The thing about advice is that it has to come from someone who trusts you. Not always someone who knows you.
You Know You Best
For example, years ago in an old job, I had a review at work. It was noted that I have excellent customer service skills. It was noted particularly around the way I managed someone who was trying to bully their way into something they weren’t invited to be a part of. This is true. I *can* manage customer service well.
But I don’t *want* to. Being face to face, or high volume calls; that drains the living daylights out of me. I can’t people that much AND be happy outside of work. And while I believe that doing a good job at work is important, to me it’s more important that I am in a good state for my non work life.
I’ve seen a lot of bad advice recently. People trying to twist things to their viewpoint. For example, if I said to someone “Oh I don’t want a customer facing position, it’s not for me”, it would be twisted to be me lacking confidence or skills, or being blamed on fear.
I’m tired of that attitude.
That’s why you need to take advice from someone who trusts you – so that if you say “X isn’t for me” they trust that you know yourself, and move on to a better topic, or a different option.
Of course here I’m using the example of a job, but this can be applied to whatever it is you’re seeking advice on.
Do you get advice from people who trust you?
I remember I was told once by an employer that even though I didn’t enjoy project management I was good at it so needed to learn to like it. Newsflash, 20 years down the track I still don’t.
Yes, exactly! You can be good at things that you aren’t interested in.
That’s an interesting point. I don’t think I’ve ever thought about this – I’m now trying to think about all the advice I’ve been given. Fuck. I think I’m going to be mulling on this one for a bit but it makes perfect sense.
Sorry!! I didn’t mean to cause over thinking.
I have learned the hard way that others’ flattery or comments about “what I can do well’ are not reasons to do them. I have been caught and I then had to get out of the situation.
This corporate speak of titles and roles did creep into education when I was still there and I used it as a principal but at least in schools we “knew what they meant.”
“Everyone” had this advice that when retire: be a volunteer. Good in concept. Yes, both my husband I did that and guess what, those ‘in charge’ with far fewer qualifications that either of us” made unrealistic demands for our services. And we both left our respective roles.
Hope you can find what is, in the end, exactly your job!
Thank you for linking up for #lifethisweek and next week’s optional prompt is 22/51 First Job. 3/6/19 Warm wishes, Denyse
I found a lot of bizarre expectations when I last looked into volunteering. It has become very corporatised and unfriendly and feels unappreciative for what is free labour!!