As written and presented by Mary Whelchel

PROGRAM D-6073

It seems that often we run into brick walls that put us into survival mode. For example: Do you have a coworker that drives you crazy? Maybe it's a personality clash or the way he or she works-or doesn't work. Perhaps it's the attitude that person has toward you or just some irritating habit. Is a difficult coworker the reason you're simply surviving instead of thriving on your job?

If so, you need to put a plan of action in place. It begins with daily prayer, asking God to help you see that person as he does. Then get to know that person better. Take him or her to lunch or coffee. Usually that helps. Go out of your way to be accommodating. If that proves unsuccessful in improving the relationship, you may need to be more confrontational. Or you may have to learn to live with it. But you don't want to keep allowing that person to make you just a survivor when you want to be thriving.

Do you feel you have adequate support from your management or that you are treated fairly? Certainly an important element in liking your job and thriving in it is the relationship you have with your boss.

If your grievances about your manager or management are valid, do something pro-active to try to change that situation. Set up a time to talk with your boss and give him or her an explanation of what you feel you need in order to work effectively for the company. It may be a simple misunderstanding that can be cleared up much easier than you ever thought.

If the situation doesn't change, you must either find an alternative for the support you need or learn how to operate without it or find another job. But it doesn't make sense to keep on in the survival mode you're in now.

Maybe your roadblock to surviving is that you haven't found the job that uses your gifts and talents. We all recognize that work is work, and there are inevitably some unpleasant aspects we all must deal with. But if you really don't like anything about your job content, then either your attitude is in very bad shape or you need to find out what kind of a job is best for you.

If you would like to order Mary’s book How to Thrive from 9 to 5 please call us at 1-800-292-1218 or order online at www.christianworkingwoman.org.

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