Describing numerous personal traps that can foil all of us at one time or another, employee assistance professionals Mel
Sandler and Muriel Gray show readers how to reassess what is expected of them and what they need to do to get there - guiding the way through major organizational change and workplace pressures.
Winning at Work The Big Idea
Breaking Free of Personal Traps to Find Success in the New Workplace
If what it takes to be a winner in today's business environment seems just out of reach and you don't know why, this book can help. If you find yourself perplexed because your tried-and-true success strategies aren't working anymore, or because the skills you perfected and the place you created for yourself are no longer valuable, this book is for you.
Why You Need This Book
If we charted the typical chain of events leading to the "Everyone Out for Himself or Herself" attitude, it would look something like this:
As you can see, the pressure hits all of the workplace players. It is passed from the top to the bottom of the ladder. They are all in it together, and can either sink together or swim together. Recognizing the “Everyone Out for Himself or Herself” Attitude
The new workplace has changed and will probably continue to change. What you need to keep in mind is that if you take it personally, you will only end up getting yourself into a trap. Remember that it's a business.
THE “TAKING IT PERSONALLY” TRAPS The key is to consider other possible interpretations of what was going on. Sometimes it may be personal, but often it is not. The trap comes when you can see a scenario only one way, and it is from the personal point of view.
You will find that many successful people do not personalize at all. Even those who consider a danger as personal do not let this paralyze them.
Go for your own inner fuel and use it to shine your light.
If you are to succeed in the job, your interests must parallel those of the company. They must also parallel your own vision of the future --- your future. The focus must be on a better fit between you and the company. The company is adjusting In order to look out for its interests, and so must you.
Use your inner light to shine outward.
THE “FORGETTING SELF-INTEREST” TRAPS
You know that what you are about to do will not be easy. However, you will be empowered and gratified knowing that you are advancing your self-interest and career. You are working towards your goals. Furthermore, this is certainly better than being overwhelmed with anger or feeling out of control.
Remind yourself of your ability.
RULES FOR SHINING YOUR LIGHT
Look back at your achievements and endurance record. A pessimist will view an event and automatically think such thoughts as these: “Oh boy, am I in trouble now”; “They’d better not find out or else…”; “I’m doomed”; or “Why do these terrible things always happen to me?”
Talk with people who will remind you of your competence. Despite the evidence and warnings, an optimist will continue to think: “Things will work out. They always do”; “I don’t know why everyone is so upset; they should just give it a chance”; If I do what I need to, it will work out.”
THE ‘TUNNEL VISION’ TRAPS People with the same type of tunnel vision often have similar thoughts. Here are some examples:
Use that energy to fuel you. Regardless of the work load or realistic expectations, a perfectionist will say: “I should have done that a little better”; “I can’t turn it in like that”; “This will be the last change”; or “It’s not quite right yet.”
A workaholic will say: “I eat, sleep, and dream my job”; “I have so much to do, I have no time for anything else”; or “How am I going to get all of this work done?”
If you have discouraging events or memories, stop yourself and remember your competencies and successes. They're still yours. They fuel your inner light that will shine outward.
Shining Your Own Light We have different degrees and types of loyalty to each group to which we belong. They can result in rewards and can also cause a great deal of grief and pain. There is no “right” or “wrong” when it comes to rules about loyalty. In fact, there is a mix of advantages and disadvantages regarding loyalty.
THE “LOYALTY” TRAPS We understand that for all groups to survive, the level of loyalty of their members must be high. Yet for new ideas to emerge, there need to be people who are willing and able to challenge the loyalty to an established order. The willingness of people to question and alter their degree of loyalty is what leads to the emergence of new ideas.
In order to apply the new loyalty rules, you need to be able to direct your loyalty in several directions at once. You can no longer afford to direct all of your allegiance to your company. There is no need to feel guilty for not giving your company all of your loyalty; chances are it does not want it anyway.
Be friendly, not confrontational, avoiding inflammatory words or other references that might result in defensiveness.
By Common Personal Traps and How to Manage Them Focus on the positive; use examples of what is working.
Mel Sandler & Muriel Gray Share information with the manager about his or her behaviors that make it harder for you to work effectively, but be sure to give the benefit of the doubt by acknowledging that the manager probably didn’t realize this was happening.
Here are some guidelines for using the direct approach with your manager:
Ask for feedback about things that you do that concern him or her. Be prepared to hear that your manager’s behaviour might be a reaction to your behaviors.
Magna Publishing, 2004 THE “WE’RE JUST ONE BIG FAMILY” TRAPS
ISBN 81-7809-241-7 Be ready for a cooperative agreement.
208 pages Be prepared for the possibility that your manager may start a shoot-out. If so, you know who will win. Retreat and minimize the damage.
One important attribute of most successful people is their ability to relate effectively and appropriately with other workplace players. They do this regardless of the changes, disappointments, injustices, or pressures that they confront.
