IMPROVING YOUR LIFE AT WORK

Feeling a little down at work? Think you are not going anywhere or getting anything accomplished? Read on and find out how you can improve your working life for the better!

"Don't be distracted by gossip" Dress the part While some jobs require different standards of dressing, one constant remains- be well groomed. If you think no one notices that you wore the same clothes as yesterday or you walk around in slippers because its comfortable, well, think again. As said by many employers, if you want to be perceived as professional, look the part. Ethics Yes, dressing matters. But it's how you present yourself as a person that is really crucial. Are you reliable? Responsible? Honest? All the skill in the world won't make up for someone who's lacking these essentials. Remember, employers are always looking out for clues on what kind of employee you are, especially in the early days. Watch out for: arriving late, letting your personal life overshadow your work life, taking long lunches and being hung-over on a regular basis. Being heard There are brash, aggressive people at the work place. If you are not one of them, getting heard may be a nerve wrecking experience. However, the last thing you want your boss to think is that you have no ideas, or worse, don't care. Check the following tips for some hints on making yourself heard at meetings: Do some homework- being prepared bolsters your confidence. If you are giving a presentation, rehearse the night before on what you are going to say. Be on time, or better yet, be early. No harm having a few extra minutes to calm yourself down, is there? Speak up in the early stages of the meeting before you lose your nerve. Take a few breaths if your voice is shaking. At the meeting's conclusion, summarise your ideas and email them to your boss, especially if you didn't get the opportunity to present them fully at the meeting. Don't start your ideas with negative disclaimers such as "This may not be possible to achieve, but�". If you don't have the confidence in your own ideas, why should anyone else? Entering the political arena When you first started working, you thought that all you'd be doing is work, right? Well, it probably didn't take you long to find out that office politics takes up most of your time too. We spend more time with our colleagues than we do with our family and friends. Sometimes a psychology degree comes in handy when handling these kinds of situations. Don't be distracted by gossip- you can listen but don't gripe about your situation either as it may be used against you later. If you have become a target of office bullying, stand up for yourself even if you are being threatened. Often, confronting someone will embarrass them into behaving more reasonably. Deliver your self-defense with a little finesse and don't lower yourself to their level. Approach them by asking if there's anything that can be done to improve your working relationship. If they're not receptive, consider asking the powers-that-be for advice. Sorting things out According to a survey conducted by various managers in different fields, their top complaint was: lack of organisation. It may look like something easy for them to say but you have to remember that they didn't start out at the top either. Employers want workers they can rely on which can be tricky if you are constantly trying to locate that file you misplaced. If you get your work done, a cluttered work space shouldn't be a problem. But organisation goes beyond a tidy desk. It's about the way your execute your tasks so that you meet goals and deadlines. Don't go on holiday before tying up loose ends- plan ahead if you know you will be going on holiday for whatever length of time. If it's not possible to finish work, hand over the responsibilities to another colleague or subordinate. Make sure you give them ample instructions on what to do and ensure that it doesn't bog down their schedule either. Don't take on too much work- don't be too enthusiastic when taking on new projects or responsibilities when you already have your hands full of work. Its far better to under-promise than to over-deliver. At the meeting's conclusion, summarise your ideas and email them to your boss, especially if you didn't get the opportunity to present them fully at the meeting. If your disorganisation is due to the lack of structure, take notes from people who seem to be on top of everything. Workplaces are so busy that no matter how well you know your clutter, you risk disaster if you don't have any real system in place. Not everyone is clean and tidy, but sorting yourself out, even if it means coming to work on the weekend to sort through paperwork may be worth the effort- and the important people will notice. It's not all about you Many people, especially the young ones, have an idealistic view of the workplace and what duties would be. But when they get there, they are often asked to do things outside their role and some employee's don't like that. But that's not realistic behavior. Be ready to get your hands dirty and do things for team gain. A manager would be more impressed with your ability to be flexible than your refusal to do anything not in your job description. Impatience You are itching for new responsibilities, more office space, new challenges and most likely- more cash, but are you ready to move? No matter how talented you may be, don't have an unrealistic career view. Firstly, you become frustrated with your current role as you dream about the next stop. Secondly, it's hard for an employer to hire someone who changes positions or jobs every 12 months or less. They wouldn't want to hire someone who's leave so soon. Everyone moves ahead at different speeds, depending on the industry and your company. You could get a senior position at a smaller firm or take on a more junior role at a larger, more prestigious one, both at the same skill level. Although you may be further up the ladder at the first one, but you'd probably get better training and opportunities at the larger company. Therefore... When you first started work, you were brimming with enthusiasm. Every opportunity had such delicious potential. But these days, things look different. Relax! Everyone gets demotivated at some point or another. Problem is, no one likes the indifference- especially your employer, So rather than let this career crisis become a lifelong event, take a long look at what could be bothering you Always have discussions with your boss to reassess tasks and discuss solutions for difficulties at work. If you think your job isn't contributing to your career objectives, think about the reasons why. If it's a promotion you want, ask your employer if this is realistic. If not, discuss what you need to achieve to make it happen. Alternatively, if you are looking for a change in direction, see a recruitment firm or career counselor to discuss your options. Staying in an unsatisfactory environment for too long can affect the ability to sell yourself to another employer because you lose confidence in yourself. Be patient, be prepared to learn and above all, accept that you don't know everything!