Checklist - Are you at the end of your rope?

You’re good at what you do, and you always go the extra mile in your job. But sometimes, it seems that no matter how hard you work, you’re not making any progress. 

Common frustrations

It’s important to understand that especially if you’re a hard worker who’s focused on making things happen, it’s not unusual to get upset or even annoyed every now and then. Aspirational workers often encounter the following common frustrations:

• A heavy workload: The upside of being a good worker is that your supervisor knows you’re dependable. The downside, however, is that it’s all too easy to take on extra tasks when your plate is already full. And then you wind up trying to do everything well — even though you still only have 40 hours in a work week.
  
  
• A lack of support: Perhaps you feel that one or more people in your team aren’t doing their best — and it’s detracting from your performance. Or maybe you’re not getting the support you need from the higher ups to do a good job.
  
  
• Inefficiency in the workplace: If you’re stuck working with outdated or slow applications, methods or processes, it can be very frustrating. For example, many workers feel they have to spend too much time in unnecessary meetings.
  
  
• A lack of input or acknowledgement: In her article “Unhappy Employees? 4 Things That Are Driving Them Crazy” for Business News Daily, Nicole Fallon reports that it’s important for employees to feel empowered at work. If you feel like your contributions aren’t being recognized and your opinion doesn’t count, it’s understandable if you become dissatisfied.
  
  
• Stalled career progression: If you give your work your best and you’re continuously being passed over for important projects and even promotions, it’s only a matter of time before you become frustrated. 
  
  

What you can do

Feeling upset and dissatisfied at work isn’t good for your happiness — or for your career. Eventually, you’re likely to become disengaged — and that will impact your performance and productivity. That’s why it’s important to take action to rectify the situation as soon as possible:

• Discuss the issue with an objective party. In his article “5 Emotionally Intelligent Habits for Handling Work Frustrations” for Fast Company, Harvey Deutschendorf advises finding someone who’s emotionally removed from the situation to talk things through. He or she will likely be able to give you an objective opinion.
  
  
• See the big picture. Lea McLeod M.A.’s article “Feeling Frustrated? How to Advocate for Yourself at Work” for The Muse reminds us that there are probably a lot of reasons that things are the way they are in your company. Try to examine the situation from every perspective so you can gain more insight into the organization and your role. When things become clearer, it also becomes easier to see your way through.
  
  
• Voice your frustrations. If you still think that the situation needs to be addressed, set some time aside to formulate your thoughts so you can share them with your supervisor. It’s also advisable to come up with some ways to improve matters — that way, you can show your manager that you’re proactive and solutions-oriented. 



When you feel frustrated at work, things might seem overwhelming and beyond your control. But when you take the time to calm down and objectively analyze the situation, the best course of action can quickly become clear.