For the record, my former teammates will recognize this title; it was my mantra during the death throes of a corporate-wide layoff. When they found out I planned to start my own business they snickered that the prophesy was true….I really WAS going to work for an idiot!!
Unfortunately, many of us can relate to a toxic work environment where management is playing CYA or hiding incompetence and laziness in the guise of “giving you opportunities for growth” (meanwhile you are collapsing from overwork and unrealistic expectations while they play golf every Friday). Then there is the Faction Manager who seems to only thrive when fighting with someone, and heaven help you if you are today’s target! My most memorable “bad boss” was the woman who lectured me about being more professional at work, then came back from a 2-hour lunch with her hair in disarray and dress wrinkled. Hmmm, guess she was attending a “business lunch” with that colleague?
Not everyone can do what I did and chuck it to follow a dream of self-employment, so for those left in the world of dysfunction, here are some tips for surviving stress at work:
- Get Moving: Taking a walk at lunch can remove you from the environment as well as give you a chance to blow off some steam. Or have a squeeze ball handy and take frustration out on that (note: drawing the offender’s face on the ball is cute but don’t make it too identifiable!)
- Eat Smarter: Because low blood sugar makes you anxious and irritable, watch for signs that a snack might help and keep your drawer filled with healthy choices.
- Learn to Use Your Emotional Intelligence: As tempting as it is to say that someone else is causing it, “stress” is really our internal reaction to external stimuli; in other words, we have the power to control and eliminate it. Here are some great tips on using your EI: http://www.helpguide.org/mental/eq5_raising_emotional_intelligence.htm
- Realize when you’re stressed – The first step to reducing stress is recognizing what stress feels like. Many of us spend so much time in an unbalanced state that we’ve forgotten what it feels like to be calm and relaxed.
- Identify your stress response – Everyone reacts differently to stress. Do you tend to space out and get depressed? Become angry and agitated? Freeze with anxiety? The best way to quickly calm yourself depends on your specific stress response.
- Discover the stress busting techniques that work for you – The best way to reduce stress quickly is through the senses: through sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. But each person responds differently to sensory input, so you need to find things that are soothing to you.
If you ready to put your emotional and professional life in your own hands, there are plenty of options ranging from freelancing, buying a franchise, starting your own company, doing multi-level marketing and more. Here are some resources that might help you determine your best fit: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/self-employment/. If you do decide to start your own business, become the happy and motivated “boss” you deserve: http://selfemployment.suite101.com/article.cfm/motivational-tips-for-the-self-employed
Whether you stay in your current job, get a new job or strike out on your own, remember this great David Rankin quote: “Instead of thinking about where you are, think about where you want to be.” And Good Luck!!
One Comment
Brilliant! The title alone speaks volumes! Thanks for bringing humor and intelligence into our lives, Susan. You are a living example of how things should be balanced.