4 Rules at Work You Can Absolutely Break
Many of us think that we know the secret to career success: always say ‘yes’ to your boss and avoid emotional and personal subjects. Well, think again. Here are four unspoken office rules that are sometimes worth challenging.
1. Avoid Emotional Topics at All Cost
Unless it is non-work related, it should be okay to bring up any problem in the open. Say, you and a n officemate have clashed over a project, resulting to a tension between the two of you. Avoiding the issue may only cultivate the tension and min result may affect your productivity. Talk about it in a professional way by opening up with something like “You seem to disagree with every idea I suggest, and I don’t quite understand why. Did I do anything wrong to upset you?”
2. Only Do Work-Related Tasks
It’s no secret that many people are pursuing a job that isn’t really their passion. So, it is essential to also pursue your interests—both for your creativity at work and happiness in the office. Remember that amazing ideas often sprout when you’re tinkering on something. Plus, hobbies give that sense of calmness, so have a 15-minute cross-stitch break or just listen to your favourite playlist during a coffee break. Once you have relaxed and cleared out your mind for a bit, the answer to a work problem you may have will simply reveal itself.
3. Do What You’re Hired to Do
You may not be hired to make photocopies of documents or encode product details, which you need to complete a task, but no one else would if you won’t go the extra mile. Your boss is constantly looking at the bigger picture, and he’ll admire if you have the initiative to do the same as well. If you focus on doing some small tasks that’s related to your job, you might see things in a better perspective and possibly come up with ideas to help the company.
4. Join Event to Build a Network
Cocktail parties and events can be inefficient for some—not to mention the awkwardness of having to mingle with random people you barely or don’t know at all. Other way around? Build your own network through social media. Get in touch with people who interest you, whether they are in the same industry or not. Retweet some of their posts, strike up a conversation and ask questions by messaging them. From there, it’d be easier to get them to meet you for a coffee or lunch—where you can connect with them in a real and personal way.
These four work rules and the ways to challenge them generally work, but may not be applicable to every situation. It still depends on personal choices, the factors present in the situation and the necessary things you need to do to get to a place you want the most career-wise.