Do you feel pressured to act "a role" at work? Do you hate this?

Question

Let us say you are a financial advisor. You have to act a role dont you? You have to be "proffesional" and act like your knowledgable , maybe more than you really are, you have to sell yourself to your boss to your co-workers, and in short, you feel like a phoney at the end of the day dont you? And that is why you drink and smoke so much isnt it? You have to go home and relax and be yourself again. Does anybody hate the person that they play at work? I do.

Answer 1

I am still at my uni work. Maybe it makes no sense, but the little jobs I have I can be my usual nasty, cheeky self.
--That Cheeky Lad
"May never graduate, it is fun being a kid"

Answer 2

I'm an assistant store manager for a VERY large retailer. Sad for me? A little.

There was a time when I tried to be the professional retailer that responds to every call in a timely manner, and goes out of his way to provide excellent service, and never say anything negative about anything. Then I realized, very quickly, I might add, that not allowing my personality to come out at work was a huge injustice to myself, my associates, and my customers. I am, for the most part, a laid back guy, I usually don't get too torqued up about anything; I like cutting up just as much as the next person; and I'm totally fun to just sit around to talk to. To force myself into this clean-cut, square box of what I think makes a successful manager isn't fair.

I don't bring my personal life to work. I leave it in the car. I don't talk too much about life outside of the store when I'm there, but I am who I am. I honestly think that people get offended by folks who fit the mold. They want to work and speak to someone who is just as normal as they are. If you have to stretch yourself a little bit, well then that's what you have to do to make yourself successful

Answer 3

I know exactly how you feel. I work in a restaurant where everyday I strap on my Colgate grin and pretend I'm every ones friend. It doesn't help when your boss has the holy er than thou, look at me I'm gods gift to the world ego. I feel so phony, I can't wait to get home away from them. We have staff parties and I wouldn't be caught dead at one. I've spent six years trying to achieve some level of approval and I finally said to my self you don't have to prove anything to these people not even my boss so now I just do my job as well as I always have and when the day is done I leave. I hate that I can't be myself, I feel like someone is standing over me with a gun to my head and I can't effectively do my job. Oh I know how you feel

Answer 4

truthfully yes. i think we all do, whether its at work or school, or the gym, etc.
feeling like a phoney does things to a person.
but i do know this. its the most wonderful feeling in the world is to be one's self, and no pressure to play a 'role' can take that away.

Answer 5

Yes, I do, I only work in a bloody convenience store and yet we have to follow these friggin guidelines to get a good result from a mystery shopper! As if we werent robotic before, we certainly are now! It's always question after question after question

"would you like a bag?"
"would you like cashback?"
"is there anything else?"
"hello there, how are you?"

I tell you what, I wouldnt recommend working for sainsburys convenience AT ALL

Answer 6

Yes, I have to act like I actually give a toss about the place and some of the halfwitted knuckle dragging dribbling cretins that I work with.

Answer 7

Unfortunately... it's all about perception. I work in a corporate environment and have had many discussions about 'professionalism' with management, peers and my mentor - yes mentor. Like I said, it's all about perception and playing the game.

My two cents: learn your audience and play the game. What you do at work doesn't make you who you are as a person. We work to live; not live to work.

Try smile therapy; works for me.

Good Luck

Answer 8

OF COURSE!... im a receptionist for this VERY BIG company and i can't stand all these effin' people here!.. i gotta smile and stuff.. and when i really wanna just tell them off.. but hey im young and the $$ is great! plus i get paid weekly which is fine with me.. but in life at least the work place you canj't act yourself.. because most of us would get fired!.. LMAO!
p.s. i chate the person that i play at work!.. LMAO and that is why i drink and smoke so much!.. LMAO

Take care!

Answer 9

I try and be myself as much as possible and exude confidence at times when I feel low. However, I do not get involved in petty disputes in the office.

I consider myself lucky to work with the people I work with. They're not so bad....but we do have the occasional bad apples.

Answer 10

I strive to be a chameleon who can fit in any role, in any environment. This is achievable by taking cues from your surroundings and making near instantaneous judgment calls regarding personna, demeanor, and lexicon. Caution, this is for advanced humans.