How to Deal With Your Offices Control Freak - The Muse

How to Deal With Your Offices Control Freak - The MuseHow to Deal With Your Offices Control Freak I wouldnt do it that way. Why dont you try this? What are you doing? Thats not right. Dont do that. Do this.Sound familiar? Theyre all phrases youve likely heard from the notorious control freak in your arbeitszimmer. And, while youve somehow managed to continue trucking along without snapping, youre getting dangerously close to the end of your rope.Whetzu sich you have a control-obsessed boss or a ridiculously overbearing co-worker, weve all had to work with someone who has a my way or the highway sort of attitude. Of course, dealing with this person isnt easy- but its also pretty much inevitable.So, take a deep breath. You definitely can manage to tolerate this person- without constantly clenching your jaw and balling up your fists. Here are five steps thatll help you not only cope with this controlling colleague, but also get some great work done in the process1. Recognize Pure Intent ionsWhen youre dealing with someone who seems to want to micromanage every small detail of every single project, it can be tough to see him or her as anything more than meddling and obnoxious. But, recognizing the positive attributes of this persons work ethic will make working with him or her at least a little bit easier.Lets face it- this person probably doesnt behave this way to purposely annoy you or make your job more difficult. Instead, hes just incredibly passionate about the work he does and wants it to be as polished and professional as it can be. That dedication makes him a great employee- even if his approach is a bit overwhelming and aggravating.Of course, while its great to recognize and appreciate this control freaks enthusiasm and drive, that doesnt mean he or she gets to dictate every part of every project. But, making an effort to accept that his or her motivations are good will make the next steps easier. 2. Ask QuestionsHow do others in your office typically respo nd to this pushy and controlling colleague? Does anybody ever say anything? Or, does everybody just roll over without ever standing their ground?Chances are, if this person is still firing out orders, very few (if any) people in your workplace have made an attempt to refute the demands. So, instead of just accepting this persons directions and criticisms and then muttering under your breath, its time for you to encourage a thoughtful conversation about the course of your project.How do you do this? By following up his or her demands with questions. Lets say your meddling co-worker spies over your shoulder as youre drafting a report. She immediately jumps in and says, Youre structuring that report wrong. Do it this way Follow up by saying something along the lines of, I know that we dont have a standard template in place for behauptung documents. This process works really well for me, but Id love to hear the benefits of your method.She might be a little taken aback by your forwardnes s, but shell have no option but to explain her reasoning and open up a dialogue about the project. Who knows- she might even have some great ideas you can use. Plus, incorporating a few pieces of her feedback will help to placate her. Bonus 3. Voice Your OpinionsWe all know that control freaks tend to think their methods and tactics are superior to everyone elses. But, youre still entitled to some self-direction and independence. So, if you flat out disagree with his or her direction, dont hesitate to speak up. If the controlling person youre dealing with is a co-worker on the same level as you, youll likely have an easier time doing this. Explain why you chose the process youre using- but, dont feel a need to justify every single one of your choices. That only opens up an entirely new can of worms by making it look like you need a stamp of approval on everything you do. Ultimately, if that piece of the project is yours to work on, you have the right to approach it as you see fit. T hings get a little trickier if the control freak is your boss, though. Of course, youre still free to share your ideas and opinions. But its probably better to couch them with, I started doing it this way because If your reasonings valid and still getting the desired result, itll be harder for your boss to respond with, Well, still, do it my way. However, your supervisor ultimately has final say on the way you get things done. So, you might just have to suck it up and move forward with his or her instructions. 4. Avoid ArguingTrust me, I know that dealing with a control freak can be a really aggravating experience. And, sometimes he or she winds up so blinded by conviction that a productive, balanced conversation becomes next to impossible.But, at all costs, you want to avoid getting into a heated argument. If it becomes obvious that youre not going to reach any common ground, its time to walk away. I dont need to tell you that screaming over each other will get you nowhere. 5. Requ est MediationWhen it becomes obvious that youll just never be able to agree on something, its time to enlist some help. If youre on a level playing field where neither one of you has the upper hand or a final say on the project, you need to approach a superior to mediate the situation.Yes, it seems a little childish, and youd like to avoid this step at all costs. But, if youre not making any progress, its essential. Set a meeting with your boss or supervisor where you and the other employee can each present your case. Then, your manager can decide which method he thinks is best- or even pull pieces from both of your ideas to reach a compromise.Regardless of the outcome of this meeting, you need to accept the decision and move forward. So, that means no sticking your tongue out and lording your victory over your co-worker. It also means no under-your-breath muttering if things dont go your way. Ive totally been there- dealing with your offices control freak comes with its fair share of battles, headaches, and tense moments. But, its definitely still doable. So, take a deep breath, follow these steps, and prepare to handle that person with poise and professionalism. Photo of people working courtesy of Shutterstock.

The Difficult Employees and Co-Workers in Every Office - The Muse

The Difficult Employees and Co-Workers in Every Office - The MuseThe Difficult Employees and Co-Workers in Every Office Chances are youve dealt with your fair share of unsavory co-workers, employees, and bosses. And every time, you learn a little bit mora about how to deal with the difficult scenarios they throw at you. However, there are some types of problematic people who seem to pop up more than others, and after a while, you might be wondering if there are better ways to deal with those co-workers. You know, besides just complaining about them. The infographic below shows five of the most toxic types of employees that exist and how to keep their problems from affecting you and your fellow co-workers.Infographic courtesy of Get Voip. Photo of caution head courtesy of Shutterstock.

Simple Microsoft Word tricks to improve your resume

Simple Microsoft Word tricks to improve your resumeSimple Microsoft Word tricks to improve your resumeStart your job search on the right foot with a clean, easy-to-read resume. Heres how to make it.Everyone knows that a strong resume can propel you ahead of the competition. However, even if you have the proper qualifications, arranging your information in a neat, organized format is still important. The clearer and more concise your resume, the better. Optimizing your resume to ensure cohesiveness is a necessary step if you want employers to actually read it and consider you for the position.The hiring manager, recruiter or employer reading your resume is probably very busy, and these people dont have time to leaf through long sentences about your experiences. The best way to approach a resume is to use it to convey your top strengths.This article will review key formatting tips to keep in mind while constructing your resume. Though the tips are geared towards Microsoft Word, they ca n be applied to any word processor.Use the header and footer to save space in your resumeYou can take advantages of blank margins by putting relevant information in there that would otherwise take up precious space (which would be best-utilized to expound upon your expertise). Its common practice to list contact information in the header, but you can be creative and try something original.To access the header and foot settings, click on the Insert tab. You will see a drop-down menu for header and footers in the top menu bar. Once you choose a layout you like, you can type and arrange your text in the header or footer.Your layout should complement what you use your header for. The three-column layout is a foolproof option for a resume. You can put your phone number on the left side, name and address in the middle and email address to the right. But again you can get creativeUse bold font to convey job titlesEach time you divide your resume into a new section, you should use a headin g to signify the separation. Headings are great for organizing and categorizing your resume, alerting employers to the fruchtwein important sections. A bolded font as a header will catch attention, but it wont distract in fact, itll make the resume easier to follow.Use headings to your advantage and guide people to your most impressive sections. Use bold and Italic formatting where appropriate. If you want to draw attention to any special achievements, use bolded or italicized text surrounded by normal text. As a rule of thumb, when you begin a new section and list a new job, school or position, you should bold the words.Use bullet points to list crucial skillsUsing a bulleted list is a great way to organize your resume. The easy-to-follow format allows readers to scan quickly, which is important for busy managers reviewing your resume. When referencing or explaining your experiences, keep the sentences on your bullets short. You should start with the most important points and move down.If youre going to experiment with the types of bullet points, choose a simple design. You should steer clear of colored bullets if you have a black-and-white resume, for example. Try and keep it sleek and professional by using simple bullet shapes that wont distract from the content of your resume.Prioritize your expertiseMake sure to prioritize your expertise that is most relevant to the potential position. For example, if your practical work experience is more impressive than your educational achievements, put your work section first. You should reveal your major skills immediately. Start your resume off with a bang and let recruiters know what your biggest strengths are.The same thing applies if your volunteer experience is more impressive than your education You would list the volunteer section first. By prioritizing and playing up your skillset, you can create a resume that clearly directs people to where your strengths are on the page. People reading your resume shouldnt have to hunt to learn what you excel at.Use a portable document format format to ensure securityYou should also always save your resume as a PDF file, so no one can alter your work without your consent. If you send out a Word document, you put yourself at risk of someone copying or falsifying your resume.When it comes to selecting fonts, the motto remains the same Keep it simple and select a professional-looking font. Try a classic like Arial, or another tried-and-true option. Stay away from elaborate fonts when it comes to your resume layout, the simpler the better.Microsoft offers free resume templates you can use as inspiration to get started. Just erase the arbitrary text and replace with your relevant information. This is an easy way to ensure your resume is organized properly. You can view the templates by clicking here.Overall, your resume should be easy to scan and clearly show your strengths. Start with your most impressive accolades and work your way down. You can view th e links below if youre having trouble converting your resume to PDF format.Try and look at your resume from the point of view of the person who will be reading it. Dont leave out any key skills or achievements, but keep your explanations brief and concise And finally, make sure you dont sell yourself short by not properly organizing your resume for clarity.PDF conversionfreepdfconvert.com/