Does your personality limit your career?

[classicc]

I have realised recently that my style of writing is very direct and is not appreciated by the bosses. But is appreciated by everyone I deal with because the recipient knows exactly what is needed when they receive an email from me. Everyone is time strapped at the moment, so I think easier to get to the point then waffle.

Obviously this style is not getting me anywhere and my direct to the point approach is now holding my career up.

It is a matter of working at my style and getting that more in line with what the bosses want, or should I accept this is my style.

Has anyone else managed to change to make work be more fruitful for them?

[edc]

Your email like any other form of communication is to get a response and a result. You always need to tailor your style to your audience to get the best results. Does the fact that you know you could do better in this area but would stubbornly carry on mean you only like to do things your own same way? Or that you don't care about the result but more that you get there in a way you like?

[classicc]

I have not been told what the issue is, just that I am not progressing as I would have thought considering that I am putting in a lot of work after hours to complete my job well.

It is not that I am not changing my style, I am currently working on my email style. It is more that I am a straight to the point and get this sorted as quickly as possible kind of person.

[Xtype]

At my work all internal emails are stright to the point cutting out all the BS. It works well

[AyBee]

Ever thought that if your attitude to emails is the same as your attitude to work then it's that which is your stumbling block?

There are many ways to skin a cat as the saying goes, you don't need to be direct, blunt and to the point to get things done and it sounds like it would be much more beneficial for you to wind your neck in, adapt your style to something that your boss does like and see how you go from there. He isn't your boss for no reason...

[TurricanII]

If you are dispensing advice or giving instruction the direct and clear is the best.

You may benefit by wrapping the 'direct and clear' bit with some more human style interaction. Read How To Win Friends and Influence People. Humans love to help, so make it sound like they are important and that they are helping in some way. If you were asking a boss to call xyz client and moan at them for not paying their bills, then I would start the email to my boss along the lines of
---
Could I trouble you to help me with xyz ltd. and some unpaid invoices? I have tried to no avail and think that some contact from you would show them that this is important.

- INSERT CLEAR LIST OF UNPAID INVOICES HERE --

Thanks and best regards,
---
Keep it subtle and genuine tho, if you go too OTT you'll aprear to be an arse licker

[FamilyDub]

The best managers flex their style to suit their charges and when trying to satisfy the bosses above them as well.

However, sometimes working under someone with a very similar style helps; I worked in a place that was quite insular and needed some drastic changes in style, pace and quality a few years ago and the FD at the time really liked that I was rather direct about people/procedures, rather than smooth it all over, but I wouldn't/couldn't talk in such a way in my current workplace.

That, and I'm a grumpy fker - that certainly limits the career.

[caz_manc]

Starting to look like flexibility might be the name of the game. But where is the line between people perceiving you as changing all the time, so not reliable and the level of flexibility needed to preform at the right levels.

[rog007]

Skilful communication, in any form, is an art and takes time and practice (and even a little study) to get any where near mastering it. Having an engaging style does help, but having a high degree of self-awareness can help even more. We rarely see or hear ourselves as others do and to not acknowledge this can hold back someone with huge potential. There are tools available to assist with this and are invaluable if you aspire to better yourself or are aiming for any leadership role.

[classicc]

I would just like to thank everyone for their comments. They are very helpful.

A member of PH also offered to mentor and look at my emails. This was very very helpful and just in a week and a half with changing my email style I have made progress.

I am in a competitive workplace, so it does mean people will more than likely revel in your mistakes rather than help you. In that environment I can see that having a mentor outside of the environment is actually the answer to being able to move yourself forward in your career.

[AyBee]

Just be careful with confidentiality in your line of work - I'd be out of my place quicker than I could say bye if I was sending internal emails to an external party

[classicc]

Don't worry all company names and names where out. Just job titles and labels of supplier, boss, finance boss.