Sharon wanted to find a new job. She didn’t enjoy her current job. She didn’t get along with her supervisor. The supervisor possessed a temper and would frequently criticize her employees. She would also punish people she felt offended her by cutting their hours and giving them the worst of the tasks at work. Sharon did not agree with her manager’s tactics. She voiced her concerns to co-workers. She also told her supervisor how she felt. She spoke boldly and clearly. Her tone of voice also betrayed her annoyance. In other words, she said stupid stuff to her boss and lost her job immediately.
Stupid Stuff Focuses on Your Needs
We discussed several situations in which people say stupid stuff that stall their careers. Usually, these things occur when you focus on your wants and needs. Your self-centeredness may cause you to say things that will get you in trouble with your network of contacts, potential employers, interviews, your supervisors, management, and other team members.
Stupid stuff centers on what you want, rather than what they want. Stupid stuff accounts for what you want in a job search, why you want a raise, and what you want for the raise. Stupid stuff includes gossiping about co-workers, airing dirty laundry about the company, or criticizing your boss or supervisors.
Smart Stuff Focuses on Serving Others
You tend to say smart stuff when you focus on the needs, goals, wants, and challenges of others. We encourage you to practice Jared and Sarah Stewarts keys to developing relationships (see their book City of Influence). For example:
- Learn about the potential employer, your supervisor, management, co-workers, and others. Learn about their goals, wants, and challenges
- Serve them either personally or through others based on what you learned
- Grow their work and your relationship
Monday we review recent statistics on unemployment and flat salary increases
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