Andrew's Podcast on: 50 WAYS TO SUCCEED AT WORK Andrew

Andrew discusses the concept of being a high-maintenance employee at work. 

Being high-maintenance means causing problems, seeking attention, and being super-sensitive, demanding, or temperamental. You recognise such people by their excessive complaining, shirking ownership, being avoided by others, frequently requesting interventions, spending more time on job hunting than actual work, and doing the bare minimum. 

Andrew provides tips on how to avoid being a high-maintenance employee, such as minimising negativity, taking ownership of a solution, resolving work problems at the lowest level possible, being future-focused, pushing for recognition for the team, accepting constructive criticism, and delivering steady improvements.
Andrew also addresses how to deal with a needy work colleague. Setting clear boundaries, encouraging them to find solutions independently, promoting independence, and recommending professional help are some strategies for handling a needy co-worker. 

He suggests that it is essential to maintain a friendly but not overly involved relationship with colleagues and encourage their self-reliance.
The key takeaway from the discussion is to become aware of the characteristics and behaviours that make a person high-maintenance at work and to strive to be easy to work with. 

By focusing on solutions, being future-oriented, and maintaining positive relationships with colleagues, you will avoid being labelled as high-maintenance and improve your effectiveness in the workplace.


Can't wait for Series 2 to run its course? Then buy Andrew's new book, published on Amazon, and there's also an Audio version.

Further reading and videos: Andrew recommends some useful follow through material which you can find for each episode at50Ways.site/reading; and 50Ways.site/watch.

BOOK:
The 50 Ways to Succeed at Work book is a standalone companion to Andrew Leigh's weekly podcasts.
It's an essential resource for all job starters and those at work for a few years.
Dip in and out and take what seems helpful.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BRM569KY

In the podcast's opening story, Janet is a dedicated giver at work. She goes above and beyond to help others and rarely asks for anything in return. 

However, her work starts to suffer due to missed deadlines, communication issues, and a lack of attention to detail. Her supervisor confronts her about the problem, highlighting the difference between weak givers and strong givers. 

Weak givers prioritise helping others at the expense of their job responsibilities, while strong givers practice reciprocity and expect something in return.
Janet learns the concept of reciprocity to become a strong giver and starts seeking mutual benefits in her interactions. She realises that many of the people she previously helped were selfish takers who rarely reciprocated and struggled to advance in their careers. 

Janet's work improves when she aligns her support with expected returns and finds that others are more willing to reciprocate. Through her newfound understanding of true giving, Janet achieves success at work.
Andrew emphasises that when givers succeed, their positive impact spreads and benefits others.

In contrast, when takers win, it often comes at the expense of others or leads to attempts to undermine them. Andrew encourages you to reflect on your default approach in work interactions. Do you lean more towards being a giver, taker, or matcher?

He suggests that being a thoughtful giver who expects reciprocity and considers the organisation's best interests can lead to long-term success.
Andrew offers several suggestions about being a genuine giver.  These include recognising others' successes, acting as a cheerleader for colleagues, and finding opportunities for mutually beneficial exchanges. 

He warns against being a low-performing giver who constantly says "yes" to everything without considering the costs. Additionally, he advises you to avoid being seen as a taker by being mindful of others' needs and creating win-win situations. 

Takers, he explains, are self-focused, rarely reciprocate, and tend to contact others only when they need help.
Andrew emphasises the importance of being a thoughtful giver who expects reciprocity and considers the organisation's best interests. 

He cautions against being a weak giver who sacrifices their own work for the sake of helping others. By seeking balance and practising reciprocity, you can foster positive relationships and increase your chances of success at work.


Can't wait for Series 2 to run its course? Then buy Andrew's new book, published on Amazon, and there's also an Audio version.

Further reading and videos: Andrew recommends some useful follow through material which you can find for each episode at50Ways.site/reading; and 50Ways.site/watch.

BOOK:
The 50 Ways to Succeed at Work book is a standalone companion to Andrew Leigh's weekly podcasts.
It's an essential resource for all job starters and those at work for a few years.
Dip in and out and take what seems helpful.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BRM569KY

In this podcast, Andrew discusses how to deal with micromanagement at work and how to ask for more autonomy. 

Micromanagement, he points out, may create stress and dissatisfaction, causing people to leave their jobs. 

To deal with micromanagement, it's essential to understand the cause. Schedule regular check-ins with the micromanager to make them feel part of the process. Send regular emails with progress updates, and show how organised you are so that you can be trusted to do your job correctly without supervision. 

Andrew argues that opening up a conversation with your manager about their management style is essential. Be willing to share with your manager how constant checking on you can reduce your productivity. 
To ask for more autonomy, determine what autonomy or "doing things my way" means to you and communicate it clearly. 

To gain autonomy start by taking on new projects that show leadership qualities. Or 
propose new ideas and show how they can benefit the company. 

Complete autonomy without any constraints is rare, even for those with mega salaries. Gaining more autonomy happens when senior people trust you to do what's needed without telling you how to achieve the goal.


Can't wait for Series 2 to run its course? Then buy Andrew's new book, published on Amazon, and there's also an Audio version.

Further reading and videos: Andrew recommends some useful follow through material which you can find for each episode at50Ways.site/reading; and 50Ways.site/watch.

BOOK:
The 50 Ways to Succeed at Work book is a standalone companion to Andrew Leigh's weekly podcasts.
It's an essential resource for all job starters and those at work for a few years.
Dip in and out and take what seems helpful.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BRM569KY

Andrew discusses the impact of arriving late at work and the importance of arriving on time.  He shares a story about Ethan, who frequently arrives late and expresses his frustration verbally, which affects the team's morale. 

The supervisor approaches Ethan and asks him to arrive five minutes earlier than expected and donate to charity whenever he arrives late. 

Ethan becomes an Arrival Artist by putting a charity box into which he must pay a fine unless he arrives on time.  

Andrew shares tips for arriving on time and communicating when running late. He emphasises the importance of arriving on time, showcasing professionalism and dependability, reducing stress, building work relationships, and demonstrating time-management skills. 

Next Andrew advises the importance of communicating proactively when running late, avoiding tedious excuses, and showing an intention to make up for tardiness.


Can't wait for Series 2 to run its course? Then buy Andrew's new book, published on Amazon, and there's also an Audio version.

Further reading and videos: Andrew recommends some useful follow through material which you can find for each episode at50Ways.site/reading; and 50Ways.site/watch.

BOOK:
The 50 Ways to Succeed at Work book is a standalone companion to Andrew Leigh's weekly podcasts.
It's an essential resource for all job starters and those at work for a few years.
Dip in and out and take what seems helpful.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BRM569KY

Andrew introduces a story that illustrates the importance of being an Action Hero at work, always looking to make things happen.
Being an Action Hero means having a mindset geared towards taking action, unlike plodders who don't make things happen. 

Action Heroes don't wait for the perfect time to act and don't let fear hold them back. Several factors can prevent someone from being action-oriented, such as low motivation, no self-confidence, excessive perfectionism, goal confusion, procrastination, and analysis paralysis. It's essential to address these factors to become more action-oriented.

To become an Action Hero, Andrew explains that you need to take practical action, even small actions, that make things happen. 

Being an Action Hero requires a clear goal, confidence, and the ability to prioritise tasks. People gravitate towards Action Heroes who get things done.

Here's how Action Heroes think, says Andrew:  
Nothing will ever be perfect, so I won’t wait for perfection to act. Action cures fear, and fear can stop me from taking action. Rather than wait for inspiration, I’ll start acting, and inspiration will come.”He also identifies these factors that can dilute your tendency to act: 
Low Motivation- If a particular task is tedious or unimportant, there will be no urge to transform it into action. No Self-Confidence-to be action-oriented, you need self-confidence and to believe in yourself. Being a Perfectionist-an excessive demand for perfection can waste opportunities for action and follow through. Goal confusion-becoming distracted at work can happen quickly.  Procrastination-this an action-killer. Leaving tasks until the last moment undermines being action minded.  Analysis Paralysis-- What to do first? Is it the correct path? What if it backfires? How do you deal with the consequences? During the podcast, he suggests various remedies for these.  To  show you're action-orientated and not a plodder:
Look around to find things you can act on and focus on them. Finally, you need an internal focus on solutions. Look to something other than external forces to make something happen. 
Can't wait for Series 2 to run its course? Then buy Andrew's new book, published on Amazon, and there's also an Audio version.

Further reading and videos: Andrew recommends some useful follow through material which you can find for each episode at50Ways.site/reading; and 50Ways.site/watch.

BOOK:
The 50 Ways to Succeed at Work book is a standalone companion to Andrew Leigh's weekly podcasts.
It's an essential resource for all job starters and those at work for a few years.
Dip in and out and take what seems helpful.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BRM569KY

Going the extra mile can provide several benefits, such as a sense of purpose, feeling good, and improving knowledge, which can help boost one's career prospects.

However, working beyond the limits of one's job could lead to emotional exhaustion, cause work-family conflict, and harm mental health. It is essential to consider what "going the extra mile" means regarding frequency and content and assess its possibilities to avoid it becoming a threat. 

You must communicate your exceptional work to show you are going the extra mile. And as a team player, convey enthusiasm for the job, and use one's personality to bring value to the job.
Jane Malyon of The English Cream Tea Company went the extra mile by making a hamper from scratch and driving it 90 minutes each way to ensure her customer's birthday gift arrived. This illustrates how going the extra mile can significantly impact and create a loyal customer base. 

The better you are at your core job, the more likely you will put yourself at risk by going the extra mile. A pushback on always going the extra mile has created “The Quiet Quitter”. If work becomes too intense, consider remedial action, such as being seen regularly at the office and easing off by doing your job well for the agreed hours, not constantly slacking. 

In conclusion, going the extra mile can have several benefits, such as improving job satisfaction, boosting career prospects, and setting an excellent benchmark for colleagues to aspire. 

However, it is necessary to assess the possibilities of going the extra mile and avoid it becoming a threat to mental health.


Can't wait for Series 2 to run its course? Then buy Andrew's new book, published on Amazon, and there's also an Audio version.

Further reading and videos: Andrew recommends some useful follow through material which you can find for each episode at50Ways.site/reading; and 50Ways.site/watch.

BOOK:
The 50 Ways to Succeed at Work book is a standalone companion to Andrew Leigh's weekly podcasts.
It's an essential resource for all job starters and those at work for a few years.
Dip in and out and take what seems helpful.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BRM569KY