On this My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine talk about what you should do if you’ve been unfairly labeled at work. They start with a question from someone whose boss keeps saying she needs to “up her game,” and work harder — even though her colleagues describe her as the hardest working member of the team. Kathi and Katherine describe other ways that people can be labeled at work, and what you can do to address it.
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Figuring out how to get noticed by the people above your boss can be challenging — especially if you sense that your boss isn’t sharing your successes. On this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine discuss how to get noticed by your boss’s boss. They start with a question from someone who made the mistake of going over her boss’ head to get a meeting with the boss’s boss. Kathi and Katherine describe specific things you can do to avoid making that kind of mistake and still get the visibility that you desire.
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On this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine talk about an important skill in the workplace — the ability to speak up. They start with a question from someone who recently got promoted to a more visible position but finds it difficult to speak up at meetings or on client calls. Kathi and Katherine consider what stops people from speaking up, and offer tips to develop this crucial skill.
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In this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi, and Katherine address a topic that every workplace grapples with — GOSSIP. They start with a question from someone who recently realized that her boss views her as a gossip, and wonders whether that label might hurt her career. Kathi and Katherine go on to describe the best remedy for gossip at work — The No Gossip Diet.
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Is your career stagnant? Are you feeling stuck or uninspired? On this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine ask a New Year’s question: What can you do to better yourself at work? “Bettering yourself” means committing to professional (and personal) growth in the new year.
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Is fear stopping you from leaving your job? For some people, leaving a job is easy to talk about but not so easy to do. Even if you know it’s time to leave, fear may get in the way. Kathi and Katherine explore the challenge of leaving a job and discuss tactics for managing the fears that come with making this kind of change.
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It’s easy to be disappointed at work. A new hire may not be all you hoped for, a new boss may promise a lot but fail to deliver, and a new job may look great before you take it only to become a serious disappointment.
In this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine examine the nature of disappointment at work and offer proven techniques for managing those situations that challenge your ability to thrive.
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This past Sunday (4/26/2020) Governor Cuomo of New York said, “We are not going back to the way things were, we are going forward.” I have to say I agree with the Governor. Many of my clients are telling me that they see this as an opportunity to do things differently.
Some small business owners want to take their businesses smaller not bigger. Other clients want to continue working from home and no longer want to commute. Several of my clients are saying they want to incorporate real work-life balance — not just pay lip service to it. And some clients are realizing that they need to find a better job/career.
Everyone is thinking about what “moving forward” means. If you aren’t, it’s time to start. We are in a reset. Go inside and listen. Do not disregard your deepest thoughts and feelings; they are telling you something. You are at a point of choice at this time. You can let go of the way you thought work had to be and decide on what is right for you.
What parts of your job/career do you want to move forward? What parts are you unwilling to continue? Consider the following:
Commuting – Maybe you want to work closer to home, or work virtually.
Change industry – If your industry is on hold, you may want to investigate a completely different industry. Maybe you want to go back to school.
Micromanaging boss – This could be a good time to see if you can transfer to another department or find another job.
Doing the work of others – Perhaps you no longer want to compensate for others’ lack of initiative.
Compromising my private life – You may want to establish a hard start and stop time to your workday, creating boundaries around work that protect your private life.
Working with a mean girl/guy – Instead of working with awful people, you may be ready to look for a new position within or outside of your current company
Not getting paid fairly – It may be time to find a position that pays you what you deserve.
Getting rid of troubling employees – Downturns have always been a good time to lay off difficult staff. Perhaps you have some people who could go.
Needing less office space – Going to a more virtual workforce may mean you don’t need as much office space.
Going back to a standard schedule – Instead of returning to your previously regimented work schedule, you may want more flexibility.
Stop eating overpriced unhealthy food – Does your company serve unhealthy, overpriced food at meetings? You may want to bring your own food to work more often.
It’s time for me to not have a boss – You may be ready to start your own business.
Doing work that has no meaning – You may feel that now is the time to make a difference.
Most of us fear change and the unknown. We tend to stay in difficult situations longer then we should for fear of not knowing what better options are available to us. Instead of being scared, embrace change and possibilities. (I know this is easier to say than it is to do.)
During this unusual time, I challenge each of you to examine and come to terms with what you really want to do professionally. Consider your happiness, your purpose, your health, and your legacy.
Kathi Elster – Executive Coach and co-owner of K Squared Enterprises.
Contact us at info@mycrazyoffice.co for any further help around this topic.
Join Kathi and Katherine as they answer real workplace questions with solid advice, and a great sense of humor.
Bestselling authors Katherine and Kathi use humor and a slue of engaging techniques to mediate solutions for individuals at every level of employment — from executives to managers to frontline employees.
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