In some instances, an employee may feel entitled to special treatment from their peers and management. This kind of behavior can be difficult for managers to deal with.
These employees often demand high salaries, preferential treatment for projects, employment perks and/or schedule flexibility. Unfortunately, this creates a great deal of stress for both the manager and team who works with the employee.
1. Ask Your Manager
Meeting with your manager one-on-one is a truly invaluable opportunity. These meetings provide you with an intimate setting to set goals, receive constructive criticism, and receive support.
But these one-on-ones can be lost if you don’t prepare beforehand. Fortunately, it’s relatively straightforward to take control of your appointments and maximize the value you get out of each one.
Before anything else, it’s essential to understand why your manager wants you to receive feedback in the first place. This is because feedback can help identify strengths and areas for development which in turn will enhance overall performance.
Another critical point to remember is that you should ask your manager for feedback at the appropriate time. This means not waiting until after a traditional performance review and making sure your requests are specific and made within a reasonable timeline.
Furthermore, when asking your manager for feedback on a specific type of task or assessment, it will be much simpler to receive an affirmative reply.
For instance, you can ask your manager about the company’s biggest challenge and how your skills can contribute to solving it. Doing this will allow you to be more productive while making their job simpler. Furthermore, this is an effective way for building trust with them and demonstrating that you care about the success of the business.
2. Get to Know Your Co-Worker Better
No matter if you work remotely or in the same office, building strong relationships with colleagues is an integral part of your career. Studies have demonstrated that employee fulfillment and engagement are highly related to strong personal connections among co-workers.
To deepen your connection with coworkers, pay close attention to their words and nonverbal cues when speaking. Actively listen to what they have to say before offering thoughtful, respectful answers when asked questions of your own.
One way to do this is by asking them about their hobbies or interests outside of work, such as how they spend their free time or where they plan on traveling in the future. Doing this gives you insight into their mindset and helps build a relationship, Teach suggests.
Another effective strategy is to discover what books your colleagues enjoy reading. Doing this will give you insight into their philosophy and sense of morality, which could significantly affect how you interact with them at work.
It’s also beneficial to research their career accomplishments and where else they have worked. LinkedIn is an excellent resource for this, as you can uncover their achievements and skillset. However, it’s best to stay out of their private lives by not stalking them on social media or checking up on their latest Facebook updates.
3. Focus on Your Positive Relationships
A successful work-life balance requires a harmonious blend of professional and personal relationships. Maintaining awareness of your social and emotional health can be instrumental in ensuring success both inside and outside the office.
One of the best ways to achieve this goal is by focusing on the positives, not the negatives, and keeping an eye out for signs of life around you. Though it’s impossible to predict when something good will happen, there are ways to increase your odds: scheduling time to talk with coworkers, taking a daily mental health broom, and setting aside some “me” time at work can all improve the quality of your workplace life.
There are many tips and techniques you can use to maximize the best of what your job has to offer, such as taking advantage of online employee resources or creating a work-life balance plan that clearly states goals and expectations. Once those steps are in place, it’s up to you to take the necessary actions for successful achievement of this balance.
4. Reflect on Your Own Actions
Self-reflection is an invaluable skill to have, as it enables you to retrospectively analyze and consider certain events. This can give you a more positive perception of yourself and enable you to improve your behavior in the future.
Reflection is an integral part of life; it acts as the counterweight to your actions, encouraging you to examine your choices and alter course when it becomes evident that the current path won’t get you where desired.
One way to practice reflection is by keeping a journal. This can be done using either traditional pen and paper or digital apps, depending on your preference.
Journal entries are an invaluable way to remember significant events and make informed decisions. Doing so will enable you to learn from your errors, sharpening your decision-making abilities, and make informed choices in the future.
Tracking your progress and keeping an eye on the prize is a great way to ensure you stay on course. Once you take stock of what has transpired, set goals for yourself and create an action plan to reach those objectives.
Reflective practice is an integral component of professional development and growth, whether you are just starting out or have years of experience under your belt. It can broaden your perspective, enhance understanding and even help you reappreciate what you do.
5. Take a Break
A break can help your brain shift its focus away from a problem or task and develop solutions you hadn’t considered before. It’s also an excellent opportunity to refresh memory and consolidate what you’ve learned.
According to a recent study from Oregon Health & Science University, taking breaks during work can improve productivity. Research suggests it’s essential for physical and mental wellbeing as long periods of sedentary work may lead to serious conditions like obesity, heart disease and diabetes.
Frequent breaks can boost your motivation and make the work you do more enjoyable. It’s easy to become too involved in a project and lose sight of your overall objectives, but taking breaks allows you to clear your mind and reconnect with what drives you most about the task at hand.
There are many ways to take a break, from an office retreat to a staycation or weekend getaway. But which type of break works best for you depends on how your mind and body feel after having had time to unwind, relax, and restore itself.
Some of the most popular break ideas involve taking a moment to step away from your computer or smartphone and doing something that takes your focus away from work, like walking, reading a book, spending time outdoors or even watching an amusing video clip. These short breaks – often referred to as microbreaks – have been proven to have numerous advantages for both employees and their supervisors alike.
6. Talk to Your Boss
Speaking to your boss can be intimidating, but it’s essential for making the conversation productive. To prepare effectively, take some time beforehand to practice what you want to say privately before the meeting.
Spending time getting to know your boss better can make you both feel more at ease when discussing sensitive matters. Use this time for inquiries about their career path or family life, while also sharing a few details about yourself.
You can also express your concerns about their decision-making process. For instance, if they’re giving you less responsibility than a coworker with more experience, discuss with them how this might impact your productivity and morale.
Although this can be challenging if you don’t understand their personality or mental state, it can be beneficial in building trust. Speaking up when concerned about something they have said or done in the past is especially useful; it allows for open and honest communication that fosters respect and understanding.
When seeking special consideration from a co-worker, it’s essential to consider how this will impact their performance and the company’s profitability. You might need to make an argument as to why such treatment is necessary and how it benefits everyone involved – not just you.
Communicating personal issues with your boss can be challenging, so if a health condition is interfering with job performance, it’s best to alert HR. Together, they and you can come up with an action plan that ensures both of you remain healthy and content at work while still performing well.
