Managing Problems at Work (Even When You Didn’t Cause Them)
The workplace can be a frustrating environment. We’ve all had days where we want to throw our hands up. We face challenges each day, and those challenges are not always caused by ourselves. In fact, they’re not always caused by anyone in particular.
Whether a problem is someone’s fault or not, its irritating to deal with problems that aren’t caused by you. That being said, it’s a reality for virtually any job or career you find yourself in. Continuing to be bothered by it won’t change anything, and in fact, will probably prevent you from doing your best at work.
Steve McKee has experienced this personally and seen it happen all around him. Typically, the more responsibility your job holds, the more likely you are to acquire issues that aren’t of your doing. However, he always remembers these six words to get him through these problems without remaining bitter: “Not my fault. Is my problem.”. His article here explains why it’s important to remember these words.
That realization — that demarcation — has paid dividends for many years now as I’ve learned to distinguish between the burden I should rightly bear when I make a mistake and the blessing I find in solving problems created by circumstances beyond my control. I learned how difficult it is to be creative when you’re discouraged (and nearly impossible when you’re depressed). If the problem I’m facing is of my own making, of course, I feel bad about it, as I should (for a time). If it’s not, however, I no longer do.
All of this is to say that if you accept that work will always have its problems, you’ll be able to move on a lot faster. The more realistic and optimistic you are, the more room in your mind there is for creativity, solutions, and job satisfaction.
Photo by rawpixel.com on Unsplash
Recent Posts
Using a College Graduate’s Habits Key to Virtual Work Success
Author: Alyssa Rebolledo Imagine, you have just been hired for your first remote job and your team leader has given you a mountain of work which you’re not sure you will ever be able to complete. The tasks seem daunting and although you feel you’ve been at it all day,...
Flexibility is the Key to Workplace Greatness
Author: Alyssa Rebolledo If you are trying to advance your career, being flexible is the key to success. This concept certainly applies when you are working in a new contract position. During this time, you’ll wear many hats and juggle ever-changing conditions that...
Tips to Use Your Time Wisely to Successfully Land a Job
Author: Alyssa Rebolledo Job hunting has become so much easier since the days when you had to look at a newspaper daily to see who was hiring. Now, there are staffing firms like Contemporaries, Inc., and websites such as LinkedIn, Indeed, and GlassDoor to help you...
Gen Z’s Top Five Job Hunting Essentials
Author: Alyssa Rebolledo Gen Z is the newest and largest group of job hunters that are currently in the market. They are recent graduates, hungry for new opportunities, and want to change the typical nine to five job blueprint. Here are the Top Five Requirements of...
The Power of Positivity in the Workplace
Whether you are a recent college graduate or a seasoned pro who has been in the workforce for years, why not try incorporating the power of positivity into your daily routine? It won’t take much effort on your part, but will set a better tone for the day. While you...
Giving Back is Key to a Better Perspective and Feeling Good
Working hard may be a great way to get ahead, but giving back and helping others can also be very rewarding and a means to feeling good. Most times, being nice and thinking of others costs very little or nothing at all. However, the gift of giving back may make an...
Rethinking Motivators May be the Key to Hiring Top Notch Job Seekers
Motivation for job seekers today is very different from the incentives that drove them in the past. Or, at least the order of what seems to be most important to them now compared to years ago. Renowned American psychologist Abraham Maslow, back in 1943, put to paper...
Contemporaries Inclusive and Diverse Workforce is the Secret to Our Success
The Greater Boston area and beyond is filled with many talented individuals who sometimes just need a foot through the door to launch their career and be given a chance to prove themselves. Since opening in 1998, Contemporaries, Inc. has provided that opportunity to...
Thank You Boston Candidates and Clients for 25 Great Years!
Many new exciting and interesting happenings occurred in 1998. Bill Clinton was President, while Newt Gingrich was the Speaker of the House. It was a time when the blockbuster hit, Titanic, dominated the Oscars as well as movie theaters and became the first picture to...
Contemporaries Named One of Best Staffing Agencies in Boston for 2023
Boston_ Ringing in the New Year is not just a one-day celebration. It also is a time to think about making future changes for the better, personally and professionally. If you are a business owner or decision maker in search of top talent, or a job seeker looking for...
All Staffing Firms Are Not the Same When it Comes to Placements
The standards for staffing agencies, when selecting a candidate for a specific position, may differ slightly, to drastically, depending on the types of job, the client, the length of assignment, as well as how the Recruiter is compensated. Traditionally, a firm may...
What Staffing Agencies Look for in Candidates
Do you want to know the secrets to making a great impression on a staffing agency Recruiter? Here are a couple of tips as well as insight on what Recruiters are looking for. First, they want the type of candidate who will take their job search activities seriously and...
Employers Have Choices Too! Part Three of Three Part Series
As we mentioned in the previous two parts of this series, employers certainly have choices when it comes to utilizing the services of a qualified staffing firm to accommodate their specific employment needs. Whether you require a temporary contract employee or the...
Employers Have Choices Too! Part Two of Three Part Series
Staffing choices can have massive ramifications to a public or private organization. Hiring the wrong individual may cost a company millions while making a great hire could lead to a vast increase in profits as well as other invaluable benefits such as positive brand...