How to Deal With Workplace Inflexibility
You've been a model employee: responsible, industrious, creative and productive. You've gone the extra mile time and again, with a smile. Now you have a family. Quite reasonably, you expect that when you ask for an altered work schedule that better fits your family's needs, your employer will go along with you. You've done your homework and developed a written proposal demonstrating that your new schedule is in your employer's interest. But someone in the organization sees the matter differently and opposes your plan. Now you face a tough question: IS THIS CONFLICT WORTH THE COST? Sizing up your choices takes political savvy. How powerful is the person who opposes you? Might you face headaches later if you "win" now? Are you better off standing your ground, or backing down? Or, is it time to seek work elsewhere? Maybe the negative reaction to your proposal points to unhealthy workplace dynamics that have long simmered beneath the surface. Talk to someone you trust about your situation. Proceed carefully, taking pride in your capacity to act with integrity and grace in a difficult situation. Then, no matter what happens, you will hold your head high. (c) Norma Schmidt 2004 Norma Schmidt, Coach, LLC specializes in helping working mothers create balance. She offers coaching and workshops and publishes a free e-mail newsletter, "The Balance Point." Complementary sample coaching sessions are available. Visit http://www.NormaSchmidt.com | | | | RELATED ARTICLES Interview Quicksand How will you respond when you're asked the following two questions? Tips for Terrific Telephone Interviews Telephone interviews don't just happen; they are the result of action you have taken. For example, when you are networking and the company representative becomes interested in your skills; when a company representative calls you in response to a résumé you have sent; or when you have previously set up the telephone meeting. 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Send a proposal to employer prospects and you'll gain more scalability to customize a solution to their business challenges. Sync with decision makers' needs and high-speed your career campaign. Unemployment Survival: Taking Back Control One of the most emotionally crippling aspects of unemployment is the sense of powerlessness it engenders. Job layoff triggers financial pressures, emotional distress, family turmoil, and dashed career hopes. It is forced on us by unrelenting fate, an emotionally disengaged employer, and economic currents that have little to do with us personally. We feel that we have no control over our situation, our lives, our future. Freelance Work: The Changing Face of Employment The world sure is changing, and if you look at job employment you will see what I mean. Let's just go back to our grandparent's generation, even though I'm sure if we went back further we would see very different structures of work in the tribal periods of our history. Our grandparents usually found a skill, and then used that one skill to work for their whole career. An example is my grandfather who was a salesman for the same suit company for 44 years. There is nothing wrong with this. His job was secure; he knew there would be a superannuating fund when he retired, and that there would always be food on the table for his family. These days in the 21st century things have changed, and they are still changing rapidly as we speak. Resumes and First impressions Hunting for a position in a new career field? Trying to take your new education or skills and transform them into a job with a future? The 4 Job Search Facts You Need To Know! Are you harboring bitterness or anger towards your current or past employer? The #1 Job Search Mistake To Avoid: Not Preparing Your Mind! Mental preparation is probably your most important task as you proceed in your job search. This not only needs to be worked on right from the start, but also on an ongoing basis. Dissatisfied With Your Job? Stop Believing The Myths! If you are dissatisfied with your job, you are in a self-imposed career slump! The Top 10 Ways to Achieve Balance in Your Life 1. Define Success for Yourself What To Do When HR Calls... Generally, when you present yourself as a prospective candidate for a new employment opportunity, your information will filter through the Human Resources department. Since every company has their own hiring process, understand that you cannot always control when HR will call you. Our philosophy is that a prepared candidate will have a higher chance of success than an unprepared candidate.
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