Most people in life will spend a large percentage of their time at the workplace. As a newbie everything seems fresh and great but as time goes on this can change and people start to reveal different sides. Criticism and disagreements are bound to happen and this can cause feelings of inadequacy and guilt. As you read on I will address work guilt and how to diminish it.
A personal account of work guilt
I experienced this recently at work. In a meeting aimed at improvements, a colleague brought up my apparent shortfalls. One point mentioned was me not staying past 6pm to help.Although, before leaving the workplace I ensure all duties I am responsible for are completed including the communal areas. This comment threw me but also brought up some guilt. Although I had done everything correct and completed all duties within working hours, I was somewhat still expected to do more in my Managers eyes.
I had to find a way to diminish this work guilt before it got the better of me.
The definition of guilt
The informal meaning of guilt is to make someone feel guilty especially in order to induce them to do something.
As I sat in Nandos reflecting on this topic,in front of me was a horizontal shelf. Across it stood same size bottles of wine all containing the same thing, yet their colour and the label displayed on the bottles were somewhat unique. The image resembles the points mentioned in the next paragraph . Employees working for the same company and represent the same brand. Therefore, they all share a mutual goal. However, the working environment can change when individuals believe they are more superior than others and fail to behave like their equal counterparts.
What causes work guilt?
Depending on where you work and who is part of your team it might feel daunting, tedious or the complete opposite, exciting and challenging. Or it might feel somewhere in the middle. This is due to a number of reasons:
- Clash in personalities.
- Different work ethic.
- Contrasting perspectives on situations.
- Overall work environment.
We will now go through the following forms how this can take place.
- Managers expect you to help with their responsibilities.
- You might be expected to stay past working hours to help them with their duties.
- Unfair treatment around employee benefits e.g annual leave.
What happens if you feed into this guilt?
- Overworking, completing tasks that’s others are responsible for.
- You start to put outside work priorities last.
- People pleasing might become a constant thing.
- Impact on Mental or physical health.
How do I diminish work guilt?
- Think about all the things you do right . From basic duties to more complicated ones don’t let anything go unnoticed. By focusing on this it will uplift you. Because the good certainly outweighs the negative points that have been pointed out to you.
- It might sound silly but focus on you and put your needs first. You know your responsibilities. Just make sure they are completed to a high standard within a set time frame. Refer to your Contract of Employment to reassure yourself and ensure you are fulfilling your role.
- Don’t take it personally. This is the hardest of all because criticism can be harsh. It can even cause us to question our own identity. Harsh self judgement can spring from it too. Always remember to be kind to yourself and be your own biggest cheerleader.
- Focus on future goals and prospects. This job your in might just be a temporary opportunity needed to help elevate you further in your career. So don’t get mentally lost in a temporary situation because of others views.
Conclusion
To sum up, work guilt can affect all humans on various levels. Without a confidant present to reassure you it can be much harder to manage. Causing you to doubt your abilities and put your own needs last. Adapting these tips can help you diminish work guilt and overcome any criticism or disagreement that comes your way.
It doesn’t just end there. Work guilt can lead to perfectionism, burnout and unrealistic expectations. Find out more by clicking on this link.
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