Policies and Procedures
Policies and procedures are written for several reasons. They help define a company's standards for customer service, they articulate what steps should be followed for consistent delivery of products and services and they help employees meet company expectations. They can also be used to evaluate your job performance, among other things. In the nut shell, polices and procedures are important! It is also important to know if your interpretation of the rules lines up with the company's and/or your manager's understanding. This is what makes the workplace such a subjective environment. Your understanding of any given rule can be distinctly differently from that of another person. It is very important that you are on the same page with your workplace.
Normally new employees get employee manuals, do not just throw it in the trash. Take time read the company's expectations. New employee manuals are only the surface of the rules. There are other policies that should describe your work. Read these and begin to use the same language when you are communicating with your superiors. Know your job description like your favorite song, it will always guide you and allows you to set clear boundaries.
Unfortunately all businesses are not always organized. Even more unfortunate, sometimes your boss is a jerk and tries to keep you from learning. Use the Internet! It is full of all kinds of helpful information. You can read job descriptions, policy and procedure manuals from other companies, find informative articles about your area of expertise and much more. I would also suggest keeping notes of what you are doing at work and how it demonstrates following policies and procedures. This will come in handy during a performance review. It is also helpful if questions arise about your work performance. This kind of research requires dedication to your chosen profession. If you are not willing to become an expert, maybe you are pursuing the wrong career.
Your Personal Image
How does personal image tie into policies and procedures? Well your ability to do a task is one thing, but the way in which you do it is another. If you are perceived as a sloppy, slow or stand-offish your ability to do a job will not matter. The workplace is comprised of people with feelings, beliefs and temperaments. If your image is incompatible with the those of your co-workers, you will not fit into the team.
People that are not wanted on the team get a hard time. They are criticized and constantly scrutinized. Any infraction of the rules is made to be detrimental. If the policies and procedures are followed perfectly, the only other means of attack is personal. Your co-workers can complain about your dress, hair, nails or personal style. You can even dress professionally and have impeccable style, but there will be a false perception that makes it appear to be bad. They will find anything to make you stand out, seem to cause problems and feel isolated.
One of the most important aspects of your personal image to develop is communication. Excellent communication skills will allow almost anyone to relate to you. This gives people a sense of comfort and makes them want you around. You can read books about communication, personality types and having difficult conversations. Practice talking to different people, listen to their stories and learn about different cultures.
Do not be discouraged if you have difficultly in any of these areas. You do not have to be an expert overnight. We are all works in progress, begin where you are and diligently work to improve your knowledge of policies and procedure, along with your personal image.
Resources
Employee Manuals- an article on HumanResources.com
Communication Skills for Lifelong Relationships- an informative article on Discovery Health
photos via: lyleandassociates.ca, forbes.com via google images
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