Treating The Office Ego

We’re pretty sure that a lot of workers went into their jobs today with one thing on their minds: “I’m so glad a long weekend is coming”. Now while we fully understand the greatness of an extra day of off work (something extra to be thankful for this Thanksgiving), it’s important to consider the reason you may love being away from work.

If the reason has something to so with spending extra time with your family and friends, then you’re sure to be in a great place. However, if you simply despise the idea of entering the office because of a stressful job situation, it’s time for things to change at your workplace. Being unhappy at work is not something anyone aspires to, of course.

It’s important to pinpoint your biggest concerns and work to alleviate them in order to make each and every workday worthwhile. Receiving a paycheque shouldn’t have to be your only motivation to get up and out of bed each and every weekday. Earlier this week, Metro Canada’s Drew Hinshaw wrote about how some employees become dissatisfied at work.

Some people do not know how to handle what Hinshaw describes as an “office ego”. It’s natural to become upset if you feel you are contributing useful input but it continually gets ignored. Hinshaw recommends that you definitely do not let your emotions boil over in the workplace.

This advice is backed by career counsellor Lynn Berger who was quoted as saying: “On some level, everybody wants to be heard, but if that’s not happening, you need to understand what’s going on. Approach somebody else at the meeting and ask what’s happening.”

She continues to advise that you may want to consider the way in which you are delivering your message. Perhaps, when voicing your suggestions, you do not connote confidence. Counsellor Jane Cranston suggests setting aside a time and place with your boss to discuss the matter. It may provide a better venue for your ideas to be taken seriously.

Says Cranston: “Tell your boss, ‘I have something to add, I’d like to have five minutes of your time share it.’” In addition, she advises that you “refrain from blame-casting” and “assume you were the poor communicator.” You may just find that your ideas will be implemented after all. The only problem may have been your original approach.

At the end of the day, what matters most is that you feel appreciated so that you don’t doubt your self-value. It’s important to walk into work with a sense of confidence and pride in the work that you do. If you’re in an uncomfortable situation at your workplace, take this long weekend to relax and refocus. You now have the tools to make the proper adjustments next week.