Are your values out of sync with where you work?
I’ve talked with a great number of people who feel trapped in an organization which has values different than what they feel comfortable with. Typically these employees view the company as unfair, unfeeling, even unethical.
If you’re in this situation, how do you deal with it?
The most obvious advice would be to just look for a job at employers which are better suited to your needs. But that may take quite awhile, so what do you do in the meantime?
First, work to understand the reality of the situation. I often find that employees’ views of their employer is woefully uninformed, limited mostly to the experience they have with their boss and direct work team. Feedback is based on what they receive as a paycheck and any rewards or recognition.
Realize that this can be an awfully limited view of what the company’s about. You can find out more by talking with other managers, even company executives, and researching higher level resources within the company. You may well find that there are other opportunities in the company which are much more suited to your personal goals and values.
Second, become more grounded in who you are. When you have clarity on your own deep values, you’ll be able to better articulate what you need from your employer. It’s quite possible, of course, that you’ll still have some crucial conflicts, but it helps to know where you’re willing to negotiate and change your own behavior. Or not.
And third, demonstrate a higher set of values, even when you don’t get rewarded for it. You can choose to act with higher honesty, teamwork, and ethics. If the company doesn’t especially reward you for that, fine, the reward is that you will feel better about yourself. After all, many employers don’t see why they should worry so much about what they see as “personal choices.”
But, ultimately, if you’re still experiencing a deep conflict and you haven’t been able to make progress within the company, then it may be time to jump to a different situation. It’ll help if you’re constantly looking out for opportunities to improve your contribution and happiness through your work.
The Career You’ll LoveSponsored by Carl Dierschow’s career blog at www.Dierschow.com |
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Surviving a bad employerAre your values out of sync with where you work? I’ve talked with a great number of people who feel trapped in an organization which has values different than what they feel comfortable with. Typically these employees view the company as unfair, unfeeling, even unethical. If you’re in this situation, how do you deal with it? The most obvious advice would be to just look for a job at employers which are better suited to your needs. But that may take quite awhile, so what do you do in the meantime? First, work to understand the reality of the situation. I often find that employees’ views of their employer is woefully uninformed, limited mostly to the experience they have with their boss and direct work team. Feedback is based on what they receive as a paycheck and any rewards or recognition. Realize that this can be an awfully limited view of what the company’s about. You can find out more by talking with other managers, even company executives, and researching higher level resources within the company. You may well find that there are other opportunities in the company which are much more suited to your personal goals and values. Second, become more grounded in who you are. When you have clarity on your own deep values, you’ll be able to better articulate what you need from your employer. It’s quite possible, of course, that you’ll still have some crucial conflicts, but it helps to know where you’re willing to negotiate and change your own behavior. Or not. And third, demonstrate a higher set of values, even when you don’t get rewarded for it. You can choose to act with higher honesty, teamwork, and ethics. If the company doesn’t especially reward you for that, fine, the reward is that you will feel better about yourself. After all, many employers don’t see why they should worry so much about what they see as “personal choices.” But, ultimately, if you’re still experiencing a deep conflict and you haven’t been able to make progress within the company, then it may be time to jump to a different situation. It’ll help if you’re constantly looking out for opportunities to improve your contribution and happiness through your work.
ADVERTISEMENT: I just started a blog, The Values Based Business, which talks about purpose, grounding, and values from the business owner’s point of view. Check it out if you have any interest in creating your own company or leading a group toward a powerful goal!
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| Carl Dierschow is a Certified Small Fish Business Coach and author of the career management guide, Mondays Stink! 23 Secrets to Rediscover Delight and Fulfillment in Your Work. He is a career coach for those going through interesting transitions, and works with small business owners who need to create breakthroughs in achieving their business goals. Find out more at www.Dierschow.com and www.SmallFish.us.
If you are interested in individual career coaching, group coaching, or other resources which might help you with difficult choices, please contact Carl at carl@dierschow.com. Connect with Carl on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to get timely updates and connections to a broader range of professionals. |
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