What does it take to keep that job, to be the one who works successfully in life? Well, recently I’ve worked with a few different people who struggled with this. They had negative interactions with their boss over miscommunication and some perceived slights on the job. Rather than give into muttering, frustration or anger, I tried to help them see a few keys to working successfully.
For starters, on EVERY job you ever have, you want to become the worker that the boss loves to have around. That takes effort on your part. As a Christian, for me this starts with remembering what the Bible teaches—“do all of your work as if Jesus was your boss; work with excellence all the time.” That extends into being the nice worker, be the polite worker, be the one who does whatever asked without grumbling, be the one willing to stay a little late if asked or come in a little early, be the person with a smile on your face. Or, do not be the grumpy person, do not be the person who rolls their eyes when asked to take out the trash or go back to the storeroom for more supplies, do not be the person saying ‘that’s not my job,’ and don’t be the person is moody. Again, this takes effort….some days you are tired or you just got into a fight with a friend or you found out that you have to pay a bill for which you don’t have enough money or you heard that your child was ill. Sometimes the boss or co-workers are jerks. Other times, the customers are rude or fuss at you because of something another person did or didn’t do. Don’t give in to anger or snarkiness or critique or defensiveness. Instead, smile, think that this person or situation could be Jesus, and that you want to be the worker that the boss loves to have around. If you do this, you will be the last person fired or laid off.
The Boss Has A Goal
Secondly, remember that one always has to try and see things from the other person’s point of view. The boss of every place I have ever worked has one aim….to make money, to be personally successful. They most often don’t really care about “your issues”—I mean, a nice person will care if you are sick or that there is a conflict, but at the end of the day, they want to personally succeed. Sometimes, the person I worked for is not the boss in full, so they have an added aim….to not get fired themselves. In other words, often they are under huge pressure from above and so, if an employee is not pulling their weight, well that could get the manager fired by the owner.
This ties into the third aspect, and that is the reminder that everyone has their own context or backstory. So, just because you had a rough run-in with them doesn’t mean they are simply a jerk (they could be…yes, but even then it behooves you to extend enough patience to consider there could be a reason.
You Are Replaceable
No one owes you anything, and you are replaceable. I have worked with many, including people in the church and at my College, who don’t seem to understand this either. I learned this lesson the hard way when I was coaching. I got called to my boss’ office one morning. Things got ugly and tense quickly. In no short order, it was clear that I might lose my job right then and there. I had had this job for less than 6 months. I had moved my wife down to Florida; we had no friends and were just getting connected in this city. The last thing I could let happen would be to get fired. It wouldn’t matter if my boss was being unfair, if my actions were justifiable, if I could prove I got screwed….I would still be without a job.
These are not the only truths about success on the job, but if you put these into practice, I promise you that your path to success will more certain.
Last thing
No job defines you. If where you work starts becoming really weird and flaky, people treating you badly… then you move on. And if they ask you to move on, then so they do. It’s not what you want—you bravely applied for different work and you got the job!!! Well done!!—but no job is forever and if in the end, it doesn’t work out, then so be it.
You just do your work with a smile and good attitude, working as for the Lord Himself, and let the light of Jesus shine….and that will be good enough.