1/ This conversation made me begin to doubt the meaning of my efforts
I talked to my sister about work attitude that day and I was quite shocked.
When she encounters something that is not within her scope, she will directly tell her supervisor: “This is not part of my job description, I will not deal with it.” If she is unhappy with her colleagues or boss, she will quit.
I have always been the type who would say, “I can help with this.” “It’s okay, I’ll do it, just treat it as learning more.” I would even comfort myself, “It’s okay to be a little tired, the future will thank me for who I am now.”
But sometimes I really can’t tell whether this is growth or being taken advantage of.
2/What people on Threads say
I posted this sentiment on Threads, and I didn’t expect that everyone responded so enthusiastically.
Some people say: “Generation Z is more outspoken. Work is a transaction. If it fits, stay. If it doesn’t, leave.”
Others say, “It’s too easy to say ‘I’ll do it’ and people will take it for granted.”
But many people also responded: “Sometimes, if you hold on, you will gain something. Don’t be too quick to interpret growth as being exploited.”
- Differences in workplace attitudes between generations
These responses made me realize that everyone has a different interpretation of “drawing boundaries”.
Some people think that drawing clearly is a way to protect themselves
Some people think this is too sensitive and not conducive to cooperation.
Others said: “It depends on whether you have the resources to sustain yourself at the moment. If you can sustain yourself, then sustain yourself. If you can’t sustain yourself, then you should leave.”
I also discovered that it’s not black and white, but everyone’s risk tolerance, life background, and team culture all influence the choice.
4/ The art of drawing boundaries: not resisting cooperation, but protecting yourself
Later, I sorted out three small principles to remind myself not to overwork and overdo it:
First confirm whether the task is reasonable within your responsibilities
Don’t just say “OK”, learn to say “Let me check first”
Review once a week and find out which things you don’t need to handle yourself
Learning to set boundaries is not about being a hedgehog, but taking care of yourself so that you have the energy to cooperate.
5/Ask yourself: Is what you are doing now a sign of growth or a sign of grievance?
There will always be gray areas at work, but that doesn’t mean you have to shoulder all the responsibility.
Growth should make you stronger, not more numb. You can ask yourself:
After doing this, do I understand myself better?
Or are you just more accustomed to not speaking and suppressing your emotions?
6/What do you think?
If you encounter unreasonable work content, you will:
Draw a clear line and argue your case?
Do it and see, then change it when there’s a chance?
Or should you choose to keep silent and just endure it?
This article does not give a standard answer, but just wants to ask: Do you think this is growth or being taken advantage of?