Competitors formerly known as your employees

I read a bit of blog poetry from Own Your Brand. This piece was written by actual employees who have come to own their brands – by owning their businesses. Their bosses were their strongest motivation to reach out and chase their dreams.

An excerpt…

…our Thursday nights have united us
with entrepreneurial spirit and ambition
with you as the heart of our motivation…

The writers of were driven to put up businesses through their experiences with their bosses. This is probably a constant thought in many an employee’s mind. Good thing that after having endured their bosses,

… we have agreed to disappoint you and your customers
as long as you “boss” us without leading us.

these former employees dared and executed their exit plan. Read the complete poem here.

How to make your job bearable

A lot of people hate their jobs. Or haven’t you noticed? The frowning clerk at the store. That smirking barista or the government employee who just shrugs her shoulders and tells you that it’s the only way they do things. Blame job hate for these people’s behavior. They hate

Count your blessings. Some people don’t even have a job that they can hate. Think about it.

their bosses, their co-workers and their customers. They also hate the fact that you can afford to shop in their store, or that you’re employed by a large, multinational corporation with a lot of perks. Sometimes people take jobs only because of the money but later realize that it’s a bad fit. This person might even be you.

If you also hate your job and may be planning to get out. Look before you leap. Unless you can afford to, it’s foolhardy to suddenly quit (especially if you have a family). If possible, try to bear with your current position while formulating your exit plan. Here are some tips you can use.

• Be thankful. Count your blessings. Some people don’t even HAVE a job that they can hate. Think about it.
• Love your job (again). What is it about your job that made you sign up in the first place?
• Get involved. Involve yourself in your office activities. They may have a need for your unique talents. You can also get to see the company in a whole new perspective.
• Save up. Build a war chest of finances so you can walk away if it gets really bad.
• Polish your resume. Record your achievements as they happen. This exercise also builds your self-confidence and keeps you prepared in case you meet a potential employer.
• Network. Your current job can be your path to meeting your future employers or clients (if you’re planning to put up your business).

When the right time comes, you can rest easy knowing that you can make your move without leaving a trail of broken professional relationships and burned bridges. Everybody wins.

Are you afraid of success?

Believe it or not, this fear is very real for some people. It is said that celebrities such as Judy Garland, Richard Nixon, Marilyn Monroe and Freddie Prinze Sr. had it. According to Dr. Leon Tec, author of “The Fear of Success”, this fear is described as a person’s unconscious fear that his success is not justified and that he is a fraud. It is tied to one’s self image. The fear of success is a negative force that can paralyze and interfere with the kind of rational risk-taking necessary for success. An aversion to the responsibilities that come with success can also be a factor in fueling this fear.

It is said that even Judy Garland, Richard Nixon, Marilyn Monroe and Freddie Prinze Sr. had the fear of success.

Is this fear preventing you from improving your present situation? Are you unable to make the transition to a better job, a better position or a better relationship because of this destructive habit? Here are a few guidelines in managing this condition.

1. Learn to recognize this fear. You may not even be aware that such a condition exists. Increase your awareness. The only one holding you back from winning might be – you.
2. Find a reason to succeed. This fear is so widespread that even successful individuals also admit that they have it. The only difference is that their desire to succeed is stronger.
3. Be open to changes. New promotion, new job means new responsibilities and a lot of adjustments, right? Of course. It’s always been like that. The sooner you accept this, the better it is for you.
4. Fear not the responsibilities. You’ll always have to deal with these as long as you are alive, so fear not.
5. Be at peace with yourself. Feel good about yourself.. Forgive yourself. This takes the pressure off. As long as you feel positive about yourself, you will be productive wherever you are in the pecking order.

Are you being micromanaged?

Is your boss constantly hounding you and just won’t go away? Is he more obsessed with the activity than the outcome? Is the situation causing stress for you, and is now wreaking havoc on your productivity, morale and self-esteem? Maybe you’re being micromanaged

According to Harry Chambers’ My Way or the Highway: The Micromanagement Survival Guide here are some signs that you are being micromanaged:

• They exercise raw power: They assert their authority just because they can.
• They dictate time: They don’t trust people to assess their own workload, so they routinely impose priorities.  And while they guard their own time with an iron fist, they constantly interrupt others.
• They control how work gets done: Things always need to be done their way.
• They require undue approvals: They allow no one to move forward without their approval — even on routine or time-sensitive matters.
• They demand frequent, unnecessary reports: They monitor others to death — requiring a stream of needless reports that focus on activity over outcomes.

The business world is full of micromanagers.  While it is a serious career issue the situation is not as hopeless as it looks.  Here’s how you can manage the situation according to The Monster Blog:

1. Critique yourself.  Take a hard look at how you work.  There may be gaps in your performance and your boss may have some unmet expectations.  Do this first.
2. Understand Your Boss.  Understand where he’s coming from – an authoritative background, low self-esteem, insecurity, etc.
3. Confront Your Boss. Directly expressing your concern over his management style may do the trick.  For all you know, it may only be a miscommunication.
4. Document Your Work.  Record your actions and achievements.  Nothing beats having a reference the next time you are called to account for your work.
5. Extreme Measures. When all else fails, find another job. While it may be attractive to jump the moment you figure out that you’rer being micromanaged, don’t just leave without taking care of business. You should have a place to transfer to before saying adios.  You need an exit plan.  Your priority is to make your transition as smooth as possible. More on this during the next posts.