Straight Talk to the Problem Employee
by Glenda Ball
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What IS your problem?
If you don't know, just LISTEN to yourself and
your boss. The words you both use as you discuss
your work will tell you!
Realize that you were hired for one reason and one
reason only: to provide a business function and
to assist your employer in operating profitably.
Don't get so caught up in your personal opinions,
situations, and crises that you lose sight of that
fact.
There are two sides to everything. Take a good
look at yourself from YOUR EMPLOYER'S point of
view. Are you a good employee? Do you earn your
pay? Are you the kind of person you would want to
have working for you if you were the owner of the
company?
Grow up! Play by the rules. Don't expect
sympathy, help or favors. Don't crave constant
praise and recognition. Don't look at either your
annual performance evaluation or day to day
criticism as opportunities for an ego massage or
as an attack on your immortal soul. Use any
conflict situation to gather information about
what is required of you as an employee.
Control your emotions. Don't "spill your guts"
when you are upset, to co-workers or management.
You'll regret it! Remember, no matter what
happens or is said, you always choose your
reaction to it. You can be crushed and
humiliated. You can go off the deep end and lose
your cool. You can question the validity of the
statement and get into a discussion. Or you can
disregard it completely.
Although you should always strive to be a good
employee and an agreeable person, remember that
you do not have to like, or be liked by, everyone
you work with. You don't have to win a popularity
contest; you DO have to do your job. Let that be
foremost in your mind at work. Be a good,
dependable, mature employee, not a "problem
child."
In a nutshell: Be the person you should be. Do
the job you should do. Then you won't have a
problem!
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Glenda Ball, Salisbury NC USA, finances and
careers editor of Zongoo!
http://www.zongoo.com,author of "Resume Magic - The Information You Need
To Get The Job You Want."
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