Simple Strategies for Surviving in the Workplace

If you’re struggling in the workplace, it could be because you’re bringing some wrong assumptions and expectations to your job. Many people unknowingly bring their emotional baggage to work, and if they’re not careful, this can turn work into a nightmare. The workplace has a number of elements: your colleagues, your boss, and your actual job. All of these interact to make your daily work life what it is.

It is crucial to understand that there are several types of potholes and that your survival in the workplace depends on knowing which type you have. For example, there is the kind of sincere support that wants you to do your best and helps you do it; the laissez-faire kind that gives you little direction but little trouble if you leave them alone; the anxious boss who wants to micromanage you; the boss “friend” who behaves as if they were friends; the judgmental boss for whom nothing is good enough and the bully boss who lives to intimidate and exploit his workers.

If you’re the supportive boss type, most of the following won’t apply to you, but for all other types, reading this article could make the difference between a happy work life and a hellish one. Here are some basic strategies to not only survive but thrive at work:

It is important that you never bring your shortcomings to your boss’s attention. Try to frame any mistakes in the best light. If you messed up and they need to know, present the information to them in the least self-incriminating way possible. If they’ve discovered an error in your work, answer their questions honestly, but don’t go into detail about how you went wrong. You must provide them with the facts; not ammunition with which they can hurt you.

Make sure you don’t do anything to lower the morale of your co-workers. Being late or looking like you’re not doing your job creates an atmosphere of resentment among your co-workers and annoys your boss. Most potholes like it when you’re in the background, calmly attending to your work; They hate it when you force them to take time away from their own tasks to deal with the problems you’ve created. If you don’t have enough to do, consider approaching your boss and asking for more work, but remember that this could backfire on you. Instead, it may be time to look elsewhere for greater challenges.

If your boss is overly critical or harassing, management will often be more supportive than you, and your best option may be to leave. Administrations are not usually fair or kind; they prefer to maintain the status quo and take the path of least resistance. People in power could have promoted their boss because they like this person or because they share similar attitudes. They may not know or care about their boss’s bullying. Remember, it is easier to replace a person at a lower level than one at a higher level.

Make yourself essential; then you will have some bargaining power. If the powers that be really need your particular skill set, it will be easier to negotiate salary increases, vacations, and other benefits. However, never assume that you are irreplaceable. The workplace is not the bastion of kindness and sweetness.

Getting along with everyone is essential. No matter how good your job is, if you are not seen as friendly and helpful, the workplace will not be a pleasant place. People are often promoted because they get along with superiors and colleagues rather than because of the quality of their work. You don’t have to like them all, and you probably won’t be inclined to, but you’ll need to look like you do.

Conflicts in the workplace make bosses very unhappy, and you are likely to have negative consequences if the boss finds out that you and a colleague are at odds. There’s also the possibility that a disgruntled co-worker is one of those disturbed types who feel the need to get back at anyone who annoys them. You don’t want this person trying to make your work life hell. Work should be like driving: do it defensively

Don’t be a martyr in the workplace: never sacrifice your own needs for work. There is no guarantee that putting in more hours on a regular basis or going above and beyond the call of duty will earn you respect, a raise, or a promotion. Sometimes it will, and sometimes this has nothing to do with whether or not it will work out. Remember, your boss is not your loved one. They might appreciate your extra efforts, but they might also be happy to exploit you for all you’re worth.

The workplace is not where you will heal your emotional wounds or make up for any childhood neglect. Your boss’s approval cannot make up for your parents’ lack of approval. If you’re trying too hard to be “loved” by your boss, consider getting a pet or talking to a therapist.

You can’t really be friends with your boss. Remember, they have the power to fire you or promote you. A boss who wants to be friends with his employees is being unfair and inappropriate. When it comes time to push, they hold all the cards. Any confidences you share with them could be used against you if the personal relationship soured, and any confidences they share with you could ultimately make them uncomfortable, and then you’ll be the one who has to go.

A hypercritical, micro-managing, or anxious/aggressive boss might be appeased by observing that you are stable, consistent, and capable of producing high-quality work. On the other hand, it could be someone who, despite all your efforts, can’t help but give you a hard time. If this is wearing you out, you may need to leave so you can find a boss who is truly capable of appreciating and maybe even rewarding your efforts.

Think twice before workplace romance; You’re going to have to see this person every day as long as you have the job, once you’re done. Statistically, most of the relationships you start won’t end in marriage, so consider if you want to go to work every day and hang out with your ex, possibly angry or worse, still obsessed with you.

It’s almost certain that snitching on a co-worker will backfire; You just caused your boss trouble by pointing out a problem that he now has to solve. Bosses have a lot on their plate. They usually want you to do your job and not bother them. When you bring even a legitimate problem to them, it makes them look like someone who increases their stress level.

And then, of course, there’s the co-worker who you’re telling and how they’ll feel about you after the fact. If they continue to work together, the atmosphere will be tense at best. Please consider very carefully if you want your name attached to this issue. Is there an anonymous way that this information can be communicated to your superior(s)?

Don’t avoid work, but don’t think you have to do other people’s work either. Learn to sometimes say “No” and do it without actually saying “No” and with a big smile on your face. Say things like, “I’d love to, as soon as I’m done with these other tasks,” and they’ll take the work elsewhere. In the workplace, impressions unfortunately count for a lot.

Being thought of as cooperative and helpful is more important than actually being that way. Don’t forget that you could be someone extremely helpful, and yet (say, someone has misunderstood you or is even mean to you) you unfairly have a reputation for being difficult. It is essential that you carefully manage your reputation at work.

Above all, be strategic. The workplace is not the stage for deep and meaningful relationships or sincere sincerity; it is the place where you do your tasks as efficiently and conscientiously as possible, while remembering to take care of your own needs and present yourself in the best light possible to everyone around you. Remember that you set the tone for how you are treated; if you tolerate disrespect or exploitation, your colleagues or supervisors will think it’s okay to continue treating you that way.

Going to work is much more than pursuing the satisfaction of a job well done. Knowing how to strategically negotiate the workplace minefield will make it much easier to stay out of trouble and enjoy your work.

(C) Marcia Sirota MD, 2010