The Employee You Don't Want to Become

The Employee You Never Want To Become: Lessons From Wilson

Once upon a time there was this brand new employee named Wilson. Wilson was excited about working for a new organization and was eager to show off his talent. He came to work earlier than his scheduled time, he did his job to the best of his ability, and he expressed interest in wanting to grow with the company. A few months later, Wilson became bored with his job because he was no longer challenged and had grown complacent. Shortly thereafter, Wilson's performance suffered, his morale was horrible, and he simply didn't care because he was no longer happy at work. There are things that we can learn from Wilson during his first year in terms of what NOT to do.

Wilson's performance is an indicator of his capabilities in the eyes of leadership. Therefore, not performing wasn't an option.

1. Wilson should have partnered with his leader to discuss growth and/or additional responsibilities. Perhaps he would have learned another aspect of the role, which would have challenged him. If you ever find yourself here, make sure that you communicate with your leader sooner than later.

Wilson's morale became an issue in the workplace because he was unhappy. When you have the option to be perceived as negative or positive, always select the positive option.

2. It is almost impossible to change a negative perception to that of a positive one. Please don't be the person at work to complain, harbor negativity, and impact those around you because you aren't happy. You may voice your concerns, but the timing and setting needs to be appropriate. You also need to remain professional at all times and communicate often with your leader.

Wilson's attitude was affecting his altitude. Because he didn't care, he was no longer considered an asset to the organization.

3. Whenever an employee isn't considered to be an asset to the team and/or the company, it is possible that they may not be with the company long term. If ever you find yourself feeling this way about your role within the organization, it is time to self-assess. It is time to possibly pursue other options in terms of employment and that may be better for you.

Wilson has been an awesome example of how to start off with an organization. He simply became bored and may not have been aware of the impact of his actions. As a result, he negatively impacted himself and others. Let's learn some valuable lessons from Wilson so that you can thrive at work! If you ever find yourself feeling like Wilson, remember that he is who you DON'T want to become.