Recommended, 2024

Editor'S Choice

The seven job traps

Sovereignty in the job

Sovereign in every situation! With the right strategies, you will always be the winner in tricky moments - whether in gossip, bullying or salary negotiations.

Sovereignty in the job
Photo: Thinkstock
content
  1. Bullying in the office
  2. Confident body attitude towards the boss
  3. Leadership and sovereignty
  4. Statements from the Human Resources Department
  5. Better protect intellectual property
  6. Compromise of slight salary increase plus further education
  7. Common future as a private and professional team
  8. Set up a realistic crisis timetable

The boss freaks out for a triviality, the colleague gossips behind her back about you and the new employee sells your ideas nonchalantly as his own ... Even if it is in the office like in a madhouse: resist the temptation, the colleagues a scene or peppering the boss at the feet. "Spontaneous revenge reactions would be understandable and humane, but with ill-considered actions you usually harm yourself, " says psychologist and career coach Christoph Burger.

The tip of the job expert: Take turbulent days in professional life as a challenge! "If things do not go smoothly, you are irritated or overlooked, this is your chance to show how confidently you can deal with delicate moments in the office, " explains the author of several career books. On the following pages he shows seven tricky job situations - and how to master them with ease.

The situation: A colleague gossiped and told a fictional story about you

The dilemma: One would like to ignore the colleague, so childish is the number. "But if you continue to talk badly about you, that is not only counterproductive for your standing, " warns Burger - it increases the danger that the drama escalates. Every eighth German has already been bullied in his current job, a survey by the market and social research institute IFAK in Taunusstein has found.

So take the hurdle: "Ask the colleague for a private conversation, " advises Burger. To clarify the matter by mail, the expert considers a bad idea: Written messages are typical sources of further misunderstandings. "The dispute is also documented and possibly forwarded to third parties, I advise urgently, " said the job expert. Ask the colleague without a cumbersome introduction ("You, there is a problem we should talk about!") To a "personal word" in your office.

On the familiar terrain you feel comfortable and in private it is easier to talk to. "Just ask how the story came about, " advises the career coach, "that gives the person in question a chance to explain themselves - and gives them the opportunity to look at the matter from the perspective of the other party." Most revelations happen because of boredom or the desire to be interesting. If you can ignore the one-time slip-up, consider the matter after a sincere apology (for the first time) as done.

Bullying in the office

But if the colleague continues to blaspheme, draw a very clear verbal border! For example, announce, "If you continue to spread falsehoods about me, I will take action against you." This makes it clear that you will not tolerate such actions in the future, but leaves room for maneuver, exactly what You want to undertake. Even if this threat has no effect, you become active.

Larger companies have mediators who mediate in such cases, in smaller companies ask the next supervisor to seek together with the colleague or colleague. "Mobbing perpetrators are people who put others in a bad light to distract from their own mistakes or a low self-esteem, " said the expert. Anyone who defends against this, has best chances to take the wind out of the sails of the attacker and to get rid of the world once and for all.

The situation: Your boss has a tantrum and cleans you down neatly

The dilemma: He is the boss! Unfortunately, in this position, choleric appearances are often part of the standard repertoire. One third of the employees describe their supervisors as scary, dictatorial and unpredictable in a survey conducted by IGS Organisationsberatung in Cologne. 63 percent have a boss who blows up every little thing, according to the survey conducted by the business portal Jobvoting. Many workers dare to defend themselves for the job but not to defend themselves.

Opposing the boss to the deceptive tactics, to dress up and behave as quietly as possible irritates such a chief type only more, say experts such as the Stuttgart personal psychologist Heinz Schuler: "Once the choleric something in the performance, the nature or the appearance of his coworker disturbs and he feels that he gets no resistance, he turns up all the more. "

So take the hurdle: "Deal with the boss at the next word fight like a bucky toddler, " advises Burger. "Let him roar hard first!" Because even if you have a flaming defensive speech on your tongue or even an improved concept in the briefcase - wait a moment before you play the next trump. In the heat of the moment, your raging counterpart's brain is not receptive to new information anyway, Canadian researchers at the University of Toronto have found.

Self-confident posture to the boss

So take a break and take a confident, firm posture. The psychological mirroring effect sends a sparkle to the subconscious: "I feel strong." This literally prevents you from collapsing. Put both legs firmly on the floor, take your shoulders back, straighten your upper body and straighten your back. And as the boss goes on, imagine him as a roaring animal in the zoo enclosure.

Sounds a little silly at first, but: "The panic over his dominant way of making a little ridiculous for himself helps to avoid being overwhelmed by fear, " said psychologist Burger. When your boss finally calms down, it's your turn! Signal that you gave him the room to let off steam but did not accept his freaking out. Say, for example, in a calm tone: "We are not physically far apart, but I would like to discuss the details in peace."

Leadership and sovereignty

Pack the man at the head: With statements such as "back to the facts" or "Let's leave the emotions aside" make it clear that you do not rate his screaming as leadership skills and expect more sovereignty. But in the upcoming talks, you also have to listen carefully to yourself if you are not talking loud and excited.

"Ask your friends or your partner to make you aware of them, if you use inflation words like 'maybe', 'somehow' and 'or so', " advises the career coach. Anyone who speaks directly, calmly and with a slightly lower voice will be taken more seriously in the future in the conversation and so certainly much less often the goal of choleric outbursts of anger of the boss.

The situation: You have heard that the company cuts jobs and your chair wobbles

The dilemma: Important information, such as a possible wave of layoffs, is like wildfire in any business and quickly causes concern. Every third German is worried about his job, as a new study by R + V Versicherung has shown. "Even the first hints fall on fertile ground, make uncertain and distract from the actual tasks, " warns Christoph Burger. Fear for the workplace paralyzes some, the other seduces them to blind actionism - and in a time in which everyone should actually profile themselves.

To overcome the hurdle: Find reliable sources to get a realistic picture of the situation. "But maybe not necessarily in the office next door or in your team, " advises Burger. The nice colleague on the same floor or from your project group certainly knows nothing that you have not already noticed in the canteen. Supervisors are not allowed to talk about internals from the executive suite anyway.

Statements from the Human Resources Department

"Listen carefully to those areas of the company that you do not usually have much to do with, " advises the job expert. You have to hand in documents in Human Resources? Unobtrusively ask what's going on. The new works council is elected? Try talking to him. "If you find a serious proof that the wave of layoffs could come, you should discreetly look for a career alternative, " says Burger.

"If there are no serious signs of impending dismissal, try to stay cool and not get caught up in the general excitement. Get back to your office regularly and treat yourself to a quick reset, "advises Burger. Sit on a chair, tense up all the muscles of your body and count to five. Then release and continue breathing for 30 seconds. This helps to ground, lower your breathing and heartbeat - you can think clearer again.

The situation: An employee decorates himself with your ideas in the meeting

The dilemma: to confront the guy in front of the assembled crew? Would be extremely embarrassing and above all counterproductive! Witnesses to the showdown could suggest that you were simply jealous of the brilliant idea and would not allow the other to succeed. Another dangerous component: "Criticizing someone in large groups - according to the masculine business code, only the 'Big Boss', " writes Isabel Nitzsche in "Rules of the Game in the Job. Women crack the men's code ".

Exposing a colleague, even if you are right, makes him pretty much an enemy for a long time!

"Understand the rules of the game in the job. Women crack the men's code "(Kösel, around 17 euros) by Isabel Nitzsche order here at Amazon.de >>

So take the hurdle: Do not worry about the idea robber, but your own good ideas! Has the colleague really blabbed everything or can the idea be further turned? Do you have any other ideas that you could score elsewhere? "Women are often secretive performers in teams who put a lot of effort behind the scenes and take on diligent tasks, " says Burger. The more it hurts you when others adorn themselves with their feathers!

Better protect intellectual property

Grab a piece of paper in a quiet minute (preferably at home, so that no colleague gets to see him) and write down the reasons why you are so upset about the ideas: Is it the disappointment, once again, to have given everything and not get the hoped-for recognition? Do you have the feeling that in recent times you just have to power and still not get away from work? Or maybe you are annoyed about yourself, that you have even initiated the employee into your train of thought?

Once you have grasped the crux of the matter, do not torment yourself, learn from it. For example, that you better protect your intellectual property in the future. If you would like some feedback before you come up with an idea the next time, discuss it with your partner at home or a good friend you do not work with. There your ideas are protected - and you may even get new input.

The situation: You have been in the company for a year - but your salary is still at the entry level

The dilemma: They want more money, an increase would be more than earned. "Many women, however, shy away from salary talks, prefer to plunge into their work and hope that eventually they will reward what they do, " says the expert. This has fatal consequences: Female employees earn on average 20 percent less money than equally qualified men, according to a recent study by the German Institute for Economic Research.

How to overcome the hurdle: Actively approach the salary increase project! "Explain in no uncertain terms why you are worth more money than you get." Create a performance diary that describes what you have accomplished since the last salary or hiring day (for example, moving customers ashore), new areas taken over, colleagues represented). With this statement in mind, ask the boss for an appointment.

"Never talk about 'salary increase' to him, but about 'salary adjustment', " says Christoph Burger. Finally, you want to demonstrate that you now want to bring more power and have the appropriate compensation. As a rule of thumb for a realistic wage increase are three to five percent more gross wage minimum, at ten to 15 percent is the upper limit. "Bring attractive assets into play as well, " advises Burger.

Compromise of slight salary increase plus further education

"A slight salary increase plus, for example, a company car or expensive training can be a successful compromise because it increases your market value!" If the boss shuts off the salary increase, resist the urge to put the pistol on his chest ("In Three Months I'm gone! ") Or to become personal (" From the salary I can not pay my rent "). Instead, you prefer to set a deadline when you want to address it again.

If possible, create new facts by doing so: kneel twice in your tasks and show what you bring to the company. If the boss stays hard in the long term, it only helps to look for career alternatives. If you have a new offer in black and white, you can decide if you want to go or once again look for the - last - salary interview with the boss.

The situation: You fell in love with your boss and he fell in love with you

The dilemma: feelings are unpredictable. At the beginning of a flirtation, you never know what it might be and how durable the relationship really is. "If you give the boss a chance, you have to know that you might risk the job, " says career coach Burger. If the feelings fade again, the cooperation can be complicated. If you stay together, it often gets you envious.

How to overcome the hurdle: Even if you find it so difficult: Keep your feelings to yourself until you find out how you really relate to each other. For if the sympathetic colleague or the good acquaintance in the same company knows that you are raving about the boss, the story quickly makes the rounds. Even the most trustworthy ladies chat spicy secrets after just half an hour again - that has now been a British study.

Eighty-five percent said they would like to gossip, and every second has an obsessive urge to dump the news on a third person. Better to use the first time to check yourself out: Are you really in love or is it just about the kick for your attention? Consider carefully whether you should give in to your feelings or not. If you decide to do so and actually develop a relationship, you prefer to keep it for the first few weeks.

Common future as a private and professional team

Discuss with your lover what your future as a private and professional team should look like. Play through all sorts of scenarios: Could one of you imagine a change in your job, for example moving to another department? How do you manage not to bring a fight from home to the office - or from the company to after work? By the way, if your feelings are right, chances are you're not so bad.

According to a study by the Hamburg opinion research institute GEWIS, every fourth business relationship ends even before the wedding altar! Even according to German labor law, there is nothing to be said against a love between boss and employee - as long as both do their job properly and the flirtation does not keep them from working. Incidentally, this already starts when announcing the relationship, if you have decided on each other.

Do not make a big deal out of it, it just stops the operation and gives the impression that you are celebrating your private happiness in the company now. Come casually out of the elevator in the morning, answer questions simply and openly: "Yes, we have recently become a couple." Then there is not so much to talk about.

The situation: Your project went completely wrong

The dilemma: "It does not matter if you blame or the apprentice has slammed, " says Burger, "if you run a project, you also have full responsibility if something goes wrong." Top executives and federal presidents steal from this one blunder ever, but not you!

To overcome the hurdle: Save yourself pondering and using the situation for what it is: a great opportunity for self-assured crisis management! "Clean up your mistakes quickly and generously with the supervisors, " advises Christoph Burger. Gain sovereignty points by putting yourself in front of your team like any good team captain and taking the blame for failing the project.

Set up a realistic crisis timetable

But please not in penitence and with "mea culpa" in the voice! Present the reasons for your failure calmly, succinctly and objectively - and if possible bring with you a solution for the misery. Do not make exaggerated promises, this looks blue-eyed! "Better set up a realistic crisis timetable, " advises success coach Burger.

Ideally, your concept will answer the two most exciting questions for the company: How long will the bailout last? And what is necessary for this (employees, costs, etc.)? Be confident in monitoring the steps to success and providing regular feedback on how it works. Then it works better guaranteed next time.

expert

Christoph Burger, 38, is a coach for executives, career counselors, teaches at the University of Mannheim and author of the book "career without slime - how to show character and still succeed" "career without slime - how you show character and still succeed" ( Linde Verlag, around 20 Euro) by Christoph Burger order here at Amazon.de >>

Job: ABC the Business Talker on COSMOPOLITAN Online >>

Diva or Mouse: Psychotests on JOY Online >>

Popular Categories

Top