| Topic Name: |
what am i doing wrong? |
| Message Name: |
I understand |
| Date Posted: |
06/10/2005 |
| In Reply To: |
I've always been scared to suck up, and I've been raised to be a little humble when it comes to my work.
That said, I get along with everyone in my newsroom, but I always thought it was better to keep your distance from management, less spoken, less problems?
But that's wrong? and how do you go about strenghtening relationships with management? I've always sort of kept them at a distance, for whatever reason. |
| Message: |
I had to learn the hard way. I am that one reporter (every newsroom has usually just one) who is not naturally boisterous and constantly jabbering away to hear the sound of my own voice.
I tend to focus on things intently while I'm working. I feel comfortable on camera, but not always around other people.
This is easily interpreted as being aloof and unconcerned, even though my actual work and work ethic were always judged as being well above average. I work long hours, coming in early and staying late, so I am hardly a clock watcher
However, when I'm working; I'm thinking about work and nothing else unless there's something really serious going on in my life and even then I can cope.
So in the past-- that's what I would talk to co-workers about--work; i.e. today's assignment, today's news, tomorrow's assignment, what the station is working on how we did in ratings, the new promo, etc. You get the picture.
I considered and was raised to believe that talking about personal things at work was unprofessional. I felt anything else should be saved for friends and family. And I still believe in a newsroom, too much perosnal information, later becomes ammunition.
But, I learned people like me are in the minority. While I always say good morning or hi and bye, thank you, etc; I find small talk very tedious. I used to be just polite and respectful and nothing more. That's just NOT ENOUGH for most people.
Most people need or want that extra show of concern and a lot of people feel its important to be friends with co-workers to a certain degree.
Now I ask about people's kids and what they're up to whether I really am interested or not. I listen to the stories about the weekend gatherings and laugh and add to the mix to a certain extent. When people look upset; I ask what's wrong even though I'd rather mind my own business. I occasionaly accept invitations to events I'd rather not attend and reciprocate. And honestly, I don't have a problem not being included in things outside of work and I still feel uncomfortable talking to my boss about my personal life.
Since small market; I really have not worked with people that 1) had something in common with outside of work 2)genuinely trusted and considered true friends 3)knew they (or I ) was mature and capable of separating personal and professional. That's a main reason I won't date co-workers even if I was interested.
It does get under my skin how many newsroom disputes have more to do with what so-and-so said last night at the bar or whether the anchor invited them to her baby shower than what led last night's newscast.
But I know I'm in the minority so I learned to adapt. And after working for someone who wouldn't even say hello or goodbye to employees ; I kind of started to understand the criticism.
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