Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Dealing with your Colleague

Psychologists say that there is no better place to meet the most diversified set of individuals than in the workplace. Your boss is not the only one you have to deal with in the office. You cannot stand alone when you are working in a company with different departments and you are in one of them except if you are the department. 

Axis Capital Group, a human resource company which provides ground training to employers, employees and entrepreneurs in Africa has listed the most common colleagues that you will encounter in the workplace. 

1. The Gossip

- Every office has at least one of this. In some cases, he (mostly she) is called the “Mother Hen” as he know almost everything there is to know about lives of the other employees, the nature of the job and sometimes, even the background of the boss. He is usually the one to spend the most fun coffee time with the most. 

- How to Deal with Him: remember, gossip does not always mean that it is pure truth, even from someone who has been in the company most of his life. It may have an ounce of lies and exaggerations in them so do not get sucked into stories that the Gossip people say. Learn how to politely refuse or if the topic is interesting, learn to weigh which one is true within it. Know the warning signs of exaggerated stories and limit your opinions as well. It can be taken against you. Remember, people who talk easily about other people behind their back are likely to do the same with you.


2. The Comedian

- All work and no play is no fun at all. It is good to have these kinds of people around especially if your job is too serious. Humor can help ease the atmosphere in the workplace and can make it more comfortable to work with. Remember that too much seriousness can also cause death.

- How to deal With Him: Enjoy his jokes but gently remind him that you also have work to do. Sometimes, the funniest people are the ones who have the most burdensome stories. Have lunch with him every now and then to lift your spirit and also to get to know him more.

3. The Chatterbox

- These kinds of people are the ones who keep on talking and talking in the office and treat the workplace as a social gathering event. For those who are task-oriented, these people are mostly annoying as they all cannot concentrate on their work. 
- How to Deal with Him: Have patience and be polite with them. Ask them if instead of chatting during office hours, you can have your chat during lunch time instead. 

4. The Multi-Tasker

- This kind of colleague has more than one plate spinning. He can chat while keeping track of data, answering emails and balancing his sheet. A research in Jakarta, Indonesia shows that this skill is mostly possessed by female employees. Psychologists have reviewed that girls have the higher tendency to work on multiple tasks at once as their neurons tend to transfer faster from one part of the brain to the other than guys. 

- How to Deal With Him: Learn his way and it can positively help you in doing your job. 

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Managing Your Boss

Axis Capital Group, a human resource company based in Ghana knows that many of the employees’ issue and/or happiness depend on the boss. It really matters what and how the boss behave.

Looking at the term itself, “Boss” is someone who is higher than you in rank in the office. How can you, a mere employee, be able to manage your boss and start a relationship with him? Well, there are different types of bosses that you might encounter in our lifetime.

Managing your boss does not instantly mean that you have to undermine him; that you literally have to manage him although you have to do a lot of adjustments to please him. Sometimes, admit it or not, we may bend some of our own principles just to get along with the boss.

1. The Martyr
  • This kind of boss will do anything for the company even to the extent of coming to work in the midst of a super typhoon while he has pneumonia or walking 30 minutes to the office every day after his car had an accident and he has to amputate both of his legs (well, he is somehow like that).
  • How to Deal with him: Listen to him and you may get some advice from him. You can’t keep him from the things that he wants to do with the company. The loyalty of this kind of his boss is obviously to the company so make sure not to talk anything against or you have complaints about the company to him. If you want to point out something negative, try the art of proper timing.

2. The Screamer
  • This type of boss usually has issues:                                                                                         
1. either he just wants to be heard enough to get his way;
2. He gets more pressure and stress by pleasing the higher authority and managing the subordinates or;
3. He is deaf.
  • How to Deal with Him: Whatever his issues may be, you just have to avoid being shouted at and make sure to get your job done. If you finally get the chance to earn his respect, maybe you should try asking him to lower down his voice. He may not know that he is already raising it.

3. The Manipulator
  • He takes great pride in waving his power and authority around, not just in office but sometimes also at home. A power-brandishing boss loves wearing the mask of a boss, and believes that bosses are the highest-regarded professionals in the world. He is overtly possessive of his post and always wants to give an impression that he is completely in control of the situation, even when in reality he is not.
  • How to Deal with Him: This type of boss gives significance to discipline, rather than performance, and is of the opinion that employees should be self-disciplined. His motto is that with discipline, employees will eventually perform. Even if you find such bosses to be lenient, you should not break the rules too often; and even if you do so, make sure that you don’t bring it to his notice. Show him respect him, and make him feel that he is the big boss and you will be able to go about your duties undisturbed.

4. The Clueless
  • A friend of mine from Jakarta, Indonesia experienced this kind of boss on his first job. Being clueless himself, they had somehow clicked.
  • This type of boss is not dumb, he is just uneducated. Perhaps he just started with the company or is unfamiliar with the technology or has been put in that position because the administration has no choice. It doesn’t mean that he is fraud. He just needs more time to adjust and learn
  • How to Deal with Him: suggestions are often appreciated by this kind of bosses and if you can help him, you can easily befriend him

5. The Perfect
  • This kind of boss are mostly motivators; the ones who can juggle the pressures of the company, administrative tasks and managing employees. You wouldn’t have any problems in dealing with him in the workplace.

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Peer Pressure in the Workplace


Every individual has experienced peer pressure. It is but normal to undergo this stage as one of the factors that we need to survive and to get along with the society. From early childhood until we come into the school, there is a big deal of pressure for all of us to belong.

However, while we think that we have outgrown peer pressure when we have already graduated from college; adults usually succumb to peer pressure in a more complicated manner, especially those who are younger and have weaker personality than others. It is the responsibility of strong leaders to ensure that the peer pressure within their organization is carefully managed to maintain a positive and productive work environment.

Peer pressure plays a very important role in how we work and do things. Typically, one could only get influenced by others positively or negatively by factors like growth (promotion of peers), compensation (salary differentiation with peers), opportunities (challenging assignment/type of work/on site opportunity), capability, insecurities at the workplace, etc.

While peer pressure may have carried a negative connotation in high school, it can actually motivate people to perform in the workplace. When colleagues know their performance and contributions affect someone else in the company, they're more likely to feel a need to step up efforts so they don't let co-workers down. Peer pressure that arises out of a sense of self worth and need to improve, can create a fruitful impact. A healthy competitive work environment can help build aspirations. In fact, if taken in the right spirit, peer pressure can help individuals strive towards excellence at work.

Axis Capital Group, a recruitment agency capitalizing in human resource appreciates and encourages healthy peer pressure in the workplace. We know one company in Jakarta, Indonesia who even held monthly peer-pressure reviews and assessment to serve as motivation to create and enhance work culture. For example, if colleagues have the opportunity to rate one another on teamwork, collaboration and group efforts, employees know their evaluation is tied to the perception of their co-workers. Workers who were evaluated as irresponsible may be aware of his actions and through peer pressure, be able to overcome the attitude while those who are dedicated on the job are respected and looked up to to lead the team.

However, though, there are some complaints in peer pressure as well. Giving in to peer-pressure at work is the same as allowing others to do the thinking for you. The moment you step back to think about the actions that you’re going to make because of peer influences, is the moment that you will have the courage to stand up to them. Using your own thinking ability and knowledge and not relying on your co-workers foolish reasoning’s is the best way to overcome what it is you are feeling pressured to do.