If you have a tendency to take things personally, you know it can wreak havoc in your career. I mean, spending upwards of eight hours in an office environment, stuck with a myriad of personalities you may (or may not) be attracted to, and often subject to constant requests to perform, can end up constituting the perfect everyday storm for you. From dealing with attitudes changing as fast as the weather, to being under pressure to compete (albeit in a “healthy” way) for advancement, while juggling the rest of your busy life, how can you not take things personally at work?
While some may argue that you should take things personally in your career, as a sign that you’re fully engaged and committed to your career. I happen to have a slightly different opinion, mostly based on experience.
After years of taking things personally at work, I realized how much of an emotional and mental toll it had been taking on me. I came in to work day in and day out with so many expectations as to how I should be received, what I should be getting in terms of credit and opportunity, and how other should behave towards me, that I would set myself up for failure every single time. Every.single.time.
If someone didn’t quite acknowledge my contribution to this or that project, I took it personally. If they didn’t invite me to a key meeting, I took it personally. If they didn’t include me in some project emails, I took it personally. And yes, there certainly were instances when I should have been involved in those key meetings and important emails. Yet, as “right” as I may have been about some of these situations, taking each and every one of these circumstances personally didn’t help me be a better team member or leader.
Yes, I was engaged in my work. I was committed to my success. Hence the reason why I felt so slighted in the first place. But this side of engagement and commitment to my career brought out character traits that weren’t necessarily the best.
There ‘s something about taking things personally that attributes others’ actions and reactions to us. It’s as if we’re telling the world: “All of this is happening because of me.” Which also means we’re negating a gazillion other reasons, personal motivations and human factors in the process, all the while engulfing ourselves in an abyss of self-inflicted doubt, anger and grief.
The more I’d take things personally, the more difficult it would be to objectively assess the various situations I’d encounter at work. And the more challenging it would be to build authentic, fruitful professional relationships. The lines between the personal and the professional, although intertwined in the day-to-day work life, now became so blurred it was literally impossible to work through them.
As much as our careers are part of our lives, and vice-versa, having a healthy separation between the two helps enrich each one, instead of putting too much weight on each.I learnt to let work be work, and my personal life be my personal life. Of course, there are times when they intersect. Yet, in the midst of the confusion , challenges and victories of life and work, tracing a clear line of demarcation between the moments we experience is key to our sanity, and ultimately to our success:
Put yourself on time out before reacting.
When TV personality Kelly Ripa got blindsided at work as her co-anchor abruptly left the show, she took a week off to clear her head. While she was largely criticized for it, it allowed her to come back with a clearer head, and more perspective as she addressed the situation at hand.
In the same way, that some time out when facing a situation you risk to take personally at work. Whether it’s a day off, or even a few minutes locked in the bathroom stall, hold off on reacting at first. Instead, step away, take a breather, and evaluate the situation.
Ask yourself what the situation really means to you.
What does this annoying co-worker really mean to you? Or the promotion that was just given to someone else? Or even the bad review you just received?
Evaluate what that means to you, and if you should put so much mental and emotional energy into it. If it won’t matter to you next year, then why take it personally?
When you’re ready, gain clarification first then respond.
After taking time out and asking yourself what the situation at hand really means to you, seek to clarify it first. Ask your co-worker, team or boss the necessary questions to clarify what’s happening. Once you get enough information, then you can decide on the course of action to follow.
Do you take things personally at work?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
