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According to the
National
Gardening
Association,
suckers are
rapidly growing
shoots rising
from an
underground root
or stem, often
to the detriment
of the tree.
They can be very
irritating and
annoying for
they bear no
flowers or
fruit. Rather
than cut them
off, one way to
get rid of them
is to roughly
yank the suckers
off to remove
the cells and
tissues that
cause re-growth.
Even if you are
not a gardener,
you know a lot
about weeds.
They are
everywhere and
tend to take
over, crowd a
plant's root
system, and
provide a
chaotic and
unsightly mess.
While there are
many kinds of
weed-killer
sprays on the
market, orchard
growers hesitate
to use them for
fear of damaging
the trees.
Unfortunately,
businesses have
suckers and
weeds too. These
unattractive
thieves rob the
organization
blind by ruining
its competitive
advantage, and
choking and
stifling its
people. To avoid
these outcomes,
try applying a
heavy layer of
protective
interpersonal
mulch to
effectively stop
all but the most
persistent of
suckers and
weeds.
Here are four
suckers and
weeds that are
typically found
in the business
garden, along
with ways to
yank them out
before they root
too deeply:
Office
Politics
Far too many
workers put
their faith in
office politics
and believe
their careers
will either soar
or plunge as a
result of them.
Office politics
are a
fundamental part
of the daily
grind. Sometimes
people who
cannot succeed
on their own
merit play them,
and oftentimes,
workers who
pursue personal
hidden agendas
at the expense
of others
practice them.
How do you keep
this damaging
sucker from
taking root?
-
Learn and
understand how
the office
political game
is played.
You
cannot afford to
ignore office
politics;
whether you
choose to play
the political
game or abstain
is up to you.
- Use
ethical
influence to
impact others
without being
sucked into the
game.
Strengthen
professional
relationships
with others in
your company and
industry.
-
Increase your
awareness of how
the company
works -
who has informal
power and clout,
and the
unwritten as
well as written
rules of
engagement.
Jumping
to Conclusions
We often
criticize others
for jumping to
conclusions or
assuming the
worst about a
situation that
may be erroneous
or is not
justified by the
facts. When we
jump to
conclusions, we
tend to label
others based on
prejudice or
stereotype,
interpret their
behavior as a
result of
assumptions, and
narrow our
objectivity by
becoming overly
critical or
intolerant. To
uproot this
weed, you have
to continually
dig deep into
the soil of your
mind and heart
and repeatedly
yank it out:
-
Think of ways to
jump to positive
conclusions
or
consider
alternative
aspects of any
problem, issue
or situation.
-
Refrain from
speaking or
acting before
hearing all the
facts.
Stop wasting
precious time
and energy on
what you think
may have
happened. There
may be a
perfectly good
explanation for
why a particular
action was
taken. Ask for
it.
-
Avoid the
tendency to
pigeon-hole
others
or use labels
and stereotypes.
Wishy-Washiness
Do you have a
boss or
co-workers who
just can't seem
to make up their
minds? One
minute they
model commitment
and confidence,
promise to
support and back
you up; the next
minute they
hesitate, become
indecisive, and
do not know the
right direction
to take. You
will need both
hands to handle
this slippery
weed:
-
Focus on what's
important.
Ask for
advice and
insight. When
you have
considered all
the available
facts, move
forward with
prudence and
good sense.
- Put
some stakes in
the ground.
Take a
stand and stop
straddling the
fence.
-
Clearly outline
any roles and
expectations;
then
follow the plan.
Double-Talk
In the business
world,
double-talk
looks like
excuse making
and blame
shifting. It
often involves
the deliberate
use of
ambiguous, vague
or confusing
language that is
spoken or
written in an
earnest, sincere
or meaningful
tone. Yet, when
you reflect on
what you have
just read or
heard, you
realize it is a
mixture of sense
and nonsense,
drivel, rubbish,
and just bunk!
When someone
uses
double-talk, we
are left with a
bad taste in our
mouths. So, how
do we get rid of
this poisonous
weed?
-
Don't do it!
Understand that
to continue to
engage in
double-talk will
negatively
impact your
character,
integrity and
reputation in
the end.
- When
you hear
double-talk, try
to discover
motives,
hidden agendas,
intentions and
reasons by
listening with
an objective
filter.
- Hold
yourself
accountable for
your mistakes
and failures
instead
of making
excuses and
blaming others.
Don't let
pervasive
suckers and
weeds choke your
career and
business garden.
Don't just cut
them out; yank
them - root
system and all!
You'll be more
successful if
you do.
* * *
Althea DeBrule,
entrepreneur &
seasoned human
resources
executive, has
helped people
achieve their
career goals for
more than 30
years. She is
recognized for
her bottom line
and practical
application of
career
transition &
development
strategies in a
way that compels
action. To
discover how
Althea can help
you take your
career to a new
level, visit
http://www.extreme-career-makeover.com. |
