Work matters

Find out what your office personality is – and why it matters!

(Wo)man or mouse? What's your office personality?

Take DialExpotel’s revealing quiz, devised by clinical hypnotherapist Georgia Foster, to discover your office personality – and find out how you can train your brain to deliver a more balanced version of yourself

1. If I had to be an ‘office animal’ I’d be:

(a) a meek mouse

(b) a solidly efficient packhorse

(c) a dominating lion

2. In meetings, I tend to:

(a) keep a low profile until spoken to

(b) pipe up when something’s relevant to me

(c) lead the discussion and speak on behalf of the team

3. My office gripe is:

(a) when colleagues take the credit for all the overtime I did

(b) when managers don’t communicate effectively

(c) having to work with half-wits!

4. The rate at which I work is:

(a) slow but thorough – I’m a perfectionist

(b) a balance between doing a good job and meeting deadlines

(c) fast, although I sometimes make mistakes

5. I tend to leave the office:

(a) at least an hour after everyone else, sometimes longer

(b) at about the same time every day, unless I have a big project on

(c) asap

6. A work appraisal is:

(a) an ego-bashing I dread

(b) all part of the job, enabling both parties to take stock

(c) when I demand a pay rise. Too right!

7. My greatest fear at work is:

(a) letting team mates down if they think I did a bad job

(b) finding it hard to get another job if I lost mine

c) Fear? Get a life, it’s only work!

Now add up your score. Did you score mostly As, Bs or Cs?

ANSWERS

Did you score mostly As, Bs or Cs?

As: You’re a people pleaser who can’t say no

GEORGIA says: “Trying to please suggests a fear of being disliked. You hold back from speaking your mind to avoid criticism. Being a ‘yes’ person stops you from having your own self-esteem and professional needs met, though.

TRY THIS EXERCISE: Practise in your mind saying no in a confident way – and feeling good about it! When your mind imagines behaving assertively, it perceives the situation as real, meaning this is how you will start responding in reality.

Bs: You’re a professional ‘people person’

GEORGIA says: “Being well-balanced in your attitude to your work/life is great. People like to work with those who are considerate and emotionally intelligent. Why not use your natural people skills to inspire others?”

TRY THIS EXERCISE: People are very good at mimicking inspiring behaviour – so lead by example. Encourage shy colleagues to be more confident by complimenting them, or handle difficult staff members magnanimously.

Cs: You’re a domineering bulldozer

GEORGIA says: “Overbearing types often have ‘imposter syndrome’ – a deep fear of being found out as a fake. This may stem from being bullied and learning to protect yourself by becoming a bully yourself. Privately, you may feel you have nothing to offer – so learn to temper your inner critic.

TRY THIS EXERCISE: Each time you think a negative comment, ‘release’ it on the out breath. Then take a deep breath in and say something positive to yourself. Repeating positive affirmations like this powerfully retrains your mind into knowing you have the resources to feel good about yourself.

www.georgiafoster.com

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