The real work at the office

 I sat in my boss's office, finishing my annual review yesterday, a process that lasted over a month from beginning to end. Let me state clearly that I am not a surgeon, or a high-priced Manhattan lawyer or anything, and that's why it took so long. It took a long time because, like every job out there, like every life out there, personalities come into play in a job sometimes more than the job itself.

Did you ever notice that some days, you can spend way more time trying to work around your colleagues than actually working? That often, the stress of a job is based more on a particular person than on the job, or a project? Take a look sometime when you're stressed out at work. Identify the real cause. You may be surprised at what you find.

My job is challenging, but it's not difficult. I work in marketing and public relations. I work with good people. They all have issues, and weird quirks. So do I. The only time it's an issue is when someone in management has some problem they carry over into the job, and it affects everyone else.

Feeling targeted? Maybe that person is terribly insecure and feels inferior to you, so they will try anything to make you feel you're not doing the right things. My review was based largely around tiptoeing around another person, trying not to offend them, and doing what should rightfully be my job in a way that doesn't seem like I'm in charge of it, because this other person wants to be in control of everything. Silly? Sure. Will it make my life easier to put in the extra effort? Probably. Am I learning from it? Definitely. It also gives me a chance to practice compassion for others. Do I recognize what's going on? Yes. And it keeps me on my toes.

You may be wondering if the raise I got was enough to cover all that......