No matter where youworkor who you work with, theres always the possibility of drama.
There isnt an office on the planet thats free from workplace politics, cliques, or dreaded rivalries.
Sometimes, work seems a lot more likeWest Side Storyand a lot less likeThe Office.
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Im not exemptIve made a number of work errors I wish I could change in retrospect.
Here are eight of the biggest ones.
No matter who youre writing, remember that you cant edit emails after the fact!
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Read em twice before sending.
Plus, youll get saddled with the annoying garbage tasks the people smarteror just braverthan you said no to.
Instead, before accepting extra tasks, explain where your workload stands.
They all take priority, so I wont be able to get to this until next week."
It’s all about managing up effectively and making sure everyone’s expectations are realistic.
It’s best not to havesexwith a colleague, because theres a good chance the romance will end.
And when it does, theres a good chance itll do so poorly.
Even if itdoesnt, seeing them around the office day in and day out is awkward for everyone.
Contrary to popular belief, most people cant be adults about that kind of thing.
The exception to this rule is if you seriously think you two could have something serious.
A few years ago, one of my superiors at a university was really hassling me.
She even called me a bitch in front a class of students.
Unfortunately, things didnt get any better until she left for another position at a different university.
In hindsight, I wish Id stood up for myself more adamantly.
Harassment at work shouldnt ever be the status quo, regardless of gender.
I was working as a teachers assistant for a professor who, for some reason, hated my guts.
We had a disagreement, and I went to her boss to air my grievances.
People usually don’t take kindly to feeling out of the loop in this sort of situation!
I havent worked with her in years, but I still hate her.
In hindsight, I should have kept my mouth shut and just ignored her.
Sometimes you dont, plain and simple.
But just because its normal doesnt mean its good.
Always find a reason to care about work, no matter how small.
