Archive for March 2014

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The Psychology of the workplace

Psychology can be defined as the scientific study of the human mind and its functions, esp. those affecting behavior in a given context or the mental and emotional factors governing a situation or activity. That said, a simplified definition of workplace psychology can bethe set of mental and emotional factors that govern the workplace.

You may be wondering, what does psychology have to do with the workplace? Permit me to explain. When applying for a job the first thing we tend to assess are the qualifications that it requires and we match our skill-set with that of the position to determine whether or not we should apply. Conventional wisdom also teaches us that if you are lacking some essential skill-set required, then it is your responsibility to go out and get it. Meaning, signing up for some course or degree, doing some training or self-study. What is often overlooked is the psychology that is required to be successful.

In some contexts, the psychology is just as or even more important to being successful than the actual qualifications themselves. Some professions require you to have thick skin and others are a lot less stressful. Regardless of what part of the psychological spectrum your office requires, you will fail if you do not play by the rules. The emotional and mental factors that govern a particular job are very specific: in the same office, someone can be experiencing sheer torture while another is in pure bliss and fulfillment. The responsibility is then yours to recognize what is required for you to be successful.

Some workplaces are very fast paced where shouting and yelling at each other are a common practice. If you are a withdrawn and soft spoken person who likes a ‘thank you’ after completing every task then a place like that may not be for you. Or maybe a sales type job where the competition can be very high, you cannot enter such an arena as a naïve salesman that shares all the tips and insider tricks you used to close a deal. You would not last very long and if you do last, you may not be very successful. On the flip side, if you are in an office that is very quiet and every speaks with a whisper and you are brash, loud mouthed and outspoken, it may serve you well to find your inside voice very quickly else you will find it very hard to fit in.

The purpose of today’s blog is to bring to your awareness that being successful is way much more than having the qualifications for a job. It hinges on your ability to discern the mental and emotional factors that are at play in your given workplace and then to act accordingly. So if you find yourself struggling to settle in at your place of work ask yourself, have I have mastered the psychology that is required to be successful at this job? Don’t mistake an opportunity to change your situation for a reason to leave; learning the psychology might be the key to turning things around.

Until next time remember: As long as you have life, you should live it to your fullest potential.

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How to remain engaged at work

We all face it. That period just after the initial phase of starting a new job or new position or project where the excitement wanes and the struggle to stay focused begins. Some call it the end of the "honeymoon" period. If we are all destined to such a predicament, then we all must be equipped with the mindset of out lasting this hurdle. How then do we remain engaged at work?

There have been a few interesting polls done recently, (a few of which I have read but would not quote) that reveals that large swaths of working professionals are either not or under engaged at their current jobs. Many cite that as a result of the trickle down effects of the economic downturn, employees are expected to take on more responsibility and work longer hours, with less resources and expected to deliver on time. Many complain of feeling like drones: part of a big "machine" with little or no hope of getting promoted. It seems as though the odds are overwhelmingly stacked against us professionals.

My advice to those who find themselves internally identifying with the previous statements is really simple, BE PRAGMATIC! You are probably thinking that if the advice was simple, then maybe I should have used a word that was simple, however no other word had the desired effect. But what does it mean? If you find yourself in a rut where you are; over-worked, always at the office, unchallenged, bored, under-promoted, underpaid and most importantly with no room for growth and or development, then I would advise that you move on. However, I would dare to say that if even one of these were positive then you have something to work with.

Here is how:

As long as there is room to grow then there is a reason to stay. Think strategically and long term. You may not have a shot of being promoted or climbing the ranks at your current job, but as long as you are still learning and being challenged it means that you are still developing as a professional. Look at it this way, you are being trained and prepared for the next job!

As long as you are being paid well there is a reason to stay. Unless you are a philanthropist, you are probably working for some form of compensation. If your company is generous enough to pay you and not ensure that they are getting a solid return on their investment, then it is too bad for them. Make it count in your favor. In the mean time, do what you can to prepare for your next station in your professional career. For example, do another degree, certification etc. Let your company finance your preparation and leave only when everything is in place.

Last but not least, always be on the lookout for opportunities to keep you interested. It may cost you some free time, but helping out on a project from another department might help advertise your skills to the company at large. It shows dedication and commitment to a broader vision. It will also allow you to build expertise and relationships outside of your domain. These intangibles are supremely important to display when trying to get the recognition of others.

In closing, there is so much more that can be said but I will leave it there for now. Be ever mindful that engagement is a two way street. It implies that for you to be fully engaged at work there must be something there working in your favor. Find it and then the rest is up to you.

Until next time remember, As long as you have life, you should live it to your fullest potential.