Need more options? Browse Jobs by Company, Date Posted, Job Title, and more job categories

Advice » In the Workplace » Workplace Issues » Eight Ways Not to Be the Office ...

Eight Ways Not to Be the Office Doormat

By Megan Malugani, Monster Contributing Writer

Anyone who’s ever had a job has probably felt disrespected and undervalued at some point. But for the office doormats of the world, disrespect and a lack of appreciation are daily facts of life.

More Resources from Monster:

Office doormats don’t have to remain meek and mistreated forever, though. Career experts offer tips on how office doormats can turn their situations around:

1. Drop the Victim Act

Here’s the cold, hard truth: Most office doormats are at least partly responsible for their doormat status. Identify the reasons you’ve become a doormat -- do you avoid tough conversations or let others take credit for your work, for example? -- so you can start changing those behaviors.

2. Learn to Say No

Doormats have typically removed the word “no” from their vocabulary, says Sally Haver, a senior vice president at the New York City office of The Ayers Group, a human capital consulting firm. “A little basic assertiveness training is in order here,” she says. “Learn to say, ‘I wish I could help you out, but my plate is full, and I can’t disappoint those to whom I already have commitments.’”

3. Stop Enabling Coworkers’ Bad Behaviors

If your colleagues have gotten away with taking advantage of you in the past, they will do so again, says Los Angeles-based organizational consultant Phil Cooke, author of Jolt! Get the Jump on a World That’s Constantly Changing. “Position yourself so you can’t be taken advantage of,” he says. “Be ‘too busy’ to get their coffee. Be ‘on a deadline’ so you can’t do their work for them. After hitting a wall a few times, they’ll get the picture.”

4. Command Some Respect

Office doormats generally don’t want to rock the boat, and think that keeping the peace is critically important, Cooke notes. But you’ll lose all influence in the office if you never speak up about anything.

5. Force Yourself to Have the Tough Conversations

You will remain a doormat forever if you always avoid conversations that contain an element of conflict. So prepare yourself by writing a script and practicing ahead of time. If you’re underpaid, make an appointment with your boss to discuss the situation, and bring research that shows salary ranges for employees in your job.

6. Communicate on Your Boss’s Level

If you’re being mistreated or need to lighten your workload, try communicating with your boss in much the same way you’d communicate with a small child who acts out, says Lynn Taylor, a Santa Monica, California-based workplace expert and author of Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant. Sandwich constructive feedback between positive statements: “I enjoy working with you a great deal. But recently when I brought in my new client and you asked me to leave the meeting to make copies, I felt demeaned.” End the conversation with “Thank you for taking the time to chat with me. I do really enjoy my job.”

7. Take Credit

If others have been routinely taking credit for your ideas, “speak privately to them but ensure that your boss knows what your contributions were through status reports,” Taylor advises.

8. Polish Your Resume, If Necessary

Doormats who take steps to change their situations usually build confidence in the process. So if you’ve done your part but your boss or workplace environment isn’t changing, it may be time to update your resume and start looking for a new job. “Who knows? This might be your chance to finally get from where you are to where you want to be,” Cooke says.

Rate this article:

Average rating:

Email to a friend

Join the Discussion

Latest Jobs

Chief Procurement Officer

Arizona Department of Corrections

Posted: 5/22/2012

Phoenix, AZ, 850...

Part-time General Studies Principal

Company Confidential

Posted: 5/22/2012

norfolk, VA, 235...

ACAP Counselor I - PT- Ca - NC50128366

Serco Inc.

Posted: 5/22/2012

Apo, AP, 96224

OVERNIGHT FORKLIFT OPENING

Randstad

Posted: 5/22/2012

Bohemia, NY, 117...

Client Services Associate, Home Health Care

BAYADA Home Health Care

Posted: 5/22/2012

Voorhees, NJ, 08...

Want more personalized results? Update Your Profile

View All Latest Jobs

Browse Advice

Job Hunt Strategy

Resumes & Letters

Interviewing

Salary & Benefits

In the Workplace

Career Development

Featured Advice Resources:

Browse All Articles in this section

Rate this article:

Average rating:

Monster Advice Forums

Looking for Answers?

Get them on our boards:

Resume Tips
Job Search Advice

All boards

Join the Discussion

Monster Communities

Teaching Community: Where teachers meet and learn.
ArtBistro: Create and connect.
Excelle: Networking for the career-minded woman.
Nursing Link: Where nurses call the shots.
More Monster Communities

Monster Partners

Scholarships: Scholarships, financial aid and more ways to pay for school.
Education.org: Find top campus and online degree programs.
Military.com: Military portal for the US Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.
Financial Aid: Scholarships & financial aid.
Staffing for Government Jobs: Staffing and hiring solutions for federal government agency jobs.
More Monster Partners

Job Hunt Strategy

Seven Job Search Mistakes New Grads Make

Even in an improving job market, there's little room for error when looking for your first job. Don't let one of these missteps cost you a career opportunity.

Resumes & Cover Letters

Cover Letter Checklist

Wondering whether your cover letter is the best it can be? It is if you can answer "yes" to the questions on this checklist.

Interviewing

Three Job-Interview Myths

In a job interview, things are not always what they seem -- or what you expect. Get the truth about three commonly held interview myths here.

Salary & Benefits

Jobs with High Lifetime Earnings

Want to earn the most money possible over the course of your working life with just a bachelor's degree? Consider one of these 10 lucrative jobs.

Attracting Candidates

Facebook for Employers: Make Friends, Not Fans

Recruiting? Go where the talent is. See why recruiters have befriended social networks.

Employee Sourcing

Employment Index

November Monster Employment Index Grows 13% Year-Over-Year, Tenth Consecutive Month of Positive Annual Growth.

Interviewing Candidates

Improving Interview Skills: Learn from the Experts

What’s the key to a great interview? According to experts: Practice, practice, practice.

Workforce Planning

Enhance your Small Business Marketing Strategy with Social Media

Social media. It’s everywhere. But how can it help you? Learn how to utilize social media even monetize it.

For Seekers

Campus and Online Degrees: Advance your career and earn more with an online degree.
Compare Your Salary: See how your pay stacks up to others in your field
Free Salary Wizard: What are you worth? Find out and negotiate a better salary.
Research Careers: Get information on jobs and career paths to help guide your choices
Questions & Answers: Find answers to all your career related questions -- powered by Yahoo! Answers
eLearning by Monster: Search our catalog of online courses and learn new skills.
Resume Distribution Service: Our distribution service puts your resume right in the hands of recruiters.
Resume Writing Services: Our experts will craft a keyword-rich resume that stands out in the crowd.
Other Services

For Employers

Career Ad Network: Target your job posting to more candidates on thousands of websites.
Hire Right Background Checks: Explore our background check packages to improve the quality of your hires.
Hiring Home Page: Find the best candidates for your business with Monster hiring solutions.
Job Postings: Find the right solution for your hiring needs. Starting at $99.
Power Resume Search: Monster's new search technology precisely matches people with your jobs.
Resource Center: Find staffing insights, labor trends, HR best practices and more.
Target Post: Connect with skilled, hourly and administrative candidates for only $99.

Social Media

Jobs on Twitter: Find jobs in your area and industry.
Monster Careers: Tune into our career advice and discussions tackling a wide range of topics and industries.
Monster Corporate & PR: Stay up-to-date on the latest news. Get the 'Who', 'What', 'When', and 'Why' on all things Monster related.
Monster Customer Service: Got a Monster question? We've got the answer. Whether you're a job seeker or employer, we can help you find the answers you need.
Monster for Employers: Find advice on hiring.
Follow Us: Check out our many pages and stay connected with the latest industry news, events, career advice and job openings.

Are You An Employer?

You may want to upgrade your browser.

Top Articles

Most Popular Jobs

Other Helpful Resources

Advice

Top Articles in Career Advice

Top Communities

Other Helpful Resources

Eight Ways Not to Be the Office Doormat

Email to a Friend

Related Articles:

Latest Jobs

Browse All Articles in this section

Browse All Articles in this section

Browse All Articles in this section

Browse All Articles in this section

Browse All Articles in this section

Browse All Articles in this section

Looking for Answers?

Popular Questions & Answers

Popular Job Searches

Monster Communities

Monster Partners

Job Hunt Strategy

Resumes & Cover Letters

Interviewing

Salary & Benefits

Attracting Candidates

Employee Sourcing

Interviewing Candidates

Workforce Planning

For Seekers

For Employers

Social Media

Other Links

|Chat With An Employer

Want to Chat With an Employer?