Life at work can be fun, serious, busy, confusing, and rewarding. Sometimes it all happens in the same day. In a world where the only constant is change, here are 10 things to learn, not just to survive, but to thrive!
1. Don’t expect anything, like someone always telling you what to do
Have you ever sat and waited for direction from others? (They should be telling me what to do, right?) If someone wanted to tell you what to do, believe me, they would have done it already. Have confidence and move on.
2. If someone else is making a decision, let them take charge.
Wishing you had the authority to decide something on someone else’s plate will not change your decision. It also doesn’t do them any favors if you’re trying to hold on to whatever they have to do. Let them do what they think is right.
3. Fix what you can, don’t worry about what you can’t
If you have the ability to do something better at work, clear up a misunderstanding, make a decision, or recommend a better process, do it. If you don’t have the ability to change it, just let it be.
4. Everyone wants to do a good job.
Really! People don’t set out to be wrong or miss the point. They act on what they know and what they actually heard from the instructions.
5. Let your head drive the business and your heart guide your head
Use your brain, it’s what got you into the job you’re in, but always pay attention to your intuition, if something doesn’t feel right it’s worth digging into, and if it feels right go for it!
6. Much is the point of view
You might work hard to produce something that only gets 5 minutes of meeting air time, but without that information, the meeting may have revolved for hours around the lack of that knowledge. A certain piece of information means something different to different people in different areas of the organization, and certainly to different levels of management.
7. The effective direction transmits the intention and allows the other to develop the content
Paint a clear picture of the desired outcome, the best end state (including anything you don’t want in the way), then give freedom and space that allows others to use their knowledge, skills, and creativity to build something beyond their imagination. Of course, if you know exactly what you want and how you want it done, just say so. There is a time and a place for everyone.
8. Don’t just react, write the email, walk away, and then rewrite it a couple of times without the negative emotion.
Get rid of the facts and data, do not assume and clarify the information. Perpetuating negative emotions can make them grow exponentially. Make your standard always leave the bad feelings and get on with business.
9. A leader stands in his own space and allows others to do the same.
Leaders understand their own ability to influence any situation with which they come in contact and accept that responsibility. They respect everyone else, acknowledging that we all have a purpose for being here and that none of us is greater than another.
10. Don’t take your job or yourself too seriously.
There will be times when things go wrong, when work is piling up or has to be redone, and things will happen. So why not enjoy it anyway?