Christine Kent

I’ve touched on this before in one of my blogs, but it is something that comes up more and more in my career coaching sessions. I’m finding that people are getting frustrated with themselves for not being perfect? HUH? I know, right?!. It sounds crazy to me, too. Yet, I am seeing a trend happening in the workplace where employers are expecting perfection, and employees are also expecting the same level of perfection of themselves. It’s crazy!

This is such a new concept to me as, I’ve always been well aware of my shortcomings and I never tried to be anything but the human being you see in the picture above. That’s who I am...take me or leave. When you get Christine on your team, you get the full-on Christine...for better or for worse. ;) It seems though that in this day and age when technology is increasing intruding into ever area of our lives, employers are expecting that their employees will run like the “machines” that help us do our jobs. The funny part in all of this is that technology isn’t perfect either. Think about how many times you have to reboot your smart phone because it’s doing something strange. Or, think about how many emails were sent to you that never reached their destination...all lost in cyberspace. Technology screws up all the time, just like humans do. Why? Because technology was created by humans. HUH. OK, so I’m getting way out there, but my point is that nothing is perfect. In this competitive job market, where there are sometimes hundreds of candidates vying for the same role, a high price is put on perfection. However, that doesn’t exist. So, how do you handle being in a workplace that demands perfection, when you are decidedly human?

Below I’ve listed a few strategies that can help you to be as perfect as possible on the job, without taking anything away from the glorious human that you are.

Dress For Success - Always look the part. This one can be a little different, depending on where you work, what task you perform at work, and the overall workplace culture. Entertainment is typically known as a more lax culture in terms of work wardrobe, yet when I lived in NYC, I was expected to wear full-on business attire even though I was working for an entertainment company. When I moved to Los Angeles, I completely embraced the more relaxed wardrobe culture around me, and I was actually excited that I could wear jeans to work any day of the week. Now, I have found a comfortable balance between the two. I still wear jeans a few times a week, but many times I will dress them up with a jacket. The important thing is to always dress for the job you want, not the job you have. Plus, employers love it when you make an effort to be professional. It reflects well on them, and it’s great for your image!

Stay Organized - Many of us struggle with this one, especially since a creative mind is not usually an organized place. However, staying organized will not only make you look better as an employee, but it will also help to avoid mistakes on the job. It’s hard to look perfect, when you’re making mistakes all the time. ;-)

Own Your Mistakes - Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, because we all do. When you make a mistake, claim it. Let your employer know that you were less than perfect, but that you learned from the mistake and give solutions to avoid making the same mistake in the future. This shows your willingness to do your best and that’s all anyone can ever ask of you.

Keep Your Boss Looped - No, I didn’t say your boss was loopy. He or she very well may be, but what I am talking about is making sure your boss knows what is going on. Report in on a regular basis and let your boss know the status of the things you’re working on. This will not only let them know that you’re on top of things, but it will also reflect well on you, as an employee.

Don’t Spread Yourself Too Thin - I read an article a few months ago about how multi-tasking is on its way out, because employers and employees alike are finding out that if an employee has too much going on at the same time, the work suffers. No one wants inferior work presented to them, and no one likes to offer up inferior work, either. Now, I’m not saying to only do one task at a time, but don’t take on so many things that you start to feel like you are catching yourself coming and going. Find a happy medium and if things get too hectic, ask your boss to prioritize for you, so you know what need is most urgent. It will make your boss happy, and show that you care about the caliber of work you’re putting forth

Take Breaks - This one is a biggie for me. Take breaks during the day. I have a tendency to plow through the day without looking up, and that’s not a really good practice to embrace. I do realize this, so I have been making a decided effort to take lunch every day, and to get up and stretch my legs every few hours. When you come back to the job, you will feel refreshed and ready to churn out some brilliant work. Remember that you’re human, and humans need to recharge.

Acknowledge the Human Within - Above all, don’t be afraid to be human. Many of us beat ourselves up if we make mistakes. We get so down on ourselves that the punishment we extend towards ourselves is far greater than any stern look coming from an employer. Embrace the human that you are, and just do your best. Ultimately, that’s all anyone can ask of you, on the job and in life.

The best thing to do is to try to keep it all in perspective. You are human and you will make mistakes. The measure of an employee is not how well you are able to achieve perfection, but rather the measure of an employee is how you handle yourself daily on the job, and how you handle the mistakes you make.

Until next time...stay tuned!