funnybone
03-11-2002, 02:15 PM
Since everyone complains about their job from time to time, I wanted to pass of this article I found. It may be of interest to some:
Coping in a Bad Job
My job pays well but it's driving me crazy. The politics are poisonous and the hours are even worse. Should I quit or just stop complaining?
First published in Chatelaine's April 2002 issue. www.chatelaine.com
© Karen Wright
Unfortunately, many workplaces are fraught with political peril and sweatshop hours. There are others where you can achieve success and still be a human being. In the middle are average companies where work is mostly what you make of it. By adjusting your perspective, you may be able to enjoy your job more, at least until you've got a better alternative.
Coping mechanisms
As long as you are in this job, you need to learn how to handle the stress. Make sure your family and friends know what you require to help you cope. If you need a sounding board for five minutes at the end of the day to clear your head, find someone who will listen without passing judgment. Don't wear out her good nature, though. It's equally important that you move toward a solution. Otherwise, she'll soon weary of listening to you whine.
Take control
Try and figure out if you have a hand in what's driving you crazy at work. Are you passing up an opportunity to make office politics work for you by not accepting who's really in charge or never taking on the projects that get the most recognition? Do you accept extra work when you really can't handle it, instead of saying no? Are you working long hours because you don't want to stand out as a slacker? Remember that nobody can make you do anything you don't choose to do--even if the alternatives don't seem too appealing.
Plan of action
If your job isn't fulfilling, make a plan. Don't quit without one because you may repeat the pattern of taking a lousy job because you need the money. Envision your ideal. What would a good job be like? How would it be different from where you are now? What's most important to you (security? recognition? social contribution? relationships?) and how must your work fit with those values?
Several years ago, a client of mine entertained a job offer from a notoriously difficult company at a huge increase in salary. Her friends said she was crazy but the appeal of the job became clear when she looked at the values that were motivating her. The financial security of her family was her main concern and the politics and long hours were, for her, a small price to pay for monetary peace of mind.
Live on less
If money is the only thing that's keeping you there, perhaps it's time to reconfigure your lifestyle so you don't need as much. Figure out exactly how much money you're spending and find ways to cut it by at least 20 per cent--eat at home more often; drive your car a few years longer. That way, you'll have more flexibility to look for a more satisfying job, even if it doesn't pay as much. In some places, the money is great because nothing else is. When that's the case, money is almost never enough to make it worth being unhappy.
Coping in a Bad Job
My job pays well but it's driving me crazy. The politics are poisonous and the hours are even worse. Should I quit or just stop complaining?
First published in Chatelaine's April 2002 issue. www.chatelaine.com
© Karen Wright
Unfortunately, many workplaces are fraught with political peril and sweatshop hours. There are others where you can achieve success and still be a human being. In the middle are average companies where work is mostly what you make of it. By adjusting your perspective, you may be able to enjoy your job more, at least until you've got a better alternative.
Coping mechanisms
As long as you are in this job, you need to learn how to handle the stress. Make sure your family and friends know what you require to help you cope. If you need a sounding board for five minutes at the end of the day to clear your head, find someone who will listen without passing judgment. Don't wear out her good nature, though. It's equally important that you move toward a solution. Otherwise, she'll soon weary of listening to you whine.
Take control
Try and figure out if you have a hand in what's driving you crazy at work. Are you passing up an opportunity to make office politics work for you by not accepting who's really in charge or never taking on the projects that get the most recognition? Do you accept extra work when you really can't handle it, instead of saying no? Are you working long hours because you don't want to stand out as a slacker? Remember that nobody can make you do anything you don't choose to do--even if the alternatives don't seem too appealing.
Plan of action
If your job isn't fulfilling, make a plan. Don't quit without one because you may repeat the pattern of taking a lousy job because you need the money. Envision your ideal. What would a good job be like? How would it be different from where you are now? What's most important to you (security? recognition? social contribution? relationships?) and how must your work fit with those values?
Several years ago, a client of mine entertained a job offer from a notoriously difficult company at a huge increase in salary. Her friends said she was crazy but the appeal of the job became clear when she looked at the values that were motivating her. The financial security of her family was her main concern and the politics and long hours were, for her, a small price to pay for monetary peace of mind.
Live on less
If money is the only thing that's keeping you there, perhaps it's time to reconfigure your lifestyle so you don't need as much. Figure out exactly how much money you're spending and find ways to cut it by at least 20 per cent--eat at home more often; drive your car a few years longer. That way, you'll have more flexibility to look for a more satisfying job, even if it doesn't pay as much. In some places, the money is great because nothing else is. When that's the case, money is almost never enough to make it worth being unhappy.