What to ignore in the work place
Your attitude toward your job can make or break your sanity. Unfortunately, many of the things that tick us off at work aren’t about work at all. So many non-PC and just plain annoying things happen on the job, and, though you’d like to see justice or at the very least reconciliation, sometimes, you just have to look the other way, lest you make a situation more uncomfortable.
I asked a group of career driven people about such circumstances, and the responses came rolling in. With the exception of my brother-in-law who said his biggest work place (and life) issue is that most people are beneath him, everyone I asked has been frustrated with some sort of work situation that they just had to learn to live with. Here are seven things that may happen at work that you are better off ignoring.
- The tenured and lazy. That guy isn’t going anywhere. He probably makes more money than you. And, if your complaints prompt your boss to transfer him, it’ll probably be right into a step promotion.
- An immediate supervisor whose work style is different than your own. If you are very type A and detail oriented and your boss gives vague, random instructions, neither of you is going to change. You just have to adjust. Along the same lines is dealing with a boss who thinks you’re a mind reader. In most cases, you can’t say “Dude, I can’t read your mind.” You just have to work with him long enough that you eventually will.
- The opposite. A micromanaging boss. “Stay outta my business, bro” is what you want to say, but “yes, sir” and “no sir” to every… tiny… detailed… instruction is what you’ll have to say, instead.
- An office extra-marital affair. They happen. Everywhere. Unless you want to find yourself in the middle of a “he said/she said” fiasco and as well as the target of the estranged spouse’s blame, you have to let it unfold without intervening. You were hired to do a job, and unless that job was “marriage counselor,” you’re going to have look past it. Just do your job. Maybe you should do it exceptionally well at this point; you do have two colleagues whose positions may be available soon.
- A co-worker who is the boss’s BFF. Sigh. You can’t befriend her. She’ll think you are trying to schmooze. You can’t give her any criticism. She’ll misquote you in a petty rage to the boss. Here’s another situation where you are better off just putting your nose into your job description.
- The office with the wife (or niece, or mistress, or college drop-out-daughter) as manager. See number 5.
- My brother-in-law.
