Favoritism can be one of the most complicated and most hurtful things to deal with at work. Most of the time, it has nothing to do with you or your work performance. There are many ways to go about dealing with this uncomfortable situation. Ending any favoritism is not in your control, but there are ways to help move it along. Try out some of these ideas to improve your work environment.
Reflect
Reflect on your performance, and the performance of those you feel are getting special treatment before taking any action. Make sure you do your research. There are aspects of every person’s position that is not visible to everyone. What you see may not be the whole story. Have all the facts before taking any action. They may deserve the treatment if they are outperforming. You may find ways that you could improve your performance.
Eliminate Emotion
Emotion can do a couple of things. They can motivate us, and they can also cloud our judgment. Work is not the place to get too emotional. Put on some emotional blinders to make sure that you can see clearly. Look at the situation strategically. What is the favorite doing that you are not? What can you do to be better at your job? Blocking your hurt about the situation will help you see clearly what you can implement.
Relationships
We don’t have to be best friends with our coworkers and boss, but we should be friendly. What is seen as favoritism could be the fact that they are more social. Take the time and effort to get to know those in your office. Once you feel like you are less of an outsider, you may feel differently about the favoritism. Without the worry of friendships, you can grow your confidence in your work. Helping you see that you don’t need constant approval to feel good about your work.
Speak Up
Let your boss know what your goals are. Supervisors are not mind readers. The one you believe is getting special treatment may be better at letting their ambitions be known. Employers want employees that are motivated about their career. If they perceive you to be a slacker or neutral about your position, they will not give you the same opportunities. Make it known that you want to play an essential role in the office and promote. Get yourself noticed, don’t wait for it. It may never happen.
Never Bad Mouth
Talking badly about your boss or coworker will only make you look bad. Those that you will be gossiping to will be in the same situation. Meaning that they may agree with you, but they cannot do anything to change the situation. When it gets back to the superiors, it will make you look jealous. They will not see you as an employee that is serious about their future. The time you spend gossiping would be better spent working to impress your employer.