Emotional Intelligence

You know life is difficult. It just is. So we all have days when we think we’re not good enough, not talented enough and not worthy enough for praise. However, don’t let human nature get in your way. Don’t allow your self-doubt to undermine your professional aspirations.

The woman in the cubicle to your right is quiet. The man in the cubicle to your left won’t shut up. They have different personalities; in fact, they’re complete opposites. Nevertheless, they both landed a job in the same company, in the same department, on the same floor in the same corner of the building. How does this happen? Different people can be qualified for the same job even though they have completely different personalities and ways of seeing the world and the people around them.

There are so many rules regarding behavior at the workplace that sometimes it’s difficult to know just how to act. We’re told to be ourselves, but also told not to say or do anything that would upset a coworker. And let’s face it, there is always a coworker in your office who is more than happy to become upset by something: a comment about religion or remark about the Yankees or simply rolling your eyes at the mention of the presidential election. Some of your colleagues just can’t wait to be offended.

Putting on makeup in the morning is a ritual millions of women perform every morning. It’s important to be presentable at work, and though men have to shave, at least they are spared the whole makeup routine. But makeup is important for professional women, and how they use makeup says much about who they are as an office professional.

As the economy continues to struggle toward a better day, so do the human beings trapped in it. The recession and its demoralizing wake have been around for so long now that they have defined a new normal for millions of Americans, and that new normal is one nobody ever wanted. Anyone can stay positive for the short term, but as the tough days stretch into tough weeks, months or even years, it’s difficult to remain optimistic—especially if you’ve been unemployed for a while.

Being an experienced office professional means shedding one’s innocence regarding workplace realities. This includes losing one’s faith in the vetting process, where intense screening of resumes, cover letters and subsequent interviews supposedly keep undesirable, inane or just evil people outside of the building. The crazies and jerks do make it through, and sometimes into management positions. Perhaps your boss is one of these people.

Most office professionals are adults and know not to take criticism too personally. We were raised to understand and handle competitive environments, which means having thick skin whenever our boss lambasts us for mistakes we’ve made or chides us for not performing up to our potential. We sit there and take it, because we know our bosses are just doing their jobs when we’re not.

We all know that balance is the key to maintaining a desirable quality of life. However, we also know that achieving that balance is easier said than done, especially in difficult financial times where most of us are working harder and longer than ever for less money. Balancing your professional life and personal life is a challenge, and it has been the ruin of many relationships.

Sometimes looking inwards can be painful. Nobody likes to take a good, hard look at their unhappiness and conclude, “Oh, I know what the problem is: me.” For office professionals, who are constantly bombarded with challenging tasks, personalities and environments, it’s easy to place blame somewhere else.

You’re only human, and so is your CEO, even though they may not seem like it at times. Assuming a leadership role often requires turning oneself into a caricature of a boss—someone who is stern, disciplined, in control and or even aloof. Leaders are constantly being pulled in many directions simultaneously, which means their time is limited. This fact makes it difficult for leaders to devote their attention to any one particular person or issue.