Discussing politics in the office: Asking for trouble?

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By Kaitlin Madden,

At work, there are some topics of conversation that need to be approached cautiously, if at all. Your definitive list of "reasons why your boss sucks," your religious beliefs and your feelings about "The Real Housewives," for example, are all probably better left off of the conversation menu. Expressing your views on these polarizing topics can lead to some pretty intense discussions.

Another topic that's taboo at the office? Politics. Like trying to argue the merit of Teresa Giudice to a "RHONJ" hater, telling a Republican colleague that there's much more to President Barack Obama than a soulful set of pipes is just asking for an argument. And who wants to spend an entire afternoon passive-aggressively arguing with a co-worker?

A lot of people, apparently. According to CareerBuilder's new survey on talking politics at the office, 36 percent of workers admit to discussing politics at work, while 46 percent say they plan to talk about this year's presidential election with their co-workers.

Though not all political discussions lead to bickering, play with fire and eventually you're going to get burned. Of those who confessed to playing David Gregory's advocate in the office, 23 percent said it led to a heated debate or a fight with a colleague.

If you just can't help but get excited each time Mitt Romney wins another red state, keep an open mind and respectful demeanor if you decide to discuss it at the office.

"Most workers opt to keep political debates outside of the workplace," says Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources at CareerBuilder. "Anytime you're dealing with subject matter that is sensitive or potentially inflammatory, it's important to always be respectful of your colleagues' opinions and avoid emotionally charged exchanges."

Joseph Grenny, co-author of the New York Times bestseller, "Crucial Conversations," agrees that politics can be a touchy subject for a lot of people, and keeping a level head during these conversations is key. "Look at the situation from your co-worker's perspective by asking yourself why a reasonable and rational person would hold that political view. While you don't have to agree with their view, you can still acknowledge that it is valid."

Have a tendency to let your strong opinions get the best of you? Make it through election year with your work relationships intact by following these additional tips: 

1. Look for areas of agreement. "Begin by reinforcing the basic values and purposes you hold in common," Grenny says. "Let your co-worker know you share common goals, even if your preferred tactics for achieving them differ."

2. Focus on facts. "We've all become masters at spin detection, and none of us like when people exaggerate, twist and spin the facts. Consider the source of your facts, and ask your co-worker to do the same," Grenny says.

3. Keep it safe by looking for signs of silence or violence. "If your co-worker grows quiet or starts to become defensive, step out of the content of the discussion and restore safety," Grenny says. "Reinforce your respect for them, and remind them of the broader purpose you both share."

Source: careerbuilder

Help! I don't get enough direction from my boss

By Ritika Trikha,

Right now, every job opening gets about seven eligible applicants*, which means you can't afford to do anything but your best work. If that means asking for more direction from your boss, don't be shy, or you might just shy away from having a job.

Whether you have an absentee, extremely busy or downright horrible boss, there are a few tactful ways to get more guidance from your hands-off manager.

First, be realistic. Chances are your boss doesn't have time to make you his protégé, offering step-by-step guidance on your tasks. Find a balance that works for both you and your boss. For every inch that your boss gives you, stretch your own skills as a self-starter to be as efficient as possible. Consider these seven tips to adapt to a laissez-faire manager and become a go-getter:

1. Be mindful of her time. You can extract more information from your boss if you pay attention to her schedule. Is there a particular time in the day when she is less busy, maybe just after lunch or as the day is winding down? If you discuss your project with your boss willy-nilly, you may be interrupting.

2. Craft good questions. After you've delved into the project, write up a list of questions and then rewrite them in as few words as possible. This way, you'll ask questions that tackle the core of the project as concisely as possible.

You should not ask for direction without first trying to understand the task at hand. You'll go much further if you can discuss the project with the higher-ups by asking questions like, "Here's my understanding of the project; is this what you're looking for?" versus, "What should I do?" or, "How should I start?"

3. Practice self-starting. Being a self-starter is a coveted attribute, especially for those looking to attain leadership roles. It means that you're capable of identifying tasks to be completed and seeing them through to produce positive results with minimum cost of management time.

4. Don't butt heads. While becoming a self-starter means running with your ideas to complete a task, make sure that your ideas don't conflict with your boss's ideas. If he has a different method in mind, abide by his suggestion, to show that you're a team player. Most of all, aim to stay on the same page.

5. Set personal deadlines. Once you have a handle on the project, push yourself by creating short deadlines -- especially if you work best under pressure. Allowing ample time may leave too much room for procrastination.

6. Don't fear failure. If you find yourself way off base during a project, figure out what went wrong and do your best to apply the lesson to projects in the future.

7. Schedule performance reviews. After you've completed a few projects, schedule a meeting with your boss to ask for feedback on how you've been doing. This is the only way to know where you stand. Remember: In the office, no news is not good news, so prepare for your performance review.

Source: careerbuilder

Want things to change at work? Do something about it

Justin Thompson,

In his book, "Stepping Up: How Taking Responsibility Changes Everything," John Izzo, Ph.D., puts the emphasis back on the individual to change their own life, and especially their career.

Have you ever thought, "This job would be so much better if my boss would do ABC," or "If the marketing team would actually help me, I would be able to sell more XYZ"? No matter what the thought, Izzo says that we should ditch the helpless attitude and resolve to do something about it.

According to Izzo's research, many people wait for the perfect plan to materialize before taking action, and the "sit and wait" method is one of our greatest roadblocks to success. Here are ways you can take control of your career destiny:

Create your ideal solution. Change often comes from one idea. If you have ideas about how your job could be better, whether by improving a work process or creating efficiencies and reducing costs, share them with your boss. Your ability to show initiative and creativity will only benefit you long-term, because you'll be noticed as an employee who goes above and beyond. If your boss gives you the green light to spearhead a new initiative, rely on her for support and guidance. Ask for input on how to mark milestones or what a realistic deadline for the project would be. 

Be open to changes, improvements and feedback. When you take on a more active role by asking questions and suggesting change, be prepared for some potential negativity. Some people like the status quo, and they may be afraid you'll either put them out of a job or require them to take on more work. To encourage more collaboration, ask for input or see what ideas others have to improve or possibly alter your original idea. The odds of universal satisfaction may be slim, but being open to group discussion will show you're working toward the greater good. 

It's possible that as you work to improve one process or series of tasks, you may stumble upon more problems. When this happens, determine what workarounds are possible. Be willing to table those insurmountable issues, but alert the project manager about these so the success of the larger project isn't delayed. 

Remember the alternative. Often when you initiate a change at work or in your personal life, you did it because you were tired of the present conditions and you want to improve your life or the life of others. Times will get tough, and there will be points where you hit so many walls that you want to give up, but you have to remember the past and think about the alternative. 

In his book, Izzo says that leadership is not a position. It's up to an individual to choose to take the reins of a project or task and run with it. Izzo gives these three tips for stepping up:

1. State your intention and write it down. Once it's written, it's a commitment for change.

2. Go above your position and weight. Go bigger and try harder than your role commands of you, and know that as you strive to be better, the money will follow.

3. Remember your influence no matter your role. You may not think that you can change anything in your current role, but remember that your voice does count for something. Sometimes all it takes is one person to ignite change. 

Source: careerbuilder