Learning

Coping With a Competitive Coworker

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Competitive coworkers can be a challenge to work with. They’re desperate to get ahead. They’ll take any opportunity to promote themselves, and even take credit for things they didn’t necessarily do. They won’t mention other team members’ contributions. And they may even discredit other people’s work in an effort to make themselves look better.

Do you have a competitive coworker? If so, you might be feeling stressed and upset. It’s really difficult to have a coworker who is always trying to get attention and acclaim – especially when it’s at your expense.

So what should you do if you find yourself in this situation? Author Gloria Larson has a few suggestions.

  • Form a friendship – One of the best ways to deal with a competitive coworker is to befriend him or her. Sure, you might not like your competitive coworker very much. And your coworker might not be that interested in being friendly with you either. But if you work at it, you might be able to discover your coworker’s good qualities and find some common ground. And most importantly, you’ll be able to turn a competitor into a friend and ally.
  • Enhance your skills – If you really can’t stomach the idea of befriending your competitive coworker, use that person as a motivating force instead. Start working on enhancing your skills and abilities. Learn new techniques and broaden your repertoire. You’ll be such an asset to the team that there will be no need for you to feel stressed or threatened by your competitive counterpart.
  • Take the high ground – Always behave in an honest, respectful manner – even towards your competitive coworker. Your behavior might inspire your coworker to change. But even if that doesn’t happen, you should still be kind, fair, helpful, and professional. Your other teammates will appreciate it, and you’ll all be happier and more productive.

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Larson, G. (n.d.) How you can use a co-worker’s competitiveness to your advantage. The Muse. Retrieved from: https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-you-can-use-a-coworkers-competitiveness-to-your-advantage

The Problem With Being Too Engaged at Work

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Tired female employee suffer from headache at workplace

Have you ever heard of having “too much of a good thing”? For instance, eating one delicious piece of chocolate cake is great. But eating twenty slices would probably make you feel sick.

Well, the same is true of work engagement. We all know that it’s good to be engaged at work. People who feel engaged try harder. They’re more motivated, upbeat, and productive. But surprisingly, researchers have found that it’s actually possible to be too engaged at work. And people who are too engaged tend to be less than stellar employees.

People who are too engaged see their work as “a calling.” It’s their purpose. They feel like they must do their work their way, even if they’re asked to do things differently. They’re often unwilling to compromise or work with others. And they don’t have a lot of respect for authority.

As a result, these highly engaged people can be difficult to manage and hard to work with. This problem can get worse over time, and the quality of their work can suffer.

These highly engaged people may also experience problems in their personal lives. Researchers have found that they’re more likely to feel stressed at work. And they’re also more likely to take their work frustrations home with them, and possibly take it out on their friends and family members.

So what should be done to alleviate this problem? Some researchers suggest that managers should ease up on their efforts to engage employees. Instead of trying to enhance engagement in their entire department, managers should focus their attention on boosting engagement in detached employees only.

And even though it can be difficult, managers should talk to overly engaged employees about their behavior, and try to come up with ways to make the situation better. It’s hard to deliver negative feedback, but it can be very beneficial.   

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Dizik, A. (2019, August 12). The problem with very engaged employees. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from: https://www.wsj.com/articles/beware-of-employees-who-are-very-engaged-in-their-work-11565575620

Ten Interesting Facts About the Workplace

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Hand writing text caption inspiration showing I Love Trivia concept meaning Unimportant Quiz Fun Loving written on sticky note, reminder isolated background with copy space

Here are a few interesting facts about the workplace. Read on, and you’ll be fully prepared for your next trivia night!

  1. People are most likely to take a sick day on Monday – except in Australia, where the most common sick day is Tuesday.
  2. People are least likely to take a sick day on Friday. Fridays in the office tend to be more fun, relaxed, and social.
  3. Employees who have a certain amount of control over the way their workspace is arranged tend to feel healthier and happier while they’re at work. 
  4. If you work 40 hours a week, you’ll most likely work around 90,000 hours during your lifetime.
  5. The average employee spends approximately 50 minutes a day looking for missing documents, emails, and files.
  6. Researchers have found that when people are distracted by incoming emails or phone calls, their IQ drops by 10 points. This is equivalent to what happens when people miss a night of sleep. It’s double the effect of what is experienced by marijuana smokers.
  7. The average American spends over 100 hours commuting to work each year.
  8. Almost 60% of employees check their work email on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
  9. Most Americans will hold seven to eight different jobs before they turn 40.
  10. Most rolling office chairs travel about eight miles each year.

Bennett, A. (2017, September 18). Fun facts about working life. OnetoOne. Retrieved from: https://www.onetoonepersonnel.co.uk/view-article.asp?article=8gb9hk3pxz5f4q9

Lehnardt, K. (2018, November 21). 43 interesting working facts. Fact Retriever. Retrieved from: https://www.factretriever.com/working-facts

Finding Inspiration

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Finding_Inspiration

This article was provided by Jen Jortner Cassidy, Customer Success Manager at LinkedIn Learning & Lynda.com.

I’m back from an amazing vacation, which afforded me almost two weeks away from the office. I know that there are different schools of thought regarding working during vacations. Some people like to try to remain connected and keep on top of things, while others like me choose to completely disconnect. While there are pros and cons to each, I still choose to disconnect whenever possible. The con to it being a good deal of stuff to catch up on after the vacation ends. So that is where I have been for the past few days, leaving little time for learning.

During the mad rush of catching up, what I did feel that I needed was some inspiration. So I was pleased to discover our new Influencer course called How I Got Here. This course shares the stories of eight influential leaders showing their perseverance, dignity, and strength. I was especially inspired by the story of Mandy Gonzalez, who is currently starring in Hamilton on Broadway. I’ve always been grateful for having had the opportunity to participate in the arts throughout my education, as it taught me resilience, discipline, and balance.

How about you? What inspired you this week? What did you learn?

Your Hobby Can Make You More Successful at Work

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Paints

Do you like to get creative in your spare time? After work, do you like to dream up new recipes, fix old cars, knit, write, paint, take pictures, or engage in some other sort of creative activity? If so, here’s some good news! Your hobby is probably making you a more effective employee.

I enjoy refurbishing old pieces of furniture — and taking pictures of my cat

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According to a recent research study conducted at the San Francisco State University, people who engage in creative pursuits tend to benefit in the following ways:

  • They tend to feel lower levels of stress.
  • They’re able to relax and recharge, which better prepares them for the next workday.
  • They may be learning new skills, which they can then apply to their work.
  • They’re better at problem solving than those who don’t have some sort of creative hobby.

So get crafty and let your creativity flow! Your efforts will certainly be personally rewarding. And as an added benefit, you’ll also be more successful at your day job. It’s a win-win situation!

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Sifferlin, A. (2014, April 17). Being creative outside of work makes you better at your job. Time. Retrieved from: https://time.com/65487/being-creative-outside-of-work-makes-you-better-at-your-job/

Developing a Side Hustle

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A side hustle is a way to make money outside of your regular job. It could be something that you work on in the evenings or on weekends. And it’s a great way to earn extra money, learn new skills, and challenge yourself! Even if you’re extremely happy and satisfied with your full-time job, having a side hustle can be very rewarding in a lot of ways.

So how can you go about developing a side hustle? Author Dorie Clark outlines the seven steps that you’ll need to follow:

  1. Figure out what product or service you’re going to offer – Try to focus on what people want or need. It’s great to do something that you love, but other people also need to be interested in order to be successful.
  2. Identify your strengths – Think about the areas in which you’re especially talented or knowledgeable. These are the areas in which you really have something to offer.
  3. Enhance your skills – Learn about what it takes to start your own small business. Reading a few books or taking a few classes on financial management and business strategy would probably be very helpful!
  4. Get some customers – Find customers by networking and by promoting yourself on social media. Post samples of your work. And ask your friends and family to let other people know about the product or service that you’re offering.
  5. Make people think that you’re legit – If possible, try to affiliate yourself with an established person or company. This will give you credibility. For instance, if you can write an article for a popular publication or get an endorsement from a well-known person, that would be extremely valuable.
  6. Keep your focus – Don’t try to do too many things at once. Focus on doing one thing well before you start trying to branch out.
  7. Get your first client – Once you get your first customer, you’ll feel wonderful. You’ll realize that you have something that other people value. And this will give you the confidence to continue to work on your side hustle, and make it a success. Good luck!

 

Clark, D. (2019). Establish your side hustle. Talent Development, 73(5), 30-35.

 

How to Work With People Who Are Younger Than You

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Multiethnic group of happy young business people standing in office

If you’re surrounded by coworkers who are younger than you, you may sometimes feel a little disconnected from them. People in different generations have their own ways of communicating and getting things done. So it may occasionally feel challenging to work together as a cohesive team.

But if you find yourself in this position, don’t worry. According to author Lindsey Pollak, there are five things that you can do to bridge the gap between you and your younger colleagues.

  1. Talk about how you prefer to communicate – Don’t just assume that everyone at work is going to share information in the same way. You might prefer to email, while your younger coworkers might prefer to text or skype. Talk to your coworkers about how they want to share information at work, and identify a form of communication that works for all of you.
  2. Be open to learning new things – Try not to cling to your “tried and true” ways of doing things – even if they’ve been effective in the past. Be open to new ideas and methods, and have a willingness to learn.
  3. Ask for guidance – Even though you may be the person in the office with the most experience, it’s still OK to ask your younger coworkers for guidance on how to use new techniques or forms of technology. It’s a great way to learn and form closer ties with your colleagues.
  4. Stay current – Try to stay up-to-date on what’s going on in pop culture. You don’t have to be an expert, but if you can understand what people are talking about in the lunchroom, that will help you to forge closer bonds.
  5. Don’t make “I’m so old” jokes – Don’t put yourself down by talking about how you’re “getting forgetful in your old age,” you’re “getting senile,” or anything along those lines. Be confident in what you know and what you can do. Your coworkers will respect you and your abilities.

Pollak, L. (n.d.). How to relate to your coworkers when they’re all younger than you. The Muse. Retrieved from: https://www.themuse.com/advice/working-with-younger-employees?ref=recently-published-1

The Importance of Soft Skills

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You’re probably familiar with the term “soft skills.” They’re things like conflict resolution, communication, creativity, and active listening. Unlike “hard skills” like math and science, soft skills are more touchy-feely. And although most people see them as valuable, they’re generally not viewed as essential.

Current research, however, suggests that soft skills are more important than most people realize. They are, in fact, essential. You need to know how to interact with others in order to successfully get work done.

In its Future of Jobs report, the World Economic Forum identified crucial skills that all employees will need in order to succeed in the global workforce. These skills included the following:

  • Complex problem solving
  • Critical thinking
  • Creativity
  • People management
  • Coordinating with others
  • Emotional intelligence
  • Judgement and decision making
  • Service orientation
  • Negotiation
  • Cognitive flexibility

Similarly, in a recent study conducted at Google, it was found that the best predictor of success was whether or not their employees had certain soft skills. The most essential skills included things like being a good listener, being supportive and empathetic, and being a good problem-solver.

So what if you’re the kind of person who doesn’t have strong interpersonal skills? Don’t despair! These qualities aren’t innate. They’re not something that you’re born with. You can develop soft skills through training and practice. With the right instruction, you can become the type of employee whom everyone loves to work with! It just takes a little knowledge and effort.

 

O’Sullivan, T. (2019, January 4). Why there is nothing soft about soft skills. Skillsoft. Retrieved from: https://www.skillsoft.com/blog/2019/01/why-there-is-nothing-soft-about-soft-skills/

Crying at Work – What to Do if It Happens to You

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The businessman expecting important call on phone

I don’t cry very often. I’m usually pretty stoic. But have I ever cried at work? Yes. And was it super-embarrassing? Yes, definitely.

Crying at work is kind of humiliating. But sometimes, you just can’t help it. When something really upsetting occurs or you get terrible news, it can happen.

So what should you do if you start to cry or feel like you’re on the verge of tears? Author Brittany Wong offers the following suggestions:

  • Provide an explanation – If you start crying during a meeting or when you’re around other people, they’re going to wonder what’s going on. So provide them with a brief explanation and assure them that you’ll be feeling better shortly. For instance, you could say something like, “I just got some upsetting news. I’m going to step away for a minute, but I’ll be right back.” Or you could say, “I’m getting emotional because this situation makes me so upset. Give me a minute to collect myself.”
  • Go someplace private – Get away from other people, and do whatever you need to do to get your emotions under control. Try taking deep breaths, going outside for a quick walk, having a snack, or quickly calling a friend. Once you’re feeling calmer, the urge to cry will hopefully pass.
  • Give yourself a break – If things are tough at home and you’re feeling really emotional, try to free up some of your time at work. Give yourself a few “mental health breaks” during the day by rescheduling non-essential meetings and phone calls. You’ll feel better, and you’ll probably be more effective and productive.

And remember, if you do cry at work, it doesn’t mean you’re a weak person. It’s a natural reaction to a bad situation. Don’t beat yourself up about it. We’ve all been there.

 

Wong, B. (2018, March 5). Crying at work happens. Here’s how to handle it, according to experts. HuffPost. Retrieved from: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/is-it-ever-ok-to-cry-at-work-heres-what-experts-think_n_5a99a367e4b0479c025249e0

 

Are You Difficult to Work With? Here Are Three Things You Can Do to Make Things Better.

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Hey, I’m sure you’re great at your job. You probably do excellent work! But do you sometimes find that you rub your coworkers the wrong way? Do you think it’s possible that you’re a bit difficult to work with?

If so, don’t worry. You can repair your working relationships. You’ll just need to make a few small changes in your behavior.

According to author John Boitnott, people tend to be viewed as difficult for three specific reasons. Here’s a list of those reasons, and what you can do to make things better:

Reason #1

  • Difficult people focus on themselves too much – Difficult people tend to talk about themselves, their problems, and their concerns almost exclusively. They rarely ask their coworkers what they’re doing or how they’re feeling.
  • What to do about it – To correct this problem, you just need to shift your focus onto your coworkers. Start asking your coworkers questions and then really listen to what they have to say. Effective listening is one of the most important interpersonal skills. People who know how to listen are better able to communicate with others, avoid misunderstandings, and resolve conflicts.

Reason #2

  • Difficult people are often passive-aggressive – When they’re upset, difficult people tend to vent by engaging in passive-aggressive behaviors. They ignore coworkers who have annoyed them, they make snarky remarks, they procrastinate on tasks that they resent having to do, etc.
  • What to do about it – We all get stressed out and frustrated at work sometimes. The trick is to know how to deal with that stress and frustration effectively. Instead of engaging in passive-aggressive behaviors, try taking a walk, complaining to a friend, or engaging in some other type of healthy, stress-relieving behavior.

Reason #3

  • Difficult people get jealous – It can be hard to share the spotlight with a talented coworker (especially for people who usually get all the accolades). But feelings of jealousy can often result in off-putting behaviors, such as being mean and sarcastic, or minimizing another employee’s accomplishments.
  • What to do about it – Try to stop comparing yourself to other people. Focus on your own goals and successes. Remember that you’re great, you do good work, and there’s nothing wrong with occasionally stepping back and letting other people shine.

 

Boitnott, J. (2018, February 14). 3 signs you’re the toxic person in your workplace (and what to do about it). Inc. Retrieved from: https://www.inc.com/john-boitnott/3-signs-youre-toxic-person-in-your-workplace-and-what-to-do-about-it.html?cid=hmside2

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