The Art of Living your life on better terms - Part 2
BE PRODUCTIVE AND WORK-EFFICIENT
This said, there is also the undesirable spectacle of people gossiping around work-stations and hence overstay their hours at office to complete backlogs. This gives you a false sense of overwork while in reality, you have bought the situation yourself by your less-than-perfect working patterns. I used to be surprised some years back when I get emails from “busy” professionals during office hours that too one follow-up email over another dwelling on some matters that should preferably be left for leisure periods (like doubts on advanced philosophy, fate, karma, ethics, etc.; it is odd because ethically it is wrong for the person to be using company time for pursuing own interests – even if it is a philosophical discussion. This is a sort of hypocrisy that the persons themselves are unaware of!). I used to wonder how on earth they manage so much time in between their work; no doubt, they will need to stay back after their regular hours to attend to some important work that they have not completed. Their family and even themselves will be lead to believe that they are working hard, but this is not the truth. The other undesirable side-effect will be on the hapless subordinates of these high-placed persons who will also be forced to stay back just because the boss has work pending to be cleared at the end of the day – not due to excess of work-load but because he/ she found time to pursue other interests during the work-day! This is “compounded error” from a karmic view point….you have been inefficient at work, and you are taxing other hapless souls for your own inefficiency, and the backlash will be sure and severe in many inconceivable ways.
“Real” hard work gives “real” rewards. An employee who is highly efficient at the work station and projects an aura of “professional competency and dedication” will rarely get exploited. A boss who is efficient at work, and considerate to his/ her subordinates will be respected intrinsically (not merely out of deference for protocols), and what is more…..loved. A boss that is loved – does it seem a paradox? Not necessarily! This is the actual way things are supposed to be!
Never be seen gossiping or whiling away time during office hours except at the designated “snack” hour or lunch or fun-sessions. Impressions sometimes count even more than reality! Just as you see less of those examples of perfection now-a-days, you are not able to identify the power of positive impression.
HANDLE NEGATIVE APPRAISALS OR UNFAVOURABLE DEVELOPMENTS AT WORK POSITIVELY
It is quite possible that you are not evaluated for what you are worth; it is quite possible that someone “boot-licked” (or still worse….) their way to success at your expense. It is quite possible that you refused to do something unethical or just stood up to your right against your superiors and hence may be at the receiving end in the form of a less than perfect appraisal. Don’t hang on to that and feel depressed. Try the remedial possibilities like disputing the appraisal by fixing up an interview and laying your facts in a cool and professional way (without creating scenes and without accusing others, just show documentary evidence of your performance and have a professional discussion). A courageous person who does not create scenes is definitely admired by anyone. People are intrinsically drawn towards perfection – imperfect though they may personally be!
It is quite possible that even after this, you may not get justice, and worse, the superior may even try to insult you further by sarcastic attitudes. If that happens, do not lose your cool. Bewilder that person by coolly walking away after thanking them. At work, keep doing your best patiently. Consistent performance and unperturbed patience can never be ignored even by the most partial of superiors.
Jumping jobs in an impulsive way and creating scenes, or sulking silently is just not the way. There is just no excuse for producing sloppy work even if you are disappointed with the rewards that have come your way.
Just remember others can grade you as they want, but they cannot take away your talents or efficiency from you unless you blunt it yourself unconsciously in your depression and hurt.
Understand another thing…people at the very top are there by virtue of their talents and abilities. Though they may exercise a studied silence in the executive functions of the organization on a day-to-day basis just to avoid overlap of function and for practical purposes to avoid unnecessary controversies, consistent good performances rarely go unnoticed. So, your appraising officer will not go scot-free with consistent underrating of your performance and sooner or later someone will step in to reward you. This may sound strange but this is a truth, and many have benefited by sticking on to the job and doing their best. In the long run things even out and a conscientious person rarely loses out.
LIVE FOR YOURSELF – NOT FOR OTHERS
We often make the mistake of trying to live up to the expectations of others rather than trying to live up to our abilities and aspirations that are deep within us. I recently came across a senior management person who said his profession was at cross-roads. When enquired, there was no danger to his position, but he felt he was being paid “less” than some other person in a comparable position working somewhere else, and this was making him feel bad about his career. He wanted to know whether there will be improvement in career.
The salary he quoted was quite good or at least something that is within the acceptable range for such a position. The grievance of our friend was that his salary was marginally less than that of his friend working elsewhere, and on nitpicking, some perks also seemed to be slightly “less.”
His reporting officer was a most considerate person and not a “slave driver” (slave drivers are most common in corporate environments now-a-days; senior management personnel who try to bolster their achievement records by being hard on juniors is not a rare phenomenon in corporate circles and that too in these stressful times). His superior officer was a person who always shared accolades and gave credit where it was due whether in the form of tangible gifts, or as favourable appreciation mails or commendations at appropriate occasions. If our friend just thought about the “heavy costs” that his other friend might be paying, he will have no reason to feel bad about his current situation. No amount of money can substitute an equitable work environment. But, he nearly did that just because he felt belittled that someone whom he perceived as slightly below par than him was drawing a salary that was slightly “more.” Mind you, he is neither a “jealous” type nor a usually complaining type. This is what modern “competitiveness” does to persons!
Live life on your terms and not based on your perception of others’ lives. Comparing yourself with others can sometimes impel the wisest of persons to commit foolish acts that send our karmic wheel into a reverse spinning spree negating all that we have achieved previously. It is not without reason that the Great Soul – Gautama Buddha said “Desire is the root cause of all evil!” However, desire can in fact be used in a positive way to fuel your way to success if it is regulated well. If you deserve first and then desire, it helps a lot in motivating you. When you compete with others, it causes stress; but when you compete with yourself, i.e. you try to extend yourself to the limits, it causes what is called “eustress” – a positive trigger for greater achievements.
Click here to read The Art of Living your life on better terms Part 1
Article by Pandit R Dakshinamoorthi
