Workplace Survival Guide
— -- Since we can't pick our co-workers the way we'd choose our friends, it's inevitable that all of us must deal with people we don't necessarily like. Women For Hire CEO Tory Johnson offers advice on how to cope with colleagues and achieve the sanity and respect you deserve.
Problem: Demeaning bosses
Solution: One common complaint among employees is a boss who routinely is demeaning. You don't want to become argumentative, but after awhile it's hard to just keep taking it on the chin. The best solution is to politely and firmly address this behavior. Instead of stewing about how rudely you're treated, ask to have a conversation about this. For example, "Yesterday when you yelled at me in front of our team, I felt disrespected and embarrassed. I want to learn and grow from your feedback and direction, but I'd appreciate if you spoke to me in a professional tone. And if you have harsh words for me, perhaps you'd consider addressing them with me in private." When you don't speak up, you're in essence giving the boss permission to continue speaking to you that way.
Problem: Credit-grabbing bosses.
Solution: Many employees often complain about a boss who takes all of the credit even though they're not doing the work. If you're the one working so hard to produce great results, this can be really maddening. First, remember that your good work, as well as your failures, are a reflection on your boss. So the boss deserves some credit for your accomplishments since they're part of his/her whole team. However, this can stifle your confidence and hold you back from advancement, so ask to discuss it directly.
Be prepared with a list of your accomplishments and don't accuse your boss of hogging the credit. You can say, "One of the barriers to achieving even greater success is my feeling that I don't receive full credit for my work. Receiving this credit and recognition is a great motivator for me." Going forward, without obnoxiously flaunting it, you can let your colleagues know about the work you're doing and the ideas you're presenting, so there's a witness to your achievements.
