Though workplace success is not necessarily “rock science”, I’m amazed at how many folks fail to realize that job performance is not the only thing that keeps them on the payroll. Word!
As someone who’s sat on both sides of the fence—as a worker bee and the “B” that folks worked for, I can attest that it’s not that cut and dry.
(By the way, that previously referenced “B” can stand for “boss”,” beauty”, “Black person”, or any other number of nouns or adjectives). 🙂
Think of it this way…you know how reality TV competition shows like American Idol and Dancing With the Stars often render winners that are not necessarily the most talented? How their popularity, charm, and rapport with the judges can factor in to the ultimate decision too?
Well similar dynamics are at work in the world of work as well! Trust me when I say that I’ve seen the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to employee retention and dismissal.
With this being the case, here are a few things to help you to pink-slip proof your career.
1. Attendance — Picture this. It’s 9:00 a.m. and you’re M.I.A. because you’re at home getting a little T.L.C. It happens. But if it happens too often, trust that you’ll have plenty of time on your hands when you’re dismissed due to missing reports, absence for important meetings, and excessive tardiness that causes others to have to carry your weight.
2. Politics — Think the government is the only entity that deals with politics? Think again. Not knowing who to get along with and who not to piss off can put you at a disadvantage. And saying the wrong thing in front of the wrong person can be career suicide as well. Tread carefully and keep your eyes and ears open for those “unwritten rules.”
3. Insubordination — The verdict is in. You deem your boss a real idiot. And you take every opportunity to disagree and show him up at meetings and with back-stabbing moves with upper management. Bad call. Not only will it cause you to be perceived as a threat, it’ll also get you labeled as a bad employee or trouble maker.
4. Budgets — Sometimes it’s a harsh reality that profits come before people depending upon the employer, the bottom line objectives and the culture in which you work. Which is why you should always be aware of your “perceived value” and what it is that you bring to the table.
Keep these four tips in mind to stay in the game and avoid hearing Donald Trump’s infamous words: “You’re fired!”
This is a post by Jennifer Brown Banks, a veteran freelance writer and pro blogger. She holds a B.A. in Business Management. Visit her site @ http://penandprosper.blogspot.com/
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