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Fair and Friendly
Ways to Compete in the Workplace
The office is often a place of silent
competition—and sometimes the drive of employees is not so silent. As
a woman, you may feel a little uncomfortable being overly aggressive
when it comes to going after you want professionally, but that doesn’t
mean you can’t get the job done. Here are some suggestions for making
sure that you’re treating fairly in the office by being a good—and smart—sport.
Be consistent.
If you only start working hard at the
time of year when promotions are given out, chances are you’ll be overlooked.
Your boss needs to see that you’re committed to being an exceptional
employee, even when the benefits are not immediate. And, rest assured,
your boss notices the employees, men and women, who are scrambling around
frantically to finish overdue assignments and brew the perfect pot of
coffee to make a ‘good impression’. While those who try to charm the
boss may get the attention at first, their luck will run out when their
skills fail to speak for them. One of the best ways to compete in the
workplace is to go above and beyond your boss’s expectations whenever
you’re given a task—this shows that you’re reliable and can be trusted
with more responsibility, without coming across as a showoff.
Be friendly in the workplace.
Just because you’re there to work,
you shouldn’t forget the value of social graces. Showing yourself both
friendly and professional in the workplace will show people that they
can ask you for help with project, and that you’re balanced in your
approach to excelling at work. Even if you have intentions of trying
to gain a position that you know one of your coworkers wants, or don’t
get along with certain coworkers, being rude or standoffish with your
fellow employees will only cause hostility and discord in the office---and
your boss is noticing all of this. It can be especially difficult sometimes
to deal with people who are less than pleasant, but you have to pretend
to be friendly if that’s just part of your personality. Never underestimate
the value of working hard, but keep in mind that a friendly smile and
a ‘good morning’ go a long way—sometimes all the way to the top.
Avoid workplace gossip.
When employees are competing for recognition
in a workplace, it’s important to remember that everyone doesn’t play
fair. Dispel the stereotype that women are extremely catty and full
of gossip at work, and avoid questionable conversations at all costs.
Never discuss an employee who is not in the room, and don’t reveal too
much about your career advancement plans to people you’re not sure you
can trust. Remember, the people that are willing to discuss other employees
with you are the same people who will discuss you with other employees.
You can still remain friendly—and compete wisely—when you know what
to say, when to say it, and when to simply let your work speak for yourself.
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