CareerFilter: I need to communicate better
January 23, 2005 1:24 AM Subscribe
I have to learn a new way to communicate in my workplace. That giant flushing sound you hear from the more inside is my career.
Maybe career is too strong of a word - yeah, I’ve said before I am a trained call center monkey. For what I do, I’m paid relatively well, do not work in a sweatshop, can wear nearly whatever I want to work and have high seniority. But I’ve spent too many years on this end of the phone and need to change my career path before it destroys my soul anymore. After three great reviews from three different supervisors in 6 months, my newest supervisor dropped a bomb on me this week: you’re not perceived as a team player, you’re difficult, you’re too blunt, you don’t (drumroll please) play the game at work, you stick up for too many people... Doesn’t matter which supervisor is pulling the wool over my eyes - I can’t advance around my newest supervisor, and have to first and foremost at least change my methods of communication unless someone wants to read about me in the paper. (I keed, I keed!)
Honestly, leaving the job is out of the question for right now. I need any tactics, books, sites or experiences that anyone can share with me about changing one’s method of communication without necessarily changing the message. I’d say I’m not quite like Dan Rather, but somewhat like Dennis Leary meets Lewis Black with a bit of intellectual arrogance thrown in for smug self satisfaction. Sharpen your knives - I can handle the truth.
Maybe career is too strong of a word - yeah, I’ve said before I am a trained call center monkey. For what I do, I’m paid relatively well, do not work in a sweatshop, can wear nearly whatever I want to work and have high seniority. But I’ve spent too many years on this end of the phone and need to change my career path before it destroys my soul anymore. After three great reviews from three different supervisors in 6 months, my newest supervisor dropped a bomb on me this week: you’re not perceived as a team player, you’re difficult, you’re too blunt, you don’t (drumroll please) play the game at work, you stick up for too many people... Doesn’t matter which supervisor is pulling the wool over my eyes - I can’t advance around my newest supervisor, and have to first and foremost at least change my methods of communication unless someone wants to read about me in the paper. (I keed, I keed!)
Honestly, leaving the job is out of the question for right now. I need any tactics, books, sites or experiences that anyone can share with me about changing one’s method of communication without necessarily changing the message. I’d say I’m not quite like Dan Rather, but somewhat like Dennis Leary meets Lewis Black with a bit of intellectual arrogance thrown in for smug self satisfaction. Sharpen your knives - I can handle the truth.
"it's worth remembering that your work collegues and your supervisor are also your customers."
*Shudder*
If everyone is your customer, you might as well start up your own business.
The one thing that stands out is this: three different supervisors in 6 months. Can't you just ride out this new one for a couple of months?
If not...
If you've been getting consistently good reviews before with no mention of communication problems and all of a sudden you aren't a team player I think you're going to have to sit down with your new supervisor and find out exactly what's wrong. Ultimately it won't be you, it'll be some perceived problem of theirs. Last time something like this came up for me, I asked the person making the, well, accusations is too strong, but anyway, what he would like me to do about it.
Interestingly, one of his suggestions for dealing with dispute resolution was shown, by him, to be completely useless the next time something went wrong -- about a week later.
As an aside: How can you be "not perceived as a team player" AND "stick up for too many people"?
posted by krisjohn at 2:20 AM on January 23, 2005
*Shudder*
If everyone is your customer, you might as well start up your own business.
The one thing that stands out is this: three different supervisors in 6 months. Can't you just ride out this new one for a couple of months?
If not...
If you've been getting consistently good reviews before with no mention of communication problems and all of a sudden you aren't a team player I think you're going to have to sit down with your new supervisor and find out exactly what's wrong. Ultimately it won't be you, it'll be some perceived problem of theirs. Last time something like this came up for me, I asked the person making the, well, accusations is too strong, but anyway, what he would like me to do about it.
Interestingly, one of his suggestions for dealing with dispute resolution was shown, by him, to be completely useless the next time something went wrong -- about a week later.
As an aside: How can you be "not perceived as a team player" AND "stick up for too many people"?
posted by krisjohn at 2:20 AM on January 23, 2005
Do you get paid more than your co-workers? A lot more?
If so, could be they are trying to get rid of you.
posted by konolia at 4:10 AM on January 23, 2005
If so, could be they are trying to get rid of you.
posted by konolia at 4:10 AM on January 23, 2005
How can you be "not perceived as a team player" AND "stick up for too many people"?
I'm guessing that TomSophieIvy has a tendency to solve customer support problems at the cost of alienating fellow workers. This probably includes giving co-workers grief if they haven't given somebody on the phone a decent level of support. Much as I approve of this, if he wants to get ahead, he's going to have to learn to swallow his tongue and merge in with the masses.
If everyone is your customer, you might as well start up your own business.
Like it or not, but your employer is your customer. You provide a service to them which they pay you for. There are minor differences. As your employer is your only customer they have several duties to you (including not getting rid of you just because ...), but when it all boils down to it, they are your only customer. If they say "be mean to the people you talk to on the phone", then harsh as that is, that's what you should do.
By all means, provide an extra "consultancy" service ("Boss, I don't think that doing this is a good idea"), refuse to provide some of the things they ask you for ("it's late; I don't think I can provide that"), but never forget that they are your only customer, and as such, you are perfectly entitled to treat them in the same sort of underhanded ways that the company treats its customers.
posted by seanyboy at 4:20 AM on January 23, 2005
I'm guessing that TomSophieIvy has a tendency to solve customer support problems at the cost of alienating fellow workers. This probably includes giving co-workers grief if they haven't given somebody on the phone a decent level of support. Much as I approve of this, if he wants to get ahead, he's going to have to learn to swallow his tongue and merge in with the masses.
If everyone is your customer, you might as well start up your own business.
Like it or not, but your employer is your customer. You provide a service to them which they pay you for. There are minor differences. As your employer is your only customer they have several duties to you (including not getting rid of you just because ...), but when it all boils down to it, they are your only customer. If they say "be mean to the people you talk to on the phone", then harsh as that is, that's what you should do.
By all means, provide an extra "consultancy" service ("Boss, I don't think that doing this is a good idea"), refuse to provide some of the things they ask you for ("it's late; I don't think I can provide that"), but never forget that they are your only customer, and as such, you are perfectly entitled to treat them in the same sort of underhanded ways that the company treats its customers.
posted by seanyboy at 4:20 AM on January 23, 2005
there's not much sense in communicating with people who aren't willing to listen ... for the time being, i'd be a lot quieter about things ... it's more than likely that what you're saying is as objectionable to this guy than how you're saying it
posted by pyramid termite at 4:37 AM on January 23, 2005
posted by pyramid termite at 4:37 AM on January 23, 2005
What does "you don't play the game at work" mean? A giant WTF (in more polite terms) is always an appropriate reponse to idiot supervisors who hand out corporate platitudes without thinking about them beforehand.
posted by Saucy Intruder at 4:40 AM on January 23, 2005
posted by Saucy Intruder at 4:40 AM on January 23, 2005
A final few words on this... All good call centre managers know that these are the percentages. (I'm sort of making this up from memory, so I've probably missed a few salient points, but you get the drift)
1. Base. They're not that bothered about the job, they don't care if they lose it, all they want to do is get on in as easy a fashion as possible. If things get too hard, they'll quit. Turnover is high, and these people should account for 70% of the workforce.
2. Troubleshooters. They care about the customer, they're eager to learn yet they spend too long on calls. They're more concerned about doing the job correctly than pay or position, and they'll take a lot of shit. They do not make good managers. Turnover is low and these people should account for 10% or lower of the workforce.
3. Managers. They care about the job and the company. They're good learners. They'll whip through the calls. They'll have social aptitude, and they'll always go for any promotions. They make good managers. With promotion, turnover is medium, and these people should account for 20% of the workforce.
Unfortunately, you're probably a 2, and they know it. They want to keep you, but they know that they can give you more grief than other people, and you'll take it. Because you want to help out the people you speak to.
To get promotion, you have to become more of a 3, and less of a 2. This COULD get you fired, and there's a higher chance that you'll hate any promotions that come your way.
b.t.w: Usual caveat. I've been known to talk absolute rubbish before, and I'd not follow any of my advice. Ever. At all.
re: What does "you don't play the game at work" mean
It means that you don't follow certain social norms related to goofing off, getting away with doing as little as possible and having a good time. It means that you care too much about the people you're trying to help, and too little about your co-workers.
If you're the sort of person that gets through 150 calls a day when everyone else in the office only manages about 70, then "you don't play the game at work".
If your recall rate is 5% when everyone elses is 30% then "you don't play the game at work"
If you go to work in jeans when everyone else wears a suit (even if you're allowed to) then "you don't play the game at work"
Like it or not, these are not indicators for management material.
posted by seanyboy at 4:54 AM on January 23, 2005
1. Base. They're not that bothered about the job, they don't care if they lose it, all they want to do is get on in as easy a fashion as possible. If things get too hard, they'll quit. Turnover is high, and these people should account for 70% of the workforce.
2. Troubleshooters. They care about the customer, they're eager to learn yet they spend too long on calls. They're more concerned about doing the job correctly than pay or position, and they'll take a lot of shit. They do not make good managers. Turnover is low and these people should account for 10% or lower of the workforce.
3. Managers. They care about the job and the company. They're good learners. They'll whip through the calls. They'll have social aptitude, and they'll always go for any promotions. They make good managers. With promotion, turnover is medium, and these people should account for 20% of the workforce.
Unfortunately, you're probably a 2, and they know it. They want to keep you, but they know that they can give you more grief than other people, and you'll take it. Because you want to help out the people you speak to.
To get promotion, you have to become more of a 3, and less of a 2. This COULD get you fired, and there's a higher chance that you'll hate any promotions that come your way.
b.t.w: Usual caveat. I've been known to talk absolute rubbish before, and I'd not follow any of my advice. Ever. At all.
re: What does "you don't play the game at work" mean
It means that you don't follow certain social norms related to goofing off, getting away with doing as little as possible and having a good time. It means that you care too much about the people you're trying to help, and too little about your co-workers.
If you're the sort of person that gets through 150 calls a day when everyone else in the office only manages about 70, then "you don't play the game at work".
If your recall rate is 5% when everyone elses is 30% then "you don't play the game at work"
If you go to work in jeans when everyone else wears a suit (even if you're allowed to) then "you don't play the game at work"
Like it or not, these are not indicators for management material.
posted by seanyboy at 4:54 AM on January 23, 2005
Last word (I promise) .
Troubleshooters and managers are similar in a lot of ways, but the best way to tell which you are is to ask yourself these two questions.
If you could afford it, would you rather Work Less Hours or Earn More Money?
Do you angrily consider incentive drives and performance rewards as a way of tricking people into working harder?
If you answered "Work Less Hours" and "Yes" then you're a troubleshooter, and there's little chance that you'd make a good manager.
posted by seanyboy at 5:01 AM on January 23, 2005
Troubleshooters and managers are similar in a lot of ways, but the best way to tell which you are is to ask yourself these two questions.
If you could afford it, would you rather Work Less Hours or Earn More Money?
Do you angrily consider incentive drives and performance rewards as a way of tricking people into working harder?
If you answered "Work Less Hours" and "Yes" then you're a troubleshooter, and there's little chance that you'd make a good manager.
posted by seanyboy at 5:01 AM on January 23, 2005
I agree with most of what Seanyboy said.
I good way to approach pointless work (by that I mean work that is important to you only as a salary) is to lose your ego completely. Don't take criticism personally and don't criticize ever. Really. Not ever. Don't waste time fighting for your way of doing things, even if you know it is superior to how your boss wants it done. (Here I disagree with Seanyboy, it's pointless to "be a consultant" to your Boss when he's wrong, who cares if he's wrong?) Don't overachieve, don't waste time reflecting -remember it's pointless work- just do what they want, how they want, always. When it breaks, it's their fault, when it works they'll take credit anyway. Why should you care? Do what's expected and concentrate on getting to the next payday with the least amount of grief possible. This is NOT advice to live your life, just to get through a job you don't care about. Find meaning to your life outside of work, or find a job that means something to you.
Anyway, I'll bet you won't be surprised that most of middle management use this leaf floating on the ocean method. It works far better than caring about something that is in essence meaningless.
posted by sic at 5:34 AM on January 23, 2005
I good way to approach pointless work (by that I mean work that is important to you only as a salary) is to lose your ego completely. Don't take criticism personally and don't criticize ever. Really. Not ever. Don't waste time fighting for your way of doing things, even if you know it is superior to how your boss wants it done. (Here I disagree with Seanyboy, it's pointless to "be a consultant" to your Boss when he's wrong, who cares if he's wrong?) Don't overachieve, don't waste time reflecting -remember it's pointless work- just do what they want, how they want, always. When it breaks, it's their fault, when it works they'll take credit anyway. Why should you care? Do what's expected and concentrate on getting to the next payday with the least amount of grief possible. This is NOT advice to live your life, just to get through a job you don't care about. Find meaning to your life outside of work, or find a job that means something to you.
Anyway, I'll bet you won't be surprised that most of middle management use this leaf floating on the ocean method. It works far better than caring about something that is in essence meaningless.
posted by sic at 5:34 AM on January 23, 2005
You work in a call center so you are already a fantastic communicator, especially if your supervisors are recognising your work. A big factor in this is that you sound like generally you enjoy your job. If you are happy then you work hard. And as for not being a team player and you stick up for too many people - jees! I think that your supervisor is misreading your people skills.
I'm in a very similar position, great with the customers, am recognised as being a strong member of the workforce, I know my job well and get on with everyone. I don't know how your company is structured but how about applying for a secondment in another department. I've previously applied for a secondment Support Managers job but didn't get it because they didn't feel I had enough experience of the organisational side of things. Fair enough as I'm not the most organised of people but there's another position coming up and I'm going to go for it again. By applying for another position you are registering an interest that you want to go further.
Seanyboy had it correct and says that you sound more like the 2 but need to change to the 3 type of person. And My God, is that hard to do! Essentially you are having to adapt your core skills and personality. I'd already figured out that this is what I have to do, and you have to do the same too - but it's going to be a struggle. By recognising you need a change in communication skills you are already on the path. I second the recommend that you ask your supervisor said the things s/he did, it might be the only way to find out why and perhaps ask other supervisors their opinion of you.
Do you tend to find that you are asked to get involved in other projects rather than your colleagues? I've found that that's a huge indicator that your bosses are aware you are capable of being more than just 'the monkey on the phone'.
Sorry I can't help on the books, sites side of things but !I'd be interested in them too. Good luck my fellow 'monkey'
posted by floanna at 6:51 AM on January 23, 2005
I'm in a very similar position, great with the customers, am recognised as being a strong member of the workforce, I know my job well and get on with everyone. I don't know how your company is structured but how about applying for a secondment in another department. I've previously applied for a secondment Support Managers job but didn't get it because they didn't feel I had enough experience of the organisational side of things. Fair enough as I'm not the most organised of people but there's another position coming up and I'm going to go for it again. By applying for another position you are registering an interest that you want to go further.
Seanyboy had it correct and says that you sound more like the 2 but need to change to the 3 type of person. And My God, is that hard to do! Essentially you are having to adapt your core skills and personality. I'd already figured out that this is what I have to do, and you have to do the same too - but it's going to be a struggle. By recognising you need a change in communication skills you are already on the path. I second the recommend that you ask your supervisor said the things s/he did, it might be the only way to find out why and perhaps ask other supervisors their opinion of you.
Do you tend to find that you are asked to get involved in other projects rather than your colleagues? I've found that that's a huge indicator that your bosses are aware you are capable of being more than just 'the monkey on the phone'.
Sorry I can't help on the books, sites side of things but !I'd be interested in them too. Good luck my fellow 'monkey'
posted by floanna at 6:51 AM on January 23, 2005
This was me when I did tech support at BigDSLCo! I had a ton of supervisors who loved me and promised me raises and then when I went in for my one year review it was all "you're not a team player, we're putting you on probation, you need to clean up your act etc etc" I was specifically told to come in, do eight hours of work and then leave, even though we were always [at this point in time, years ago] days behind in customer email and we had tons of people without service who could have had service if we'd had more staff. I was part time too so it wasn't like they were just telling me to not get into an overtime situation. It was grim, we had an office manager, not my direct supervisor, who would declare one day a month "sparkle day" and we all had to dress up and smile all day because the board was visiting. Any objections to sparkle day and you were not a team player.
My guess is, based only on what you've said, that your supervisors who adored you are not your supervisors anymore because in preferencing the sort of work you do [i.e. helping the customer, possibly spending too much time with them, not going in for all the happy-smiley office BS] they were not getting the numbers they needed to make their operation a smoothly oiled machine.
I may not be great for advice because I basically took that as an opportunity to quit and do something else, but here are my boss suggestions in a general sense. Ultimately, there may be a degree of suckupitude that you feel is not worth your while [and many of my suggestions are not things I would do myself, just observations of what seems to work] and that will be a choice you have to make.
- become hyper-attentive to what your boss is telling you and document, document, document. Make it clear that the things you are doing are in line with your job description as you understand it, and if they want you to be doing something else, you'd like that to be spelled out. Ask frequently if there is anything else you could be doing. At some level, it's your manager's responsibility to tell you what else you need to be doing, not make you guess at bullshit office dynamics. If you need to paint a picture of yourself as a little slow with interpersonal politics, even if that's not true, then do that. They can't easily fire you just because you're not catching on, especially if it looks like you're making every effort to do so.
- bluntness: stop talking to other people, especially in management, seriously. Act like you're in some martian world where you don't quite understand them and if asked a direct question answer it in some way that employs a lot of the same office vagaries you're now getting from your boss. Stop giving opinions and do the normal office thing of sticking up for your buddies in private, behind the scenes lobbying sort of stuff, but not out in the open
- smile more. I know this seems stupid, but it will make it seems like you're happier and people react well to that, even if there's some evil grin aspect to it. I was always amazed that my attempts at office banter, which were saccharine and wretched in my mouth, were well received, including the idle compliment If you're in an office where you can do that sort of thing "nice haircut" "I like your new beard" "those are cool boots, I've been thinking of getting some of those."
- save your smarts for direct customer contact and develop a sideline hobby so that you can be smart at work though not necessarily to your boss. One of the things that will just drive a boss nuts is knowing their employee is smarter than them, and having that employee demonstrate that. Find a way to get across to your boss that whatever your intellectual abilities, you see him/her as the boss and are prepared to do what it takes to straighten up [even though you see no straightening to do, natch] even jump through incredibly stupid hoops.
- make friends. If there are other people you know at work that you can stand, have beers with them, go on smoke breaks with them, say hello and bye and put stuffed animals at your desk like they do, whatever. If there's an office potluck, BRING SOMETHING and try to hang out for more than five minutes.
Though call center work is demanding and challenging from a personal perspective, it is often the ass-end of many businesses, despite the fact that good service can really add a lot to an organization. You're clearly staying at that job for your own reasons, but make staying at that job your new goal, since that's what you're in to, and sneaking awesome support to the customers at the same time. This is your new secreat mission if you choose to accept it and good luck, I know it's not at all easy.
posted by jessamyn at 7:55 AM on January 23, 2005
My guess is, based only on what you've said, that your supervisors who adored you are not your supervisors anymore because in preferencing the sort of work you do [i.e. helping the customer, possibly spending too much time with them, not going in for all the happy-smiley office BS] they were not getting the numbers they needed to make their operation a smoothly oiled machine.
I may not be great for advice because I basically took that as an opportunity to quit and do something else, but here are my boss suggestions in a general sense. Ultimately, there may be a degree of suckupitude that you feel is not worth your while [and many of my suggestions are not things I would do myself, just observations of what seems to work] and that will be a choice you have to make.
- become hyper-attentive to what your boss is telling you and document, document, document. Make it clear that the things you are doing are in line with your job description as you understand it, and if they want you to be doing something else, you'd like that to be spelled out. Ask frequently if there is anything else you could be doing. At some level, it's your manager's responsibility to tell you what else you need to be doing, not make you guess at bullshit office dynamics. If you need to paint a picture of yourself as a little slow with interpersonal politics, even if that's not true, then do that. They can't easily fire you just because you're not catching on, especially if it looks like you're making every effort to do so.
- bluntness: stop talking to other people, especially in management, seriously. Act like you're in some martian world where you don't quite understand them and if asked a direct question answer it in some way that employs a lot of the same office vagaries you're now getting from your boss. Stop giving opinions and do the normal office thing of sticking up for your buddies in private, behind the scenes lobbying sort of stuff, but not out in the open
- smile more. I know this seems stupid, but it will make it seems like you're happier and people react well to that, even if there's some evil grin aspect to it. I was always amazed that my attempts at office banter, which were saccharine and wretched in my mouth, were well received, including the idle compliment If you're in an office where you can do that sort of thing "nice haircut" "I like your new beard" "those are cool boots, I've been thinking of getting some of those."
- save your smarts for direct customer contact and develop a sideline hobby so that you can be smart at work though not necessarily to your boss. One of the things that will just drive a boss nuts is knowing their employee is smarter than them, and having that employee demonstrate that. Find a way to get across to your boss that whatever your intellectual abilities, you see him/her as the boss and are prepared to do what it takes to straighten up [even though you see no straightening to do, natch] even jump through incredibly stupid hoops.
- make friends. If there are other people you know at work that you can stand, have beers with them, go on smoke breaks with them, say hello and bye and put stuffed animals at your desk like they do, whatever. If there's an office potluck, BRING SOMETHING and try to hang out for more than five minutes.
Though call center work is demanding and challenging from a personal perspective, it is often the ass-end of many businesses, despite the fact that good service can really add a lot to an organization. You're clearly staying at that job for your own reasons, but make staying at that job your new goal, since that's what you're in to, and sneaking awesome support to the customers at the same time. This is your new secreat mission if you choose to accept it and good luck, I know it's not at all easy.
posted by jessamyn at 7:55 AM on January 23, 2005
I need any tactics, books, sites or experiences. . .I’d say I’m not quite like Dan Rather, but somewhat like Dennis Leary meets Lewis Black with a bit of intellectual arrogance thrown in for smug self satisfaction.
It is impressive that you have performed an honest self-inventory. Obviously you are interested in making changes. I would still like to point out that it may not be you but the supervisor.
I have skimmed the following books in the past and would suggest they would be worthwhile to at least take a look at. Not to make changes in your own behavior, necessarily, but to understand some of the people you might be dealing with at work:
Dealing with People You Can’t Stand, by Rick Brinkman and Rick Kirschner;
Fierce Conversations: Achieving Success at Work and in Life, One Conversation at a Time, by Susan Scott
Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most, by Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton, and Sheila Heen
posted by mlis at 8:27 AM on January 23, 2005
It is impressive that you have performed an honest self-inventory. Obviously you are interested in making changes. I would still like to point out that it may not be you but the supervisor.
I have skimmed the following books in the past and would suggest they would be worthwhile to at least take a look at. Not to make changes in your own behavior, necessarily, but to understand some of the people you might be dealing with at work:
Dealing with People You Can’t Stand, by Rick Brinkman and Rick Kirschner;
Fierce Conversations: Achieving Success at Work and in Life, One Conversation at a Time, by Susan Scott
Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most, by Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton, and Sheila Heen
posted by mlis at 8:27 AM on January 23, 2005
There's a great book called "People skills" by Robert Bolton that really helped me and will you too.
Two pieces were very helpful to me:
One was reflective listening, where after someone says something you repeat what they've said "What I am hearing you say is..."
Another was three part assertion messages: "When you do X, it makes me feel Y, because Z happens". It takes some practice to reformulate your thoughts but it will happen.
Personally, I think you must be great already with customers, since you talk with people for a living, so I am going to assume you only have this problem at work (if your manager isn't bsing you).
I think learning about this stuff is the most important thing anyone can learn. Who would you rather work with? Someone really good? Or someone pleasant? It took me a while to look around and understand that it was the pleasant answer that won everytime, and that was why I was being passed over for mediocre workers in the past.
posted by xammerboy at 8:29 AM on January 23, 2005 [1 favorite]
Two pieces were very helpful to me:
One was reflective listening, where after someone says something you repeat what they've said "What I am hearing you say is..."
Another was three part assertion messages: "When you do X, it makes me feel Y, because Z happens". It takes some practice to reformulate your thoughts but it will happen.
Personally, I think you must be great already with customers, since you talk with people for a living, so I am going to assume you only have this problem at work (if your manager isn't bsing you).
I think learning about this stuff is the most important thing anyone can learn. Who would you rather work with? Someone really good? Or someone pleasant? It took me a while to look around and understand that it was the pleasant answer that won everytime, and that was why I was being passed over for mediocre workers in the past.
posted by xammerboy at 8:29 AM on January 23, 2005 [1 favorite]
Oh yeah, and quietly look for another job. I've seen meditation work wonders too.
posted by xammerboy at 8:30 AM on January 23, 2005
posted by xammerboy at 8:30 AM on January 23, 2005
I teach people how to communicate with their coworkers and clients, and I hugely second the recommendation of "Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most" by Stone, Patton, & Heen. In fact, I hugely recommend that book for anyone. Try reading through it while thinking of your particular situation, and I'm sure you'll finish the book with more strategies about how to approach your supervisor and coworkers.
posted by equipoise at 8:37 AM on January 23, 2005
posted by equipoise at 8:37 AM on January 23, 2005
I’d say I’m not quite like Dan Rather, but somewhat like Dennis Leary meets Lewis Black with a bit of intellectual arrogance thrown in for smug self satisfaction.
I'd recommend not acting like that around the office, unless it's in the company of trusted friends. It doesn't sound like your current supervisor is the sort of person who would be terribly excited about workin with a smug, arrogant, comedian....
If you are considered fungible -- and 99% of us are -- it's probably wise to be very deliberate about how you behave at work. I agree with jessamyn's advice, because the key to your success is obviously not your competence or dedication (which seem unquestioned) but your current supervisor's impression of how well you fit into the department. Competence may be important to the customer, but the customer doesn't decide whether you get promoted or fired.
posted by subgenius at 8:43 AM on January 23, 2005
I'd recommend not acting like that around the office, unless it's in the company of trusted friends. It doesn't sound like your current supervisor is the sort of person who would be terribly excited about workin with a smug, arrogant, comedian....
If you are considered fungible -- and 99% of us are -- it's probably wise to be very deliberate about how you behave at work. I agree with jessamyn's advice, because the key to your success is obviously not your competence or dedication (which seem unquestioned) but your current supervisor's impression of how well you fit into the department. Competence may be important to the customer, but the customer doesn't decide whether you get promoted or fired.
posted by subgenius at 8:43 AM on January 23, 2005
Response by poster: This is all really, really terrific. I'll clarify a few things here:
- Remember when College newspapers would print pictures of the incoming Freshman, and lots of people would describe themselves as being a 'people person'? (As opposed to being an anti-people person?) Yup. I can be cranky and sarcastic, but I can also walk into a room and find out something about everyone.
- I think many old companies stuck in 50's style management are 'team player' environments. Talk about the way it is done elsewhere, or, heavens above, examples about good companies outside of the industry are verboten. I know many MeFites work in lots of progressive outfits, but there are still many workplaces whose library consist strictly of books about the movement of cheese.
- These are all outstanding answers. Off to the library for now!! Any further ideas would be great, especially from those like equipoise who are on the other side of the desk.
posted by TomSophieIvy at 8:51 AM on January 23, 2005
- Remember when College newspapers would print pictures of the incoming Freshman, and lots of people would describe themselves as being a 'people person'? (As opposed to being an anti-people person?) Yup. I can be cranky and sarcastic, but I can also walk into a room and find out something about everyone.
- I think many old companies stuck in 50's style management are 'team player' environments. Talk about the way it is done elsewhere, or, heavens above, examples about good companies outside of the industry are verboten. I know many MeFites work in lots of progressive outfits, but there are still many workplaces whose library consist strictly of books about the movement of cheese.
- These are all outstanding answers. Off to the library for now!! Any further ideas would be great, especially from those like equipoise who are on the other side of the desk.
posted by TomSophieIvy at 8:51 AM on January 23, 2005
...you’re not perceived as a team player, you’re difficult, you’re too blunt, you don’t (drumroll please) play the game at work, you stick up for too many people...
I think you did something specific, or maybe multiple specific things, that this supervisor is seeing as a problem personally. Instead of questioning your own ability to get along with others or increasing your enthusiasm for sparkle day (no offense jessamyn), spend some time thinking about this guy, what sorts of things he likes, what pisses him off, what his own goal is from a typical day at work. Then think over your interactions with him. Given your personality and his personality, what could you have done to piss him off?
He who says 'you're too blunt' and 'you stick up for too many people' is he who sees 'the truth' as an annoying side effect and who benefits from situations in which others can be trampled upon without accountability.
My practical suggestion is that you deliberately and obviously 'play the game' with this person in particular. Give him vapid compliments. Don't start or participate in conversations about anything profound when he's present. Before you make a decision about escalating a particular matter (e.g. 'sticking up for' someone), consider what impact that's going to have on him. When he asks you a question, consider what answer he wants to hear, and then, if it's not going to make the sky fall, give it to him.
Of course, all this is advice for keeping a bad job in a bad situation. It isn't a prescription for happiness. The fact that you say leaving the job is out of the question suggests that you may be stuck there out of pride in your ability to do it well, even though it's a terrible job. And if true, that's a kind of pride that it would be very healthy for you to get over.
posted by bingo at 8:56 AM on January 23, 2005
I think you did something specific, or maybe multiple specific things, that this supervisor is seeing as a problem personally. Instead of questioning your own ability to get along with others or increasing your enthusiasm for sparkle day (no offense jessamyn), spend some time thinking about this guy, what sorts of things he likes, what pisses him off, what his own goal is from a typical day at work. Then think over your interactions with him. Given your personality and his personality, what could you have done to piss him off?
He who says 'you're too blunt' and 'you stick up for too many people' is he who sees 'the truth' as an annoying side effect and who benefits from situations in which others can be trampled upon without accountability.
My practical suggestion is that you deliberately and obviously 'play the game' with this person in particular. Give him vapid compliments. Don't start or participate in conversations about anything profound when he's present. Before you make a decision about escalating a particular matter (e.g. 'sticking up for' someone), consider what impact that's going to have on him. When he asks you a question, consider what answer he wants to hear, and then, if it's not going to make the sky fall, give it to him.
Of course, all this is advice for keeping a bad job in a bad situation. It isn't a prescription for happiness. The fact that you say leaving the job is out of the question suggests that you may be stuck there out of pride in your ability to do it well, even though it's a terrible job. And if true, that's a kind of pride that it would be very healthy for you to get over.
posted by bingo at 8:56 AM on January 23, 2005
10 years ago I was a really good call center jockey like you. I worked for a bank, kicked ass on every shift I had, maintained killer stats, had letters written in by customers about how great I was, yadda yadda yadda...
But I knew the job was sucking my soul and I wanted to do something different. In 1993/94, IT was still a little esoteric, but I knew enough that I wanted to make a move in that direction.
So what I did was find another call center job with an IT company I was interested in. I spent 10 months figuring out where I might want to go in the company, still operating as a Galactic Badass Call Center Jockey. And when I figured it out, I asked, begged and pleaded for an internal transfer in the company to a position which was interesting.
So what I'm saying is, parley the skills you've got into a launch point for where you want to go. You already know how to communicate. If you're going through supervisors at the rate you indicate, my best guess is that you either aren't going to progress in this company or at least you aren't interested in progressing. Move on, man.
posted by TeamBilly at 9:35 AM on January 23, 2005
But I knew the job was sucking my soul and I wanted to do something different. In 1993/94, IT was still a little esoteric, but I knew enough that I wanted to make a move in that direction.
So what I did was find another call center job with an IT company I was interested in. I spent 10 months figuring out where I might want to go in the company, still operating as a Galactic Badass Call Center Jockey. And when I figured it out, I asked, begged and pleaded for an internal transfer in the company to a position which was interesting.
So what I'm saying is, parley the skills you've got into a launch point for where you want to go. You already know how to communicate. If you're going through supervisors at the rate you indicate, my best guess is that you either aren't going to progress in this company or at least you aren't interested in progressing. Move on, man.
posted by TeamBilly at 9:35 AM on January 23, 2005
It sounds like the immediate problem is specifically with one person - your new supervisor - and if you can't get him/her to perceive you in a better light you're not going to get anywhere at all. Obviously you got along with your other supervisors and they thought you were great, so it's a matter of learning how to communicate with this particular person in a different way that works to your advantage instead of to your disadvantage.
This book (Dealing With People You Can't Stand) might be helpful. It's got some pretty good advice at analyzing how someone you're not working well with is communicating to you and what their motivations are, so you can tailor your reactions in a productive way. I hope things get better - it sucks to be caught in office politics when you just want to do your job well and not deal with other people's bullshit. Good luck.
posted by Melinika at 9:54 AM on January 23, 2005
This book (Dealing With People You Can't Stand) might be helpful. It's got some pretty good advice at analyzing how someone you're not working well with is communicating to you and what their motivations are, so you can tailor your reactions in a productive way. I hope things get better - it sucks to be caught in office politics when you just want to do your job well and not deal with other people's bullshit. Good luck.
posted by Melinika at 9:54 AM on January 23, 2005
This doesn't really help you out in terms of your specific request, but it pays to keep it in mind. Any HR person worth his or her salt would stop this nonsense right now.
Back when I was working in management for Kinko's (and when they still had great training) we had it drilled into us that we could not fire for attitude, we had to document behaviors that indicate employees were deficient in the performance of duties.
If you continue to do your job and do it well AND you get fired, you might have a case to make for discrimination, but you'd certainly be able to receive unemployment provided you can keep a record of your "coaching sessions".
More in line with your question: I started in the call center at my current company and was considered something of a troublemaker. I shared my opinions on what was wrong and how things could be made better. It got me nowhere as you might imagine. I didn't want to look for a new job so I just kind of put my head down, did my work and went home when my shift was over.
A few months later the COO came to me to find out what was going on. I was mostly honest with him and explained that I had grown tired of being the squeaky wheel and just decided to play along. He expressed concern because I had been such a passionate advocate for customers and they did not want to lose that. I asked him what he'd like to see, he told me and I did it.
A couple months later I was offered a promotion: A job they created with me in mind. A year after that, another job created just to challenge me. Last October we were bought by another company and I was the only person from my department kept on, this despite the fact that the new company had no use for such a department! I lived in limbo for a couple months, but just three weeks ago they presented me with what, at this point in my life, is the perfect job for me. Again, created just to challenge me. I consider it to be a position that could make or break me in the industry.
I'd say the trick is to find out what he expects, decide if you're okay with it and do it if you are; it could turn out amazing. Or it could suck ass. It worked for me. I hope things turn out okay for you.
posted by FlamingBore at 10:00 AM on January 23, 2005
Back when I was working in management for Kinko's (and when they still had great training) we had it drilled into us that we could not fire for attitude, we had to document behaviors that indicate employees were deficient in the performance of duties.
If you continue to do your job and do it well AND you get fired, you might have a case to make for discrimination, but you'd certainly be able to receive unemployment provided you can keep a record of your "coaching sessions".
More in line with your question: I started in the call center at my current company and was considered something of a troublemaker. I shared my opinions on what was wrong and how things could be made better. It got me nowhere as you might imagine. I didn't want to look for a new job so I just kind of put my head down, did my work and went home when my shift was over.
A few months later the COO came to me to find out what was going on. I was mostly honest with him and explained that I had grown tired of being the squeaky wheel and just decided to play along. He expressed concern because I had been such a passionate advocate for customers and they did not want to lose that. I asked him what he'd like to see, he told me and I did it.
A couple months later I was offered a promotion: A job they created with me in mind. A year after that, another job created just to challenge me. Last October we were bought by another company and I was the only person from my department kept on, this despite the fact that the new company had no use for such a department! I lived in limbo for a couple months, but just three weeks ago they presented me with what, at this point in my life, is the perfect job for me. Again, created just to challenge me. I consider it to be a position that could make or break me in the industry.
I'd say the trick is to find out what he expects, decide if you're okay with it and do it if you are; it could turn out amazing. Or it could suck ass. It worked for me. I hope things turn out okay for you.
posted by FlamingBore at 10:00 AM on January 23, 2005
Just a couple things I would want to know before sharpening my knife. Are you asking for a promotion or was this just part of a regular review? Is your new supervisor a female? Are most of your co-workers female? Does the comment "you stick up for too many people" refer to your co-workers or to the customers you deal with every day? By the way, cheese stinks.
posted by oh posey at 10:03 AM on January 23, 2005
posted by oh posey at 10:03 AM on January 23, 2005
Response by poster: Oh Posey - this was part review, part how to move on to another part of the company. Yes, she is a female, the workplace ratio is probably around 1:1, and the comment refers to both coworkers and customers. Pick your battles, and only pick a few (if any) is the 'take home' message here.
I have a hard time moving on/recognizing a fit just isn't going to happen here.
Bingo - all excellent points, but for now the financial consequences would be huge. Could be time to redo the finances to make it so.
jessamyn, I'm well known in our center. I know nearly everyone, can ask about their lives intelligently (while not walking away before they've had time to answer), and get fellow employees to open up to me the same way customers do. But most of the people in my workplace have only had crappy jobs their entire lives (before moving out here I had some great workplace experience) and their expectations are low from the beginning. We're thrown tidbits here and there (but also have occasional mandatory overtime) but as is often the case, a pig in a dress is still a pig.
This therapy is making me realize I'm probably asking more of this job than it can provide. Time to search the askme archives about career changes.... Everyone, you are really making me very, very happy today.
posted by TomSophieIvy at 10:22 AM on January 23, 2005
I have a hard time moving on/recognizing a fit just isn't going to happen here.
Bingo - all excellent points, but for now the financial consequences would be huge. Could be time to redo the finances to make it so.
jessamyn, I'm well known in our center. I know nearly everyone, can ask about their lives intelligently (while not walking away before they've had time to answer), and get fellow employees to open up to me the same way customers do. But most of the people in my workplace have only had crappy jobs their entire lives (before moving out here I had some great workplace experience) and their expectations are low from the beginning. We're thrown tidbits here and there (but also have occasional mandatory overtime) but as is often the case, a pig in a dress is still a pig.
This therapy is making me realize I'm probably asking more of this job than it can provide. Time to search the askme archives about career changes.... Everyone, you are really making me very, very happy today.
posted by TomSophieIvy at 10:22 AM on January 23, 2005
Look, I can't stand the advice offered by half the people who've commented so far, which boils down to "You have to change." You've got your boss and half the people on Ask MetaFilter essentially siding with your boss for one reason or another, most of which reasons seem perfectly valid to people who've had a lot of experience sucking it up.
Well, you do not have to suck it up and you frigging well do not have to change. Wait for the wanker who's presently in the revolving barber's chair to get fired (or, more likely but not necessarily worse, promoted) and carry on.
Or indeed, complain to HR, and continue doing exactly what you usually do.
Or cheerily adopt a "Fuck you, honey" attitude and quit.
posted by joeclark at 3:31 PM on January 23, 2005
Well, you do not have to suck it up and you frigging well do not have to change. Wait for the wanker who's presently in the revolving barber's chair to get fired (or, more likely but not necessarily worse, promoted) and carry on.
Or indeed, complain to HR, and continue doing exactly what you usually do.
Or cheerily adopt a "Fuck you, honey" attitude and quit.
posted by joeclark at 3:31 PM on January 23, 2005
joeclark ... there's nothing wrong with some change ... especially if keeping your job depends on it
he doesn't seem to think that finding another job is an option right now ... that means, in the real world, he's going to have to make a few adjustments ... and it will be a valuable experience for him
posted by pyramid termite at 3:43 PM on January 23, 2005
he doesn't seem to think that finding another job is an option right now ... that means, in the real world, he's going to have to make a few adjustments ... and it will be a valuable experience for him
posted by pyramid termite at 3:43 PM on January 23, 2005
I'm with joeclark. People who suck it up are always going to try to convince you to do so; they need to justify their decisions to themselves, and therefore need to see it as unavoidable.
I'd definitely rethink whether you can leave, or look into what it would take to leave and begin taking steps in that direction. If you're really lucky, by the time you get your escape-egg together, the manager will get kicked upstairs and you'll be in a great position: nice savings and a job that has returned to pleasant.
If not, you may be able to get in a position where you leave but they don't contest your unemployment. Personally, getting laid off after my wonderful manager got switched with Satan was the best thing that ever happened to me.
posted by dame at 4:37 PM on January 23, 2005
I'd definitely rethink whether you can leave, or look into what it would take to leave and begin taking steps in that direction. If you're really lucky, by the time you get your escape-egg together, the manager will get kicked upstairs and you'll be in a great position: nice savings and a job that has returned to pleasant.
If not, you may be able to get in a position where you leave but they don't contest your unemployment. Personally, getting laid off after my wonderful manager got switched with Satan was the best thing that ever happened to me.
posted by dame at 4:37 PM on January 23, 2005
Most of the stuff that seanyboy has written is truly depressing.
Labelling everyone you do anything for as a customer is the lazy "if you only have a hammer" approach. Your boss is your boss, the company you work for is the company you work for, customers are customers. There are names for all these things already, they are not all customers, for good reason -- they're all different.
I have a defined role in my company. I expect that people within the company deal with me as procedures dictate and that I don't have to sell myself to them every day of my life. My role might be something people don't like or want to deal with -- it might be an impossible sales job -- but I expect that management will tell them to do it some way and they'll do it -- within their own moral code, of course. I'm not expecting you to suddenly start screwing over customers because that's the company's unofficial policy.
I would have thought we're past the team-building weekends and badly defined cost centres by now.
Ultimately it sounds like you only have a problem with one person, this new supervisor. Did they ask you to help them with something personal and you said no? Did they invite you to some sort of social event that you declined? For all you know, you've been doing *such* a good job that you showed them up -- or perhaps they claimed responsibility for something you did and were found out.
You might want to go one level up, say you need help dealing with this person and accept any advice you're given. Hopefully the next level up won't be suggesting you goof off to match the goof off rate of everyone else, or tell you that you have to attend a private BBQ every Sunday, or whatever.
posted by krisjohn at 4:40 PM on January 23, 2005
Labelling everyone you do anything for as a customer is the lazy "if you only have a hammer" approach. Your boss is your boss, the company you work for is the company you work for, customers are customers. There are names for all these things already, they are not all customers, for good reason -- they're all different.
I have a defined role in my company. I expect that people within the company deal with me as procedures dictate and that I don't have to sell myself to them every day of my life. My role might be something people don't like or want to deal with -- it might be an impossible sales job -- but I expect that management will tell them to do it some way and they'll do it -- within their own moral code, of course. I'm not expecting you to suddenly start screwing over customers because that's the company's unofficial policy.
I would have thought we're past the team-building weekends and badly defined cost centres by now.
Ultimately it sounds like you only have a problem with one person, this new supervisor. Did they ask you to help them with something personal and you said no? Did they invite you to some sort of social event that you declined? For all you know, you've been doing *such* a good job that you showed them up -- or perhaps they claimed responsibility for something you did and were found out.
You might want to go one level up, say you need help dealing with this person and accept any advice you're given. Hopefully the next level up won't be suggesting you goof off to match the goof off rate of everyone else, or tell you that you have to attend a private BBQ every Sunday, or whatever.
posted by krisjohn at 4:40 PM on January 23, 2005
What strikes me in this discussion is the lack of specificifity (not sure if that's a word) about your supervisor's comments. If in fact she didn't get specific ("You said X to person Y in circumstances Z, and you should have said A instead"), then you're guessing about what she means, and then trying to fix it.
Practical suggestion: If you did get specific examples, and specific suggestions for what to do differently, then work on those. If you didn't, then go back to the supervisor and say something like "I've been thinking about your comments, and I definitely want to improve. It would help me a great deal if we could discuss specific examples of where you think my behavior should change, so that I know what I'm doing wrong."
If you can't get specifics out of your supervisor, or that don't make much sense to you, then the supervisor may have a different agenda then you do. Hopefully that won't be the case.
Good luck!
posted by WestCoaster at 7:15 PM on January 23, 2005
Practical suggestion: If you did get specific examples, and specific suggestions for what to do differently, then work on those. If you didn't, then go back to the supervisor and say something like "I've been thinking about your comments, and I definitely want to improve. It would help me a great deal if we could discuss specific examples of where you think my behavior should change, so that I know what I'm doing wrong."
If you can't get specifics out of your supervisor, or that don't make much sense to you, then the supervisor may have a different agenda then you do. Hopefully that won't be the case.
Good luck!
posted by WestCoaster at 7:15 PM on January 23, 2005
Response by poster: Again, thanks for the comments!
it's always been hard for me to undergo a temporary lobotomy when I walk into the door at work (aka the red/blue pill theory of work). I try to treat people the same inside of work as outside of work. Falling behind the company line because 'that's just the way it is' can be loathsome - i'm not paid for my morals or principles (to which I try to tenaciously cling), but they're a part of my fabric. (Hence my 2 year Army career during the Reagan reign...)
I don't feel like the comments above are necessarily telling me the change has to come from me, but rather have been of the 'have you thought of this?' vein. I'll admit that change may be a part of the answer - while I am stubborn and prideful, there may be a reason why I am under-degreed, over-mindful, well read, well spoken, compassionate, desperately under-employed and having to ask how to keep my workplace shit together before I lose more than just my job.
This is better than therapy right now.
posted by TomSophieIvy at 10:10 PM on January 23, 2005
it's always been hard for me to undergo a temporary lobotomy when I walk into the door at work (aka the red/blue pill theory of work). I try to treat people the same inside of work as outside of work. Falling behind the company line because 'that's just the way it is' can be loathsome - i'm not paid for my morals or principles (to which I try to tenaciously cling), but they're a part of my fabric. (Hence my 2 year Army career during the Reagan reign...)
I don't feel like the comments above are necessarily telling me the change has to come from me, but rather have been of the 'have you thought of this?' vein. I'll admit that change may be a part of the answer - while I am stubborn and prideful, there may be a reason why I am under-degreed, over-mindful, well read, well spoken, compassionate, desperately under-employed and having to ask how to keep my workplace shit together before I lose more than just my job.
This is better than therapy right now.
posted by TomSophieIvy at 10:10 PM on January 23, 2005
How can you be "not perceived as a team player" AND "stick up for too many people"?
What seanyboy said is one possibility, another is that while most people do see you as on their side, the boss doesn't. Frequently in work situations you can get along fine with most people but if it happens that you don't get on well with the 1 or 2 people who have the most control over you then the rest counts for nothing, they'll project their feelings about you on to your co-workers. In this context, this may not be entirely bad news, it may mean that you can carry on being the same way you are now around your co-workers but with some changes to the way you behave around your boss then their attitude towards you might change.
posted by biffa at 2:35 AM on January 24, 2005
What seanyboy said is one possibility, another is that while most people do see you as on their side, the boss doesn't. Frequently in work situations you can get along fine with most people but if it happens that you don't get on well with the 1 or 2 people who have the most control over you then the rest counts for nothing, they'll project their feelings about you on to your co-workers. In this context, this may not be entirely bad news, it may mean that you can carry on being the same way you are now around your co-workers but with some changes to the way you behave around your boss then their attitude towards you might change.
posted by biffa at 2:35 AM on January 24, 2005
From konolia;
Do you get paid more than your co-workers? A lot more?
If so, could be they are trying to get rid of you
Lots of good suggestions but I think konolia's point should be considered because if that is the case--well it's a bottom line you cost too much and none of your marvelous qualities will matter.
posted by dsaelf at 6:27 AM on January 24, 2005
Do you get paid more than your co-workers? A lot more?
If so, could be they are trying to get rid of you
Lots of good suggestions but I think konolia's point should be considered because if that is the case--well it's a bottom line you cost too much and none of your marvelous qualities will matter.
posted by dsaelf at 6:27 AM on January 24, 2005
Tom, if the intelligence and articulateness you have displayed in this thread is any indication, you should be running a company right now instead of scrambling to stay on the bottom rung of one. You mentioned that you consider yourself under-degreed. If you'll forgive some slightly off-topic advice from a stranger, your under-degreedness might be something you need to deal with directly, rather than considering an inevitable handicap. Two ways of dealing with it:
1. Apply for jobs that you think you could do, even if the job description specifies a degree that you don't have. In your cover letter, acknowledge that you don't have the degree, and explain why your unique real-life experiences and skills qualify you for the job nonetheless. (Disclaimer: I have heard this technique recommended by people whose opinions I respect, but I have never used it myself. If you take this tactic, you might want to post another AskMe thread asking for advice on it from more experienced folks.)
2. Look for jobs that will give you time off to get whatever additional degree you feel you need. Some employers will even help underwrite your education if you can convince them that you will be able to do more for the company with your newfound knowledge.
I guess what I'm saying is, by all means look for the short-term fixes that will let you get by in your current job. But don't neglect the long-term fixes that will save you from having to deal with this crap in the future.
posted by yankeefog at 6:33 AM on January 24, 2005
1. Apply for jobs that you think you could do, even if the job description specifies a degree that you don't have. In your cover letter, acknowledge that you don't have the degree, and explain why your unique real-life experiences and skills qualify you for the job nonetheless. (Disclaimer: I have heard this technique recommended by people whose opinions I respect, but I have never used it myself. If you take this tactic, you might want to post another AskMe thread asking for advice on it from more experienced folks.)
2. Look for jobs that will give you time off to get whatever additional degree you feel you need. Some employers will even help underwrite your education if you can convince them that you will be able to do more for the company with your newfound knowledge.
I guess what I'm saying is, by all means look for the short-term fixes that will let you get by in your current job. But don't neglect the long-term fixes that will save you from having to deal with this crap in the future.
posted by yankeefog at 6:33 AM on January 24, 2005
I know you're not planning on looking, but the best book I've ever read on how to get a job is called Jobs That Don't Suck by Charlie Drozdyk. It's meant for people who are new to the workforce, but the advice is extremely solid no matter how many jobs you've had. I've gotten 3 jobs with this book and it completely changed how my brother (who was essentially unemployed for more than a year) was job hunting. I can't recommend it highly enough.
The book also has a section dedicated to moving up the ladder once you get in. Lots of strategies for working with and keeping a boss happy and on your side.
posted by ssmith at 7:19 AM on January 24, 2005
The book also has a section dedicated to moving up the ladder once you get in. Lots of strategies for working with and keeping a boss happy and on your side.
posted by ssmith at 7:19 AM on January 24, 2005
It sounds to me like your communications skills are just fine. What's missing is the grasp of office politics or willingness to make the political choices that would get you ahead (or some combination thereof.)
So either start reading The Prince or a career change manual.
posted by Zed_Lopez at 8:26 AM on January 24, 2005
So either start reading The Prince or a career change manual.
posted by Zed_Lopez at 8:26 AM on January 24, 2005
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Treat them & think of them like you treat the people you help on the phone.
posted by seanyboy at 1:39 AM on January 23, 2005