Oct 13th Week 3: Know Your Strengths, Understand Your Weaknesses

Last week we explored how other people respond to us and how to use this information to improve our interactions with others. Continuing with the theme of self-exploration, this week's lesson asks us to consider both our strengths and weaknesses, pointing out that we all have both. Yea, that's good news. The harder part of the week's work, though, was to consider utilizing others to compliment our weaknesses.

Often we like to hang out with people just like us because it tends to be very comfortable. In the workplace, we don't usually get to choose whom we work with, however. So, it is very probable that we have co-workers who may be strong in areas that we are weak and vice versa. That's a good thing because it helps to fill in the weak gaps which is, overall, best for CBC. And, you know what? Over time, we sometimes become stronger in our weak areas because we have co-workers who model ways to improve.

TIK & TAK
TAK CUTS NO ONE ANY SLACK. Tak's and Tik's department is hosting a student services event. As Tak generally dislikes the social activities associated with division events, he has very little experience in planning ways to encourage comraderie. During the department's planning meetings, he does not participate in the discussions. Unfortunately, if he follows his usual pattern of behavior, he'll have lots to say after the event - mostly in the form of what he believes we should have done.

WHAT MAKES TAK TIC. Tik loves to plan fun activities to get people to relate positively to each other. Sometimes, however, he knows he goes a little overboard and staff who are not as outgoing find the activities a bit uncomfortable. Tik asks Tak to work with him on the event ice breaker so that he gets a different perspective. Although Tak initially refuses, Tik tells him that he would really appreciate having his input in the planning stage rather than after the event and that this would help them plan something everyone might enjoy.

Oct 6th Week 2: Learn Everything You Can About Your "Blindside."

The purpose of identifying and analyzing our individual areas needing improvement isn’t to induce misery or frustration. Rather, such self-reflection can be a very eye-opening experience. When we are honest with ourselves about how others react to us and how we are perceived, it opens the door for a great deal of self-improvement. And who among us could not stand to improve, especially when it may make our work environment and our relationships with co-workers and students so much more fulfilling?

Don’t shy away from weaknesses. Instead:

1. look at things objectively
2. recognize and admit weaknesses
3. make conscious decisions about what to do about them
   

TIK & TAK
TAK HAS NO AREAS NEEDING IMPROVEMENT. Whenever Tak is asked to improve his work skills, he gets defensive. In his own mind Tak is a "superstar" and, when there are negative interactions with his co-workers or complaints from students, it is because of their poor attitude or their failings. Poor Tak.

TIK WORKS ON IT. Whenever Tik is asked to improve his work skills, he listens carefully to the feedback. He analyzes the comments, problem, or weakness and then develops a strategy to improve in that area. Yea, Tik!

Additional Reading Material: Article 1, Article 2

Sept 29th Week 1: Realize That Your Attitude Is Everything!

First, let's make things clear. A bad attitude is not the same as a bad day. Nor is it the same as an inadvertent or unintentional comment that "goes sour."

A bad attitude involves persistent negative or critical vibes that come out in tone (e.g., sarcasm, demeaning talk) or mannerisms (e.g., rolling one's eyes, inattentiveness). The attitude or manifested behavior dampens workplace morale and brings people down.

We all have times when life is hard and when times are bad. Situational negativity may not only be understandable but should result in co-worker empathy and supportiveness. On the other hand, even without provocation or reason, some people just ooze negatively and seem to walk under a persistent black cloud, where if anything can go wrong, it does. Think about that.

TIK & TAK
THE TAK ATTACK. Tak can find fault with anything and everything. Even if a new process has never been tried before, you can anticipate that Tak will point out all the possible drawbacks. Most of Tak's co-workers would prefer to avoid him.

DON'T BURST MY BUBBLE TIK. Tik has no choice but to work directly with Tak. He greets Tak each morning with a resounding, "Good morning! Let's see what great work we can do today!" or a similar positive acknowledgement accompanied by a sincere smile. His positive attitude is spreading and other co-workers are now less sensitive to Tak's negativity.

Additional Reading Material: Article 1, Article 2, Article 3, Article 4