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Avoiding Employee Termination – Being Yourself at Work While Maintaining a Favorable Image
Everyone knows it’s important to be true to yourself. But in today’s economy, the looming threat of employee termination (URL: http://www.calbizcentral.com/gateway/hrc/pages/california-wrongful-termination.aspx) makes many wonder just how much of themselves they can let shine in the office. While you don’t want to be an office drone, you also don’t want to stand out so much that higher-ups may see you as “a problem.” Here are five ways to be yourself while maintaining a favorable image at work.
1. Be Nice to People
If your natural inclination is to be a nice person, you can certainly do that at work. Smile and offer and return greetings. However, it’s possible to take it too far. Don’t let people walk all over you. If someone asks you for a favor, make sure you do it only if it’s reasonable, and make sure you ask for a favor in return somewhere down the road so it’s clear the relationship is reciprocal. Also, don’t try to strike up a casual conversation when it’s clear that a co-worker or supervisor is very busy (or that you should be very busy).
2. Know the Tone of the Office
You like to tell the occasional joke. That’s great. But make sure you know just how light it is acceptable to keep it in your office. Observe how others interact with each other and how they seem to respond to your jokes. Also, keep the inappropriate material at home (or get rid of it entirely).
3. Be Careful About Venting
If you’re not happy and you complain about it to everyone you see, people will start to wonder why you’re there. If you are dissatisfied with your work situation you should by all means try to do something to change it—but not on work time. Spread the word that you’re not happy and you suddenly may be forced to accelerate your new job search.
4. Reconsider Romance
Every office has a romance or two, but have you ever seen one that ends well? When you romance a co-worker, you risk a whole host of unpleasant consequences, including but not limited to: Charges of sexual harassment, jealousy or envy from other co-workers, an awkward or untenable work environment after the inevitable break up. If you are just a natural romantic, find someone outside the office, or at the very least, on a different floor/different division.
5. Have Lunch Outside of the Office
If you’re really feeling you can’t let your true self shine in the office, schedule some “me” time during the day outside of the office. Try to schedule lunches with non-work friends or plan to do something that’s signature you during lunch, whether it’s a bike ride or a trip to the local comic book store. This should keep you grounded enough to get you through the work day.
