Written by Ji Hyun Lee on 20 October 2009
We’ve all been through it. You’re at a job reporting to a supervisor who knows less about the business than you do. In meetings, he mentions things unrelated to the discussion and makes suggestions that cause others to groan and roll their eyes. 
If you believe that your boss is an incompetent drone in a suit, what should you do to improve the quality of your work life without committing self-sabotage?
“Produce exceptional work, but also ask for their feedback, so it appears that you care about [your boss] and their knowledge. This is especially important for getting a reference from them later or when trying to move into a new position or company,” says Dan Schawbel, a personal branding expert and author of Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success, a book that targets Generation Y employees. He also advises employees against being perceived as “a know-it-all or someone who is superior to management” which can only harm a worker’s reputation.
Vinanti Sarkar Castellarin, producer and director, recounts an incident when she worked as a researcher in the research and development department at Columbia University. “The moment my boss learned that I had two MA degrees and working on an Ed.D., she felt very threatened,” she recalls. Her boss held the supervisory position despite having only a B.A. and proceeded to act out against Castellarin after being made aware of her subordinate’s advanced academic background. Castellarin was criticized and humiliated in every task even though she had helped raise 20 million in funds for the department.
“It was not a matter of feeling I was smarter than my boss, it was a feeling that my boss could have been a little smarter in using my academic knowledge,” she says. Castellarin currently works as producer and director at Global Cultural Diversity Films (GCDF).
Generally, all employees have something to gain in their work environment, even if they feel more competent than their supervisors. Rather than fighting the situation and getting frustrated, Schawbel suggests taking a backseat and looking for other people in the office to learn from. An employee can learn from the supervisor as much as the supervisor can learn from his or her employees. The work environment is a constant give and take.
Schawbel also points out that if an employee feels like they’re smarter and know more than others on the team, it’s a tell tale sign that they should be looking for a new position. While this isn’t always an option for many people, it’s always a good idea to realize your own potential within the confines of a very limiting work environment. Because in the end, if there is absolutely no opportunity for growth, why waste the energy proving your smarts if it can land you in hot water?
For more articles from Ji Hyun Lee, please check out:
The Politics Series: The Politics of Facebook Friend Requests from Your Colleagues | The Politics of being a Woman on the Job: Why can’t we all just get along? | The Politics of Being Young on the Job: Managing the Kid Boss | The Politics of being cute on the job: Are you too Sexy for the Workplace? | The Politics of the bad boss | The Politics of Office Romance
The Lists: Five Ways to Battle the Office Backstabber | Ten Signs that You Might be a Difficult Employee
Everything in between: Tips for managing the Millennial Generation | When You’re Smarter than the Boss | Knowing When to Speak Up and When Not to |Equal Work, Unequal Pay: What to do if You’re the Victim of Gender Discrimination
Do you need advice dealing with awful coworkers, bosses and other workplace issues? Find the author on Twitter @JiHyun42 or email, jihyunnyc@gmail.com, and tell her all about it. You could be featured in an upcoming article!
Tags: conflicting personalities, Gen X, micromanaging bosses, Millennial Generation
Posted in Bosses, Minority Issues | 5 Comments »
Written by Ji Hyun Lee on 01 September 2009
There are many things that are wrong in the workplace— backstabbing employees, gender bias, young bosses and bad
bosses— but let’s take a moment to celebrate some of the good things in the America, in spite of the backstabbers.
This past Thursday marked the 45th anniversary of the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1965, which made it illegal to discriminate against people based on their race, national origin, sex, age, disability and religious preference. It is the law that made it possible for everyone to have an equal chance at success in the workforce. It is what gives us the multicultural society that we live and work in.
The workplace is filled with conflict and for all of us, that conflict is possible because the Civil Rights Act was enacted. For many of us that were laid off recently, it’s easy to get discouraged with the unemployment now at a dismal 9.5 percent. Although many of us think back on all the jobs we quit and the promotion that we didn’t get, the great thing is that we all have the opportunity to compete and fight equally for the jobs and the promotions that are out there: It’s quite a wonderful privilege to have.
On this July 4 holiday, if you’re a frustrated worker or jobseeker, lets take a moment to reflect on all the advantages that is available in America. Hopefully, we can use some of these reasons to remain calm and assertive in these turbulent economic times.
10. Everyone can fight for a promotion if wrongly denied. Connecticut firefighters were denied promotions in favor of less qualified black firefighters. 
The Supreme Court ruled that reverse discrimination was illegal and allowed the white and Hispanic firefighters their due raise and promotion.
9. We work, friend and marry people of diverse backgrounds and everyone is just fine with that.
8. Though there is a recession happening in this country, most of us still have the means to survive on good food, good television and the Internet. Because it’s too cruel of a society to have to do without the Internet.
7. Our workplace issues have more to do with personality conflicts than race, gender or age conflicts.
6. Conniving bosses don’t discriminate— they’re equal opportunity backstabbers so whether you’re white, black, Asian or gay, everyone has an equal chance to be sabotaged.
5. Even if you hate your job, you’re lucky to have something, which is always better than nothing.
4. This year, we have our very first black president in Obama, a woman secretary of state in Clinton, and soon-to-be the very first Hispanic Supreme Court justice with Sotomayor. Diversity in the government makes it possible for the country’s workplace to be that much more level for everyone.
3. The Equal Pay Act was amended this past Jan. 29— The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act was enacted which made it possible for the victim Lilly Ledbetter to receive compensation for lost wages when she was paid less than male coworkers. The new bill extends 180-day statue of limitation to reset with every new paycheck and for Ledbetter who worked as a supervisor at Goodyear tires for 19 years, that is 19 years of back pay that she is now entitled to receive. Appropriately enough, this is also the very first bill signed into law by President Obama— America’s very first black president.
2. The growth of Social media makes it possible for the unemployed to find opportunities with other like-minded individuals. And this has everything to do with the brilliant, diverse, and educated people in America.
1. Barack Obama has made some mistakes and we’re okay with that— so far.
Got an office politics tale you want to share? Find the author on Twitter @JiHyun42 and tell her all about it. You could be featured in an upcoming article!
© len green | dreamstime.com, ap photo | jessica hill
For more articles on work-related issues, please check out:
The Politics Series: The Politics of Facebook Friend Requests from Your Colleagues | The Politics of being a Woman on the Job: Why can’t we all just get along? | The Politics of Being Young on the Job: Managing the Kid Boss | The Politics of being cute on the job: Are you too Sexy for the Workplace? | The Politics of the bad boss | The Politics of Office Romance
The Lists: Five Ways to Battle the Office Backstabber | Ten Signs that You Might be a Difficult Employee
Everything in between: Tips for managing the Millennial Generation | When You’re Smarter than the Boss | Knowing When to Speak Up and When Not to |Equal Work, Unequal Pay: What to do if You’re the Victim of Gender Discrimination
Do you need advice dealing with awful coworkers, bosses and other workplace issues? Find the author on Twitter @JiHyun42 or email, jihyunnyc@gmail.com, and tell her all about it. You could be featured in an upcoming article!
Tags: Bias & Discrimination, conflicting personalities, difficult employees, employee-employer relationships, gender bias, generational conflict, human resources, micromanaging bosses, office backstabbers
Posted in Minority Issues | No Comments »
