Winning at Working--It's Personal
- Author Nan Russell
- Published November 1, 2010
- Word count 634
Off to dinner the night before I was the keynote speaker at a regional conference, I wanted something good, but casual; calming but moderately swift. So, my husband and I selected an interesting looking place within walking distant of our hotel.
By every want I originally articulated, the restaurant exceeded expectations. Yet at the end of our meal, I was less vitalized than when I'd walked in, and our waiter was the reason. Don't get me wrong, he was a good waiter, from a service standpoint. But his self-focused lens tainted the encounter.
When we didn't order the white wine pairing he suggested, but a favorite red instead, he was visibly annoyed. When I passed on his favorite entree, he acted as if I offended him. And when my husband chose a dessert different from the one he recommended, his cold-shoulder rebuff was memorable.
Now, a few weeks later, I realize that waiter did what many of us do in our workplaces: he took his work personally, instead of making it personal. He viewed our choices that were away from his suggestions through an about-him perspective. He wasn't considering that while we found his suggestions interesting, they weren't what we wanted that night for dinner. And it was our dinner, after all.
He's not alone. Too many of us take work situations personally. We believe we aren't being heard when our boss doesn't implement our suggestions; we think our co-workers are ignoring us when they don't follow our recommended approaches; or we perceive our staff as stubborn when they want to do a project their way.
But people who are winning at working shift perspectives. They don't take it personally when you don't select their idea, use their computer short-cuts, or follow their approaches. They realize it's often simply personal and individual preferences. What works for you reflects your style, needs, wants, and desired results. Theirs does too.
Still, people who are winning at working know it's not enough to recognize that we have different likes and dislikes, make different choices, support different approaches, or decide different things. It's not enough to understand that it's all personal.
The bigger understanding needed in the workplace is this: it's not about you. If that waiter had perceived dinner as about us, the guest, he wouldn't have taken our choices personally. If his service had been personal (i.e. about us) our decisions would never have been taken personally (i.e. about him).
People who are winning at working orient toward others. They view their job as making your job easier, or being of service, or meeting your needs. So, if they're a job seeker, they'll make that interview about you: how they can help, support, or solve your problem. If they're a software engineer, they'll look for the best way to make it simpler for you, their user. And if they're a boss or coworker they'll help provide the support, recognition, and interesting work that you thrive on so you can do your best work.
You see, people who are winning at working realize work and workplaces have changed. Today it's all about the personal. This age of the individual is punctuated by custom t-shirts shipped in twenty-four hours, have-it-my-way phone apps, menu-driven computer software, my-music play lists, personal YouTube channels, work-from-anywhere telecommuters, and billions of comments from bloggers, tweeters, and 500 million Facebook users.
What that means is this: we will create the best results, products, solutions, and service when we take ourselves out of the equation and focus on others, as individuals, and what they want at any given time. Bottom line? If you want to be winning at working in this age of the individual remember this: when it's all personal, you definitely can't take it personally.
(c) 2010 Nan S. Russell. All rights reserved.
Author of two books: Hitting Your Stride and Nibble Your Way to Success. Nationally syndicated radio host of "Work Matters with Nan Russell." New seminar: www.rebootingafterjobloss.com. More about Nan and her work www.nanrussell.com
Article source: https://articlebiz.comRate article
Article comments
There are no posted comments.
Related articles
- Alter Ego: The Ultimate AI Assistant for Your Smartwatch
- Achieve Your Goals Faster and Easier with SEPTEMICS
- Why You Should Consider Taking an IQ Test
- What You Need to Know When Preparing for a Job Interview
- Learn to ride an e-Foil (electric hydrofoil) in New York; access, inclusion, and benefits.
- Attitude is Key
- Ahamed Danial Al Fayed Presents "Vitore Bahir": A Soul-Stirring Bangla Song Album
- How to Harness the Law of Attraction with Cosmic Ordering
- Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable
- Susan Vail
- IS IT TOO LATE TO BE SUCCESSFUL?
- How to achieve objectives
- 4 Ways an Attractive Smile Can Help Your Career
- How To Manifest Wealth & Happiness: The Secret Lies In Your Mind
- How to Find a YouTube Niche Channel Without Showing Your Face
- How to Build Your YouTube Channel from the Ground Up
- Cryptocurrency: The Ultimate Guide To Cryptocurrency And How To Make Money with it!
- Where can I get an HGV medical?
- Improving personal performance at work
- How a Great Smile Can Help Your Career
- The "Secret" Hiding in Plain Sight
- Charisma, Love And Health
- A little insight on change
- What is the Difference between C8 and C18 column in HPLC?
- Effective Ways to Successfully Market Yourself
- The Benefits of having a great relationship with your Recruitment Consultant
- 5 Simple Ways To Prepare For Going Back To Work
- 14 Keys to Writing a Winning Resume For Church Jobs and Ministry Openings
- HOW SURFING SAVED MY LIFE
- What’s Beyond Post Graduate Studies?