I have known many incredibly capable people whose abilities weren’t being noticed or recognized, simply because they did not know how to navigate a corporate environment. If you were raised in a suburban, professional household, some of these things are old hat. However, if you were raised in different circumstances, as many of us were, much of these customs or the “corporate culture” as a whole, may seem as natural as two left feet.

As with everything in life, work means finding the right balance. If we are off balance in any direction, our life suffers and we are unable to achieve our true potential or joy out of what we are doing. For example, a workaholic is often a doormat to their job, loving it but having a home life that suffers. Alternately, a person who salivates at the though of 5pm can’t possibly be a person who enjoys what they are doing. And when we don’t enjoy what we’re doing, we don’t do it as well as someone who does – and our work suffers.

5 Things to Avoid

Taking it Personally

I have a friend, let’s call her Sally, who used to write people letters at the office whenever she was offended by them or when she was afraid she offended them. She was an assistant in her department and lacked confidence because she didn’t have the education or rank that her co-workers had. However, what she didn’t realize was that she had the talent, drive and intellectual capacity to outperform every other member in her department.

What am I really saying here? Education is important. We should strive for it, hunger for it and value where it can take us in our personal and professional lives. However, just because a person doesn’t have a formal education doesn’t mean that they don’t have what it takes to do a job. Mistakes are going to happen on the job, some people aren’t going to like you and sometimes people may even say things that hurt your feelings. Just know that while your feelings are valid and important, you need to handle conflict in a straight-forward, professional manner. Look at the situation at hand. Is there anything you can learn from it that will make you a better worker? Could there be another reason for your co-worker/boss’s comments or attitude? What can you do to show this person that, while you are not willing endure any rude or unprofessional comments, that you appreciate their input and will take them into consideration?

I once had a co-worker who worked in a legal department of a publishing company. She received calls all the time from irate authors who hadn’t received their payments who would curse her out. After trying every possible way to calm them, with grace, she would simply reply over and over again, if necessary, “well, I’m sorry you feel that way.” Once she hung up the phone, she knew that she had done everything she could and that she had no control over their feelings. This enabled her to let it go.

The “me” Complex

I am sure that your needs are at the top of your list – and let’s face it, in most cases they should be. However, do not expect your employer to feel that way. You are not irreplaceable – no matter how well you think you do your job. An employee who is stuck in their own world of me, mine and myself, signals to an employer that they are not thinking of the business and the bottom line that keeps everyone employed.

Items that fall under this category include; personal life excuses for not getting work done, a never-ending tirade of personal issues interfering with job performance and letting your employer know the intimate details of your life without being asked.

Constant Compl