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The workplace can be a nurturing, stimulating environment to make valuable contributions and be recognized for them, or a treacherous quagmire of discouraging hazards. A number of factors contribute to the workplace experience. Are the rules and expectations clear? Do you have the expertise and tools to do the best job you can? Are the people congenial? And, finally, Is this what you really want to do with a substantial part of your life?

If the rules and expectations are fuzzy, try to clarify them. If you need help, training, or tools, take steps to make it happen. If the people are a pain in the butt, start re-training them to treat you with respect. (You don't have to change them or their style, just work on your own relationship with them. Reinforce the behavior you like, and ignore or confront the behavior that is less acceptable.) If you are the wrong person in the wrong place, figure out what you want, educate yourself for it, and start looking for opportunities to move on to a more congenial setting.

All this is easier said than done, but doing something pro-active will change both the environment and your own attitude to it. If you are no longer a victim, but a participant, you will have more hope, more perspective and tolerance. Take baby steps, and try to do at least one positive thing a day to improve the atmosphere for yourself or someone else.

Random survival tips:
1. Be absolutely reliable. Most managers prefer a dependable plodder to a brilliant but volatile prima donna.

2. Give a day's work for a day's pay. Show up in good time, and don't be the first person out the door at quitting time. Don't make personal phone calls or play video games during your working time, take your breaks instead of working through them, don't take work home unless it is a bona fide emergency, and don't cover for other people unless they are also covering for you when you need them to.

3. Maintain professional boundaries. Keep the personal stuff out of the workplace. Social chit-chat is better to be of the small talk variety rather than a blow-by-blow of Johnny's latest battle with the science teacher.

4. Dress appropriately for your job. Keep your work "uniform" separate from your leisure clothes.

5. As much as you can, compartmentalize work from personal life. Develop a ritual for making the transition. Something as simple as a short walk after work can do wonders to clear your head.

6. Understand that not everyone will like you, and you will not like everyone. Focus on getting the job done, treat others with respect, and insist that the treat you with respect.

7. Expect to be treated unfairly from time to time. That is no reflection on your worth as an employee or a person. If it happens on a regular basis, take action to be more assertive about confronting the issues. If you don't know how to make your point without being aggressive or teary-eyed, sign up for a class and learn.

8. If things become intolerable, smile sweetly and quietly start looking for another position before you reach the explosion threshold. If you are down-sized (and it can happen to anyone!), begin your job search the same day as you get your notice.

9. If you goofed, admit it, fix your mistake to the best of your ability, and move on.

10. If you have major issues with someone, do not avoid that person. Continue to include that person in your social chit-chat on breaks, smile and say good morning', and act like a mature adult as you continue to work on your problem with that person at an appropriate time and place. Don't turn battles into wars.

Some days will be better than others. That's the way things are. Look at the big picture, keep your chin up, and take the day as it comes. There is more to life than work.

Learn more about this author, Christine G..
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