Surviving a dynamic work environment

Most work environments are very dynamic. This means that there are always changes going on and there is something new to work with every time; a new boss, a new department, a new product line, or new business strategies.

The best employees are those who can quickly adapt and ‘flow’ with the changes. So how can one survive and excel in a dynamic and fast paced environment such as ours?

What personal strategies can be adopted to ensure that one remains relevant and efficient? The following are a few suggestions of a survival strategy.

Believe in yourself and what you can do:

You are duly employed where you work because of your worth and although it was very competitive you made it. You are that good. Believe it, internalise it and let it guide you in your everyday activities.

You need to come to the point where you believe in yourself more strongly than anyone else can. This will help you to push further and work harder to achieve results and please your supervisors.

Be concerned about your professional development:

As the saying goes, when you stop learning, you stop growing. Who knows what undiscovered theories lie ahead?

You may have achieved a lot already, but this does not mean you should stop learning. Learn to be a better lecturer, become a better administrator or businessman, and learn how you can be more efficient at what you do.

Go back to school if you have to, it is never too late. Take advantage of Professional Development training or conferences, where possible.

Not only will your value go up by so doing, but you will also discover new dimensions of yourself and what you can do.

Develop positive relationships

Every work environment has it, gossips, back biters, detractors, ‘pull-him-downs’. But there are also people who truly care about you and wish you well, people you can relate to, who push you to achieve greater heights for yourself and your institution.

Seek mentorship where possible; learn from their mistakes so you do not have to repeat them. Invest your time and energy in nurturing such positive relationships. They will bring out the best in you.

Be focused; do not be distracted by office politics:

The distractions of the office environment are many; worst of all is office politics. Truth is, everyone is seeking their own interest, so sorry if you fall victim.
But your reaction is all that matters; are you going to coil, sulk and become a non-performing degenerate staff? Are you going to allow yourself to be overwhelmed by rumours and gossip about you?

Remember, these are distractions that can bring down your performance on the job. Try to keep focus on your role. There is a lot to achieve and much more to be done. Do not bother trying to clarify issues or defend yourself in the wake of accusations. Become better at your job and let your achievements speak for you.

Develop Emotional intelligence:

In the work environment you need to quickly develop emotional intelligence. Learn to separate issues from personalities, especially if you are a woman.

Do not become emotional and go off the hook when confronted with an issue. At the end of the day, it is work and professionalism must be maintained.

Think for the other person; put yourself in his or her shoes, would you not react in the same way or even worse?

So why hold it against him or her. Take a minute, breathe, delay your response and see how that gives you more control over your reaction to confrontation.

Also learn the culture of the environment quickly, learn how to interact with the various personalities and temperaments you work with.

When it comes to emotions, it is not a ‘one size fits all’ approach, what may make someone laugh may result in a query for another. So watch it, study people and interact appropriately.

Respect the powers that be:

One grave mistake any employee can make is to disrespect or disregard the ‘powers that be’. Just as your Father is the head of the family, your boss is your head at the work place and should receive the same amount of respect, reverence and honour if not more.

Avoid arguing and challenging instructions and get the job done quickly. Be solution oriented. Be as loyal as possible and think about how you can make his or her work life easier. Remember, you only look good when your boss looks good.

Learn quickly what makes him or her happy and do it always, keeping it professional. You will be a boss too someday and will want the same things done to you.

• The writer is the (Coordinator/ Quality Assurance and Promotion, Ghana Technology University College)

Writer’s email: yaaessah@gmail.com