What might you be doing that almost invites others to treat you the way they do?
Tag: perceptions
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Listen In -> Making Peace with Work #1: Reality Can Be Difficult
We talk a lot here about finding work that we love.But reality intrudes and we more often than not find ourselves in complex, imperfect, difficult work situations. It’s not helpful to be encouraged to thrive when we’re doing all we can merely to survive.
We begin a new audio discussion series this week titled, “Making Peace with Work.”
Join us as we take a look at four difficult work realities and suggest healthier alternatives:
Making Peace with Work
Week #1: Reality Can Be Difficult
Week #2: Replacing Busyness with Rhythm
Week #3: Replacing Isolation with Collaboration
Week #4: Replacing Excuses with Intention
Week #5: Replacing Resentment with Engagement
Listen in.
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When Everything You’ve Got is the Bare Minimum
Sometimes we limit our efforts at work to our job description because we don’t want to step on toes or be perceived as presumptuous.Many job descriptions are so full that it takes all we’ve got just to complete our daily responsibilities.
In our podcast conversation on The Literalist, Claudia are discussing the reality that there are occasions when all you’ve got might be the bare minimum.
The example I want to talk about today is crunch time. Crunch time is when deadlines get moved forward, and all previous planning no longer applies. Crunch time is when there is an unexpected absence on the team, and their workload needs redistributing.
There are times when more or different is needed of us. If we do not have eyes to notice these needs, then our faithful fulfillment of our job description risks being interpreted as avoiding work, not being a team player, or doing the bare minimum.
What we need to do is expand our personal definition of “faithful”, “loyal” and “dedicated” service. Instead of limiting it to the strict fulfillment of our written job description, (which is a good thing), we need to include the fulfillment of the greater goals of the department.
When we view our job description as one piece of many in the achievement of larger department goals, then we open up new perspectives for viewing how we might best adjust during crunch times.
Instead of being seen as doing the bare minimum, we are the ones who are making things happen, getting things done, and part of the solution.
It’s not a matter of choosing between being too self-protective or too self-effacing. It’s a matter of being wise about your involvement given the leaders and team with whom you work. These are different for each of us.
How do you gauge your supervisor’s perception of you?
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Do Others’ Perceptions Matter?
My clients know I feel strongly about accepting personal responsibility for how others perceive you.
Check out the research that Liz Strauss shares on the impact perceptions can have on behavior.
You not only create perceptions by how you choose to behave, but your behavior choices are affected by how you think others already perceive you!Are you inadvertently taking your cues from others? Think about it. It’s not a game or a trap. It’s an issue of self-awareness. Can you take a step back and have a look at what’s going on even while you are a participant?
On your side,
– Karl
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Tired of Watching From the Sidelines?
The extent to which we show up is the extent to which we can contribute.If we wait at the edge of the room for someone to invite us to the proverbial table, we have only ourselves to blame when no one seems to notice all our talent standing there unused.
We don’t ask if there is a seat for us. We take a seat… our seat. We wear ourselves comfortably and without second thoughts. And in the process of participating, we become co-authors of the unfolding story.
If you’re tired of the picture others seem to have of you, then draw one yourself. Don’t leave either the artwork or the interpretation to others without finding a way to participate yourself.
I think you’d be surprised by how much you will accomplish my merely choosing to show up yourself.
