Since most of us are at work more than we are at home, it just makes sense that we need to be aware of how we can practice patience at work. Just like at home, we have to accommodate other people’s unique differences, natural pace and habits. The big difference is, we don’t love the people at work – we didn’t chose to include them in our lives…they were put there by someone else.
But even if we move from job to job looking for the perfect environment for us to be able to work at our best, it will never happen. It’s the same at every job. We are the common denominator, and it’s up to us to develop and practice patience at work to keep our lives happier and more peaceful.
Don’t Procrastinate
When we dislike a part of our job, we typically put it off for as long as possible. But don’t we usually regret that?
Get into the habit of breaking large and unpalatable job duties down into bite-size chunks and then complete one or two chunks each day. That way you won’t end up having to work like a madman to get the project finished. Having to rush to meet a deadline causes impatience with yourself and others, unnecessarily.
Look At the Big Picture
It’s easy to get caught up in the details involved in larger projects, and when we do that, we quickly lose sight of the bigger picture. Avoiding nitpicking all the little details will remove stress from your life, improve your focus and encourage teamwork.
Train New Employees Fully
When you bring new people into the company or department, do everyone a favor and train them fully and at a reasonable pace. Throwing them in and expecting them to pick up each detail of their job overnight is a disaster waiting to happen. This not only causes them stress, but causes all of the other employees to be flustered too. This creates an atmosphere of anxiety and frustration that decreases productivity and employee morale.
Make Changes Slowly
If major changes in policies or procedures are on the horizon, do what you can to implement them slowly. This gives everyone a chance to get used to the idea of change–which no one likes–and gives them time to learn their new duties a little at a time. Implementing changes gradually will keep the frustration and impatience level down, and everyone, including you, happier.
