My Biggest Job Related Stressors
One job I had was great in many ways, but I felt a lot of stress because of one co-worker. She was a know-it-all, and would constantly tell me how to do my job. She just grated on me!
What Worked For You?
I finally ended up talking to her about it more. I never sat her down and told her how her personality annoyed me, of course, but I got better at standing my ground and saying things like, 'Thanks for your suggestion, but this way works for me.' Because she wasn't a boss, but a co-worker, I was able to do this, and she ended up backing off quite a bit. It turns out she really was just trying to be helpful, and when she got the message that I didn't think I needed her help, she let it go--somewhat. She still had her opinions, but she didn't feel the need to share them as much.
Advice
- Don't be afraid to be a little assertive. Sometimes it helps.
- Know when NOT to be assertive, too. That could have blown up in my face if I wasn't careful about how I phrased it, or if she were a more forceful person.
- Sometimes one small aspect of your job can create major stress, and fixing that one thing can really help.
