A while back I wrote a short paragraph about how in college they need to offer a class where they just teach you work skills and how to function in an office. I cannot emphasize enough how much I still believe that now (shocking that my opinion has not changed in a two week period, right?).
My generation is always told that we are soft. That we get what we want and don't know how to respond to "no". We can't handle the rigors of the real world. It is why so many of us don't have jobs and are forced to move into our parents' home. We were told "yes" our entire life. When we hear anything else, we just don't know how to respond.
I think that's a load of shit. And anyone who truly believes that clearly hasn't spent all that much time with people my age.
Now, but wait, Pete, you're about to contradict yourself pretty badly right here. I think that there are moments where that is very true. Very, very true.
We grew up in a generation where everyone got a trophy. One of my friends said growing up he played in a travel soccer tournament and his team lost every game by at least five goals. No worries, though, they still got their sportsmanship awards! Oh, you got a C on that algebra test? Well at least you tried your hardest!
Many times, we don't handle criticism or failure all that well. Or for that matter, we don't handle not even being recognized at times.
And that brings me back to my opening paragraph. Upon entering the workforce, someone should have grabbed me by the shoulder like Lenny would a mouse and sternly inform me: "You will have days where you get the lowest of low projects, you'll be asked to complete them, you won't get thanked, and the most important part of this? You will just keep your head down and plugging away, because that's what first-year employees do."
Nothing specific happened to me today to make me realize this. Sure, I do seemingly meaningless tasks all the time at work and I have learned to just go about my merry way when I am finished. Because you aren't going to get thanked each time. You aren't going to have someone patting you on the back each time you didn't screw up. That was the expectation when you were an intern (or when you worked at Jamba Juice in high school like myself). You just do your damn job and recognize the fact you have a job is more thanks than you really deserve.
I watched a few of my coworkers receive praise for particularly difficult assignments this week. My first thought was "well, shit, if I had had the opportunity to do that, I could have done just as good of a job." Well, guess what? I didn't get to do it because I probably couldn't have. They had the experience and the knowledge to complete the project efficiently and effectively. I have been full time at my PR firm for more than three months now. My colleague has been there for more than two and a half years. It's downright arrogant for me to think I could exceed her performance.
She earned her praise and the thanks of my boss. My tasks, nor my experience, have earned that praise. Only once I exceed the expectations of those above me will those accolades come.
And that is a fact that I have struggled with, and continue to, since I started. Yeah, I'm used to people telling me how great of a job I do at given tasks, just how Gen X's perceive. Now, I have to accept that there are others that vastly outperform me and I cannot allow their success or my lack of recognition to stand in my way.
Because the second that I do that, I fall right into the stereotype that generations before us have shackled us in.
Each day is a learning experience in this regard. I can only hope that I remain so open to accepting the fruits of that labor.
No comments:
Post a Comment