How many times have you been misunderstood in the workplace?
There is a stigma that we, as Millennials, have to battle. Millennials are famously known for being a โtrophyโ generation โ a generation used to receiving participation awards that have no real merit. Consequently, attitudes toward this generation can be quite negative. Those who have come before us openly charge us with feeling we deserve praise and awards for our hard work simply as a result of how we were cultured. While itโs true of some Millennials, itโs absolutely not true of many. Even if this is not true of you, itโs unfortunately something we have to deal with and be prepared to encounter.
If youโre like me, you know your strengths and weaknesses in the workplace. In any professional setting, you expect to capitalize on your talents, while developing your weaknesses. As with any professional, young or old, there must be a good balance of healthy ego and humility. You want to grow and move up, but all in good time. Part of this requires knowing yourself as a professional and knowing what you are, in fact, good at and what you need to improve.
To be successful in todayโs job market, there is a certain level of confidence that you have to carry. Confidence is not the same as arrogance and unfortunately can be perceived as ignorance. In the case of the latter, in can be difficult to โwinโ with a predetermined label slapped across your forehead.
This considered, what if you really are at a job where you are underappreciated? Objectively speaking, since you know there is a stigma attached to you, it can be difficult to speak up for fear of proving them right. More importantly, you have to first ask yourself if youโre being a typical Millennial and over-valuing your worth. Where, then, is the line between knowing youโre underappreciated and having Millennial fever? How do you battle the stigma of your superiors who attribute your confidence to being an ignorant Millennial?
Thereโs no doubt that working in an environment where you feel pulled in both directions can be frustrating. You find yourself devalued while defending your intentions and trying to overcome othersโ misconceptions. (How exhausting and taxing on your emotions!) You also find yourself striving for results that will never come for you. So, how do you win this battle?
The โmomโ answer is you have to try your best and simply understand that you canโt change othersโ minds. That doesnโt mean you shouldnโt regard othersโ opinions as valuable and implement constructive feedback, but you can only exert so much energy toward something before it becomes an energy-suck for no good reason and begins having a negative effect.
Taking the mom-hat off.
Iโm a person who likes actionable advice. I prefer people to be straight with me and give me real feedback. So, I hope youโll find this helpful.
- Take An Assessment: Donโt be an insecure professional and donโt assume one personโs opinion is everyoneโs opinion. Even if youโve heard it a few times before, itโs important to assess othersโ perceptions of you before you assume they think so negatively of you that you have reason to worry. Build a few relationships and ask people that you trust to provide some honest feedback. Talk to a mentor about it. If the general response is that you could stand to improve your attitude and demeanor, then this actionable feedback for you to digest and work through.
- Be Objective: The next step after assessing is staying objective. Donโt be so sensitive to feedback that you forget to accept it constructively. Your ego may get a little deflated, but you canโt get down on yourself. Stay positive and see it as a learning opportunity. When we can see constructive criticism just for that, we can truly grow as professionals. And letโs face it โ your ability to accept feedback and criticism is an admirable quality that companies observe.
- Define Your Goals: Youโve constructed a list of your weaknesses based off of feedback from trusted colleagues. Now, itโs time to set some goals that aim to develop your professional character. As with any type of character building, you have to establish habits. Taking the time to write down the end goal and what it will take to achieve it will help you stay on track for growth. This should include milestone and disciplines that will help you stay on track and provide evaluation criteria. Be sure to include evaluation periods and meet with your trusted colleagues for continued feedback.
- Stay Disciplined: Now itโs time to go to battle. You know what you have to work on. Youโve set your goals. Itโs time to start building your habits into being the type of professional whom others want to work with. Unless youโre weather in the Midwest, change doesnโt happen overnight. Real, lasting change takes time. So take it slow and be patient.
So, what happens when you put all of this work toward appeasing and correcting and the label doesnโt go away?
Resign: โWoah, Ciara,โ youโre probably saying. Yes, itโs a little blunt, and in a tough job market I absolutely do not advise you to up and quit your job. But take Forbesโ fairly recent article, โFive Really Good Reasons to Quit Your Job,โ to heart. Donโt have a โMillennial mindsetโ and job hop just because. That doesnโt help you grow and itโs not fair to the companies you serve. However, be objective enough to recognize when pursuing other opportunities is not only better for you, but also for your company.
This article considers your personal health, as well as your quality of work in an unsatisfactory situation. If this is you and youโve tried all of the above, I advise you to begin your search for something more fitting for your skills and desired professional culture.
Great post Ciara!
Great insight and healthy advice thanx
Thank you, Hannah! So happy you enjoyed it.