Being Too Good at Your Job Can Be Bad - The Muse

Being Too Good at Your Job Can Be Bad - The MuseBeing Too Good at Your Job Can Be BadYou know the term rock star is an annoying, overused hiring clich. But, lets be real Thats just the kind of employee you are. Your interviewer told you- on the spot- that you were the perfect candidate. You got the salary and perks you wanted, and your anfhrer has yet to give you a project you couldnt handle.And yet, youve recently started to notice some strange things happening. For example, youre no longer the first choice to spearhead projects. Or, when you share brilliant ideas with your supervisor, hes started pushing back that hed really like things done a different way. When did he stop binnenseeing your genius?Theres no easy way to say this, but it could be that your success has gone to your head- and youre behaving as if youre the best thing to ever happen to your company. And thats one of the worst things for your career growth. Not only are you no longer learning (because you know everythi ng), but youre putting yourself in precarious waters with your boss. Concerned this might be you? Heres how to diagnose if youre on this path- and what you can do about itIs This You?Everythings a NegotiationYou imagine a workflow where your boss assigns you a project, you share your ideas for moving forward, and- with no mora than some minor tweaks- he tells you to go for it. But that couldnt be further from reality. The assignments you do get dont allow much room for interpretation. And when you share an idea, you have to fight for it every step of the way. Every email becomes a back-and-forth chain, and the more ardently you tell your boss you know what youre doing, the more he pushes back that hed really like you to follow his directions.Other Colleagues Arent Having the Same ProblemsYour boss is a hard-to-please nightmare, and you cant wait for drinks with your work BFF, so you can swap stories about just how awful he is. Except, your co-workers experience is totally different. For the most part, shes really vibing with your supervisor. In fact, it seems like youre the only teammate in the doghouse. Youre always picked last and youre routinely being passed over for projects you want. Youve mentioned it, but nothings changing.Youre No Longer Getting Good Feedback- From AnyoneChatting with a few colleagues you trust is beneficial in more ways than one. Along with hearing if they too think your boss is on a rampage, you can get some feedback from a third party. Lets say your manager never has anything nice to say about your ideas. What about your co-workers? Are they all over your latest suggestion, because, yes, it is life-changing, or are they politely thanking you for your input- and sticking to the original plan?If no one is praising your suggestions, odds are its not just your boss. No matter how smart you are, youre kinda out of sync with the general direction of your department.What Now?OK, so you read the above and nodded nonstop. But, youre not sure what to do next. Its not your fault youre good at your job (like really good). Unfortunately, believing youre supremely talented can be an obstacle in the workplace (even if its true). Not only does it isolate you from the rest of your team, but it can also lead you to thinking- and acting on the idea- that you dont need a boss. In fact, you may start to assume your current ones just a figurehead, even a nuisance. You might think getting along with her is perfunctory- but its not. Shes (usually) in dienstgrad for a reason. And shes typically not thrilled when someone starts reacting to her feedback like its just unnecessary suggestions. The scary news is To stay relevant, you need to make a change. But the good news is You can- starting today. Because you can alter how you interact with her and how you go about your day-to-day in the office.Lets start with the constant back-and-forth. If your response is to keep hammering away at why youre right, odds are you arent listening. Rathe r, youre focused on winning the conversation. (Which, for the record, isnt how conversations with your boss work.) So, treat the next few weeks like an experiment. Complete projects as theyre assigned without pushing back. Make a promise to yourself to only ask questions for clarification (not to prove a point). If you find the praise ramping back up again, take that as a sign that youre back on the right path.And if she seems to have it in for you? Take a step back from the situation and know this Making her suddenly see why her way sucks is going to be really hard- especially when her approach doesnt seem to be bothering anyone else. Yes, you can decide shes threatened by your brilliance and that this isnt worth your time (along with a host of other excuses). Or, you can choose to go all in on demonstrating you want your job. Along with following your boss directions, seek out more feedback, not less (and not just from your supervisor, but also from your teammates). For example Wh en you turn projects in, ask what you can do to make them even better, and seek to incorporate those pointers in future work. And, when youre tempted to push back- ask Why? instead. Not like a petulant child, but because youre genuinely curious as to why something should be done a certain way. Either youll get some useful insight into your boss quirks and pet peeves, or better yet, youll learn that her ways truly better for sound and valid reasons.If youre worried that your once rising star is falling because of your boss, youll lose nothing by trying the strategies above. At worst, youll have learned a new approach to dealing with someone you dont understand- a vital workplace skill. At best, youll see improvements to your workload and your relationship with your manager, which will help you feel more confident about your career path and your future at the company.Photo of winner courtesy of Shutterstock.