Work problems… Unfortunately, throughout our professional lives, we all experience them (to some degree). In this text, you will find out what can we expect and how to deal with these issues?
We spend about 1/3 of our lives at work so it is very important we have satisfaction and fulfilment out of it. It is not always possible to manage personal and professional life and have that work-life balance. They say we should leave the work at the workplace but it can really have a big impact on our life experience.
There will be times throughout our career when things will be more challenging but how we go about it is another story. This blog post is to help you to identify your challenge and look at it from a different perspective. After all, you work to live and not live to work!
Newbie’s problems
Hard to fit in
It takes a while to understand the work dynamics and the overall culture of the company. Take time to know your coworkers. Try to participate in project teams, social events, training sessions etc. It is the best way to learn about the interests and challenges others may have. Additionally, by doing so you slowly build trust. Important note for yourself at that stage is to put yourself in student shoes. Instead of trying to figure things out or simply assume things - ask questions. Remember to be kind and respectful. Think about what is the best attitude you can display and what work habit you can show. Avoid office gossip.
Mistakes
First of all - remember that nobody expects you to know everything at first. If the mistake happened to you, don’t panic or stress yourself over it. Simply admit it and apologise. Never cover it up or make excuses about it. You can instead offer a solution to fix it in your own time. Remember to not be too harsh for yourself! It is a learning curve.
Organising your time
This can be challenging when you are new in the job and you are learning your new responsibilities. Organise your ‘to-do’ list on a daily basis. You can break down bigger tasks to smaller activities. If you don’t know where to start, ask your coworkers for advice or talk to your supervisor to understand which tasks are to be prioritised.
Not getting your message through
It might take some time to build trust and get your coworkers to agree with your ideas. Before you suggest changes - listen and observe and then offer solutions. Show your knowledge. Be objective and reasonable.
Not getting on with your Coworkers
Even after a period of adjusting to your work you still might find some problems with dealing with some personalities. The dynamics of the workplace setup can be challenging at times. Below are some of the situations you might feel challenged by.
Gossiping - can cause disruption and misunderstandings. Attitude is everything so be friendly and respectful, don’t get involved (do not comment or add fuel to their behaviour). After some time they will get your message.
Taking over someone else’s tasks - other coworkers' poor work habits can affect your workload. Try to explain to them how this affects you and what you would like to change. Ultimately though, it is up to your (or their) supervisor to deal with that kind of behaviour.
Overcomplaining coworkers - some people can find negative in literally everything. This type of behaviour can be quite harmful to team morale. Be empathic and try to challenge their thinking. Ask what they want to do about it.
‘No-sayers’ - dealing with this type of behaviour can be quite challenging. Coworkers like that can drain your energy and stop any idea at the very start. Try to deal with issues privately. Ask about their opinions and why do they think something is not possible. If you still find the situation challenging talk to your mentor or supervisor.
Office Bullies - they can cause a lot of anxiety and stress. Often they target those who they see as a threat. Don’t let them victimize you by isolating you or make you feel bad about yourself. If you have a mentor discuss that situation with them or else talk to your supervisor.
You found that helpful but would like to find out more? Check my follow up post on Monday, 5th October 2020.