier than you are, by the end of the day you will find that the negative fades. You may even leave work happier than you were. All workplaces have at least one person who is the plague for negativity. If you don't know who it is, then it is probably you! Try to find one happy thing each day and focus on that until your work day is done. When you get into the habit of making each day positive, then you can minimize the stress of being negative about your work.
Truth 4 - The squeaky wheel gets the attention. This may not be a good thing, but you will notice that the person that complains a lot appears to be the boss's best friend. Why? Because your boss needs to make them happy otherwise they will annoy the boss to the point of crazy. That in turn makes their manager unhappy and crazy (see truth 1). It will even seem that your boss may make it your job to keep that one person happy. It is very frustrating to be made the baby sitter of poor employees. Most of the time I wish they would just quit if they are so unhappy, but society has made it to where those employees have their hands held through life, while everyone else has to play nice. It is disappointing to see in the least, but if you look on them with pity rather than making them accountable, then you too are allowing them to be a poor employee. If you can find ways to make that person want to make an effort to be better at their job, then it can make your job easier.
While these four truths seem simple and easy to understand, once you are in the trenches of work, sometimes it is hard to be optimistic. Take each day as a chance to start over and focus on what goals you have and why you started working at your job. If you have found yourself in a spot where you are no longer happy and your goals are no longer met, then look for a new job that can give you that balance and growth. Sometimes it is as simple as picking up a hobby that you can have after work, or as big as changing fields all together. You don't want to look back on your life and think that you could have enjoyed it more, but you didn't. I stepped down from a management job to pursue my dreams of writing. Even though I make less money now, I am happier than I have been in a long time. Remember to take time for the important things in life, whatever they may be for you.
Truth 1 - Management sucks! This is a no brainer to anyone that has worked in a management position, especially if you are middle management. You have to become a baby sitter to your whiny employees other wise you are frowned upon by the higher management team. If your employees are not happy for any reason, then your life will be miserable. Also if your boss is not happy for any reason, guess what? You will be miserable. It is a lose-lose situation because there will always be employees that think you owe them something, and a manager that thinks they own you. Unless you need the money, weigh the stress of the job over the extra income and make a choice if it is truly worth your anxiety to be in management.
Truth 2 - Co-Workers are just that, co-workers. This is a very important truth that took me a long time to learn. I have always tried to see the good in everyone and to a fault have tried to think they also had my best interest at heart. WRONG! Your co-workers will not hesitate to throw you under the bus if it means they stay out of trouble and can continue to wreak havoc on others with no consequences. You have to remember that you are the only thing that is important to you and they feel the same way. If you come between them and their ability to pay their bills, then you are going to be tossed aside. Occasionally you will find that diamond in the ruff that becomes a true friend and you can share a life outside of work with, but even they must think of their family first. This is not to say you can not be a good co-worker, just be mindful that others are not looking out for you.
Truth 3 - Negativity begets negativity. If you share all that makes you unhappy, then you leave yourself open for unhappiness back. People that start the day with gruffness and short tempers will spread their darkness through the office and like a black mold, it is hard to remove. No one wants to work with negative people and even if you just pretend to be a little happier than you are, by the end of the day you will find that the negative fades. You may even leave work happier than you were. All workplaces have at least one person who is the plague for negativity. If you don't know who it is, then it is probably you! Try to find one happy thing each day and focus on that until your work day is done. When you get into the habit of making each day positive, then you can minimize the stress of being negative about your work.
Truth 4 - The squeaky wheel gets the attention. This may not be a good thing, but you will notice that the person that complains a lot appears to be the boss's best friend. Why? Because your boss needs to make them happy otherwise they will annoy the boss to the point of crazy. That in turn makes their manager unhappy and crazy (see truth 1). It will even seem that your boss may make it your job to keep that one person happy. It is very frustrating to be made the baby sitter of poor employees. Most of the time I wish they would just quit if they are so unhappy, but society has made it to where those employees have their hands held through life, while everyone else has to play nice. It is disappointing to see in the least, but if you look on them with pity rather than making them accountable, then you too are allowing them to be a poor employee. If you can find ways to make that person want to make an effort to be better at their job, then it can make your job easier.
While these four truths seem simple and easy to understand, once you are in the trenches of work, sometimes it is hard to be optimistic. Take each day as a chance to start over and focus on what goals you have and why you started working at your job. If you have found yourself in a spot where you are no longer happy and your goals are no longer met, then look for a new job that can give you that balance and growth. Sometimes it is as simple as picking up a hobby that you can have after work, or as big as changing fields all together. You don't want to look back on your life and think that you could have enjoyed it more, but you didn't. I stepped down from a management job to pursue my dreams of writing. Even though I make less money now, I am happier than I have been in a long time. Remember to take time for the important things in life, whatever they may be for you.
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