Archive for July, 2008
Turning A Good Job Into A Great Job
31July 2008
You spend over one-third of your day at work if you are lucky! Just like everything else in life, you need to enjoy what you do and that includes work. You probably already feel that while your job may have its ups-and-downs, it’s a pretty good job. However, when you spend that much time at work, you can do better than simply good.
Loving your job means being genuinely happy. It’s much more than trying to muster a smile. In a truly Great Job, you should be enthusiastic about your work. You should feel challenged by your job and you should have opportunities for greater rewards ahead of you (like a promotion or a raise).
Sound easier said than done? It can be, but you know what? You’re worth it! I’ve just posted an article called Turning A Good Job Into A Great Job at the Tame Your TOT site. Take some time and read it over, and think about what you can do to have a Great Job.
Best regards,
Lynn
TOT Taming Tips: The Absentee Boss
14July 2008
Dear Lynn,
My manager, who is the director of our software support team, has started to check out of her job. She will walk past my desk, and say “I’m going to let you handle support today.” Then, she either goes in her office and surfs the Internet – or just leaves. I do want to take on more responsibilities but not like this. I don’t feel like I can learn or succeed when she ignores me. How can I ask for more help?
–Tracey
Dear Tracey,
It sounds like your boss may have put herself into a private Time Out! Although it feels like the burden is on you, it’s really not. If she’s avoiding work or certain responsibilities, she might be caught up in her own world of escape – which unfortunately is unproductive, not to mention frustrating for you!
Address this problem ASAP, for your sake, and your co-workers and customers’ sakes. Request a meeting with your boss to discuss projects, but plan to discuss the current situation as well. Your calm but concerned tone will send a clear signal to her that you are willing to help. Keep the conversation positive and focus on the fact that you like your job and want to improve at it. Suggest that you have regular meetings at a comfortable interval, so you’re both on the same page.
If you’re at a point where your boss is in “terminal Time Out” and won’t meet with you at all, that’s a different matter altogether. That signals a more serious problem that warrants an appeal for increasingly direct action. Start with e-mail queries, increase your attempts for personal “drop-in” visits to her office, and ultimately, appeal to HR for help. Of course, you’d be wise to update your resume and peruse your favorite job board sites, and pursue other exit options.
Best regards,
Lynn
Got a TOT? You’re not alone! Dare to share your story at the TOT Blog with other TOT tamers in the making, while Lynn helps you: cope with difficult or childish bosses and office politics, and humanize your workplace™. Post your question for Lynn, and she will try her best to answer it in an upcoming TOT Tamer Advice Column. Be sure to visit the Tame Your TOT site.
Unravel Your Corporate Culture
3July 2008
In addition to the resources at the Tame Your TOT site, which is your first stop for information about dealing with difficult and frustrating bosses, I’ve also created some articles at www.lynntaylorconsulting.com that might be of interest to you. I recently wrote about corporate culture, something that affects all of us. Here’s a sneak preview:
Corporate culture is a mysterious term that every employee can describe, but it’s different at every company, and different for every person. One thing most will agree upon, however, is that it matters.
Why is corporate culture such an important factor of career life? Because it has nothing to do with what you studied, your technical skills, your job history, your most notable accomplishments, or your great business contacts. But it has everything to do with your success at your job.
Check out the complete article here and be sure to visit the site, too.
