Workplace Poker: Are You Playing the Game, or Just Getting Played?

As you face challenges in the future, think deeply about your answers to the following questions: • Why am I in this tough situation? • What have I learned so far from this experience? • What have I learned about myself? • What changes (within me) would serve me well? • What is my plan to make those changes happen? You always have choices, even whe

As you look at your own life and the choices you have made, hopefully you can remember these three key lessons: • I created these circumstances, and that may be painful to acknowledge. • I will create my new circumstances, which may be good or bad. • I am responsible for a plan that leads me to a positive outcome no matter what the external circums

Unless you have been given a formal leadership role, others in this culture may react with disdain if you step up and out of “your place.” Even if you have been assigned a formal leadership role and have determined that more assertiveness is necessary, go slowly. The careers of many strong assertive individuals have floundered when they have come u

If you fail to understand the business culture within which you work, or within a prospective employer, this can put a brake on your career progress. In Bobbie’s case she eventually went back to work at Sprouts, was much happier, but had to accept a cashier’s position until an assistant manager position opened up a year later. There is no question

There is a degree of deep confidence you see in people who are fully aware of, and comfortable with, their own faults and failings. They are “comfortable in their own skin” so to speak and we often find ourselves drawn to them, at ease around them, because there is no pretense, no bloated ego, and no self-loathing. The closer you can get to this pa

When it comes to employment there is no luck, good or bad. There are no accidental circumstances. There are no victims. Everything happens for a reason. And just because you are surprised, or are treated unfairly, does not mean that you can abdicate your own responsibility for the situation. You have made choices. And even when you felt that you we

WHEN THEY SAY: I ASK: I work in an abusive environment. Why do you choose to do that? I’ve had a series of bad bosses. What does that tell you about yourself? I don’t play corporate politics. Why do you refuse to play? This was the best job I could find in the area. Why did you limit yourself to this area? Everyone in this industry is struggling. W

Know exactly why you’re doing it and know your endgame (including timeline). • Trust no one, and understand that most are playing the same game you are. The rest are TRULY nuts. • Give the Personality all the ego stroking he or she demands, but expect nothing in return. Do not expect consistency, reliability, or integrity.

So while it is important for you to INTERNALLY accept total responsibility for difficult circumstances, be thoughtful about how you communicate this externally. This is not meant to imply that you should consciously try to shift blame to others, but be careful about letting others off the hook. You can take responsibility and hold others accountabl