Wednesday

Hatred for the Job

It steadily rises up in you, the hate.  Each day becomes more and more difficult to come into work.  You despise the drama you might face, the workers and visitors who often complain, and the management who just doesn't understand.  You are often bitter, irritated, and ready to bite someone's head off the minute they say something that bothers you.  Let's be honest, you hate your job!

How many of us have been there and done that?  Why does coming into work have to be such a challenge?  Well, it can be when you simply realize one day, "This isn't what I want."  But what clouds one's mind is the need for money.  People will tolerate much for a good salary and benefits and just might sell their souls for the perks.  But when you don't like your job and the people who work there, hatred is sure to follow.  Is it fair to lash out at others because your employment choice just isn't working out for you?

Although one might know it's time to leave, the challenge is when?  Do you leave when a certain amount of money is saved up?  Do you say goodbye one day without a job lead?  Do you give your two-week notice on a promise of a new job without being 100 percent sure you have it?  The answer is you leave when you are good and ready and not when something happens at work that makes you go. 

Too often employees could have avoided termination had they paid attention to their minds, bodies and spirits before the dismissal.  We all have an innate ability to read a situation and avoid it.  Think of that time when you knew parents or other relatives were having a discussion in the other room about you.  So you listened and confirmed it was true, but did you want to go in?  Most likely not.  When meetings are ongoing about you at the workplace, even though you don't know that they are going on, you have a feeling you are not wanted around much longer.  Chances are someone has picked up on your hatred.

No one wants to be hated--no one!  So if you are the one doing the hating, it isn't a private matter, someone somewhere has noticed a difference in the guy or gal who first walked through the office doors who has now turned into that angry guy or gal.

Why suffer each day trying to find something to like about your job when it is obvious you hate it?  Why bother to vent to others about your job and the management?  Why spend days drinking your job challenges away?  Ddo something about them, before someone else or a group will. 

Remember there is never any good time to leave a job, you just have to do it when you feel you are mentally and physically ready to move on with your life.  If you are a believer, pray and fast about it and enlist other believers to pray with you before you make any decisions.

Nicholl McGuire
 

Unethical Worker Using Flattery to Hide Deception

He tells you, "Good morning..." he is often happy and doesn't appear to have a care in the world.  Yet, you feel something is a bit off about this person.  The friendly smile doesn't really seem what it appears to be.  You watch him for awhile.  A good worker, team player, and gets along well with others, but still something isn't right.

You may have someone like this at your workplace, someone who seems to be the life of the party, so to speak.  But in time you may have learned why he or she is so over-the-top with his or her pleasantries and appears to work harder than most, this worker just might have some dirty company business to hide.

I watched one of the most ignorant, yet one of the brilliant of the bunch use his flattery to distract fellow workers from his deceitful actions.  "Hello...how are you...what's new...I just needed to use this..." while he had a goody bag of company things he had helped himself to.  I was left feeling shocked, angered, and confused.  How could someone so nice, be so dirty?  He had learned from the best--pimps, players and hustlers.  People who spent days lying, stealing, and cheating to earn street credentials and obtain wealth.  The "nice" guy had participated in undercover foolishness for so long at his workplace, while winning the trust from so many, that when he was exposed, some refused to believe the truth about this manipulator.

When the smile wasn't showing, cold eyes revealed a cold heart from the sneaky worker that didn't care much about others or the company's reputation.  He was in business for himself.  When approached about his wrong-doing, the typically cool, calm and collected guy was visibly nervous, talking fast, and willing to make bargains even if they were unethical with management.  He sweet talked his way with select leadership and knew how to sell his skills and those that loved him by name-dropping.  Individuals that mixed business with friendship looked the other way and worked to protect him while others just looked on in disbelief.  Powerful figures didn't want to get their hands dirty when the news reached their ears.  Therefore, they sent a select few to "investigate," "interview" and watch, but the man with the smile had connections higher than they.

Things to think about when dealing with a deceitful worker:

1.  He or she most likely has been getting away with unethical acts for some time.  If this is the case, the worker might be quite comfortable in his or her mischief.  Begin to build a case against this person and make copies of all information you collect.  Chances are that someone, who really likes the person, just might destory evidence.  Note dates, times and offenses.  Set up hidden cameras and other useful things to help when it is time to confront the individual.

2.  Know who his or her favorite people are and start befriending them.  They just might slip up and say some things about the deceitful worker's conduct one day especially if this person has angered him or her.

3.  If you are in leadership, hire someone or get a volunteer (who is not a relative or friend of the deceiver) to report to you about the latest happenings with the unethical worker.

4.  Don't encourage negative behavior by joking with this person, participating in, lying, or covering up his or her deceit.  Avoid the temptation to argue about facts with this person.

5.  Don't share findings with people you know who are friendly with this person.

6.  Don't allow personal feelings toward the deceptive employee get in the way of doing your job.  "It's nothing personal, it's just business." so the old adage goes.

Once deceitful workers are found out yet nothing is done, it is only a matter of time that they will bring themselves and others down with them.

Nicholl McGuire       

Saturday

How to Know an Adult Has Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)

Racing thoughts that affect one's lifestyle, substance abuse and other addicitions, criminal activity and more, these are just some of the things that adults with Adult Attention Deficit Disorder face.  If you or someone you know feel like certain behaviors are affecting your work performance, learn more and seek the assistance you need.

Dr. Edward Hallowell on adult Attention Deficit Disorder

Friday

How to Avoid Worker Favoritism

It comes without notice that warm feeling inside when you see someone familiar.  You enjoy conversations with your worker or co-worker, you love the fact that you have so much in common, but there is just one thing wrong, everyone else in the office knows you like your "favorite" worker too!



Leaders in organizations and companies must conduct themselves professional at all times.  There must not be any inkling that you find someone attractive/sexy/handsome/smarter--far better than the rest--if you hope to build a successful organization. 



Workers pay attention to their surroundings and even if they don't act envious, behave in unprofessional ways, or appear nonchalant about worker favoritism, doesn't mean they are not thinking--wondering what might come of the business or worse one's position.



A leader can avoid misrepresenting one's self as "playing favorites" if he or she keeps in mind the following:



1.  Workers are not and should not be buddies, best of friends etc.  There is a fine line between being friends and having an employee relationship.  What happens when one is hurt over a criticism, chooses to promote someone who isn't a friend, or dismisses a best buddy from a project/office/job etc.?



2.  Limit closed door meetings.  How many times does your office door close when you meet with certain individuals to discuss personal plans/goals/thoughts?  It is safe to assume that you just might have a favorite or two and it is also safe to assume that it is only a matter of time that good times won't last for long inside or outside your office door.



3.  Think before you plan celebratory events.  Will all employees get the same treatment or only those you like or have a personal connection?  For instance, is the favored employee's baby shower more important than everyone else in the department who is having a baby?  If you can't afford it, don't plan it!



4.  Watch how you react to not-so favorite employee issues. Are you ears often open to a certain employee with concerns, but closed when it comes to others?



5.  Doing way more than you should for a few? Are you doing things like: giving favorite workers rides home, buying expensive gifts, allowing them to take days off anytime they want while inconveniencing other staff, ignoring bad habits and mistakes, and doing other things that cause problems with operations and employee relationships?



These thoughts and more are worth considering.  Be sure you are not playing favorites between employees because of the following:  age, familiarity, appearance i.e.) body weight, skin tone, hue of eyes or texture of hair, personal opinion, family ties, fraternal associations, voice accent, his or her personal connections, or others' influence. 



If you must share personal details of your life, meet away from the office.  If you or someone you know has a personal agenda to hire, fire, promote, or demote select individuals, avoid doing things like: share this sort of information with favorites (who might not want to be favorites), lie or cover up the truth about those who you don't like, or rely on others (typically favorites) to do your dirty work.



Nicholl McGuire, author of Know Your Enemy: The Christian's Critic













How to Avoid Worker Favoritism