Sense of Entitlement Quiz
Presenting an Attitude to Employers that You Deserve More or Less
Jul 27, 2008
The three levels of entitlement below represent the extreme in each case. Start by checking-off the statements apply to you for each situation.
High Sense of Entitlement - The Office Prince or Princess
__If you do not receive a promotion; you protest that you were the better candidate.
__If a change to a policy or procedure is announced; you immediately look at how this change will impact you and argue against it.
__When planning summer holidays; you should have first dibs because you have unique needs (children, family visiting, work harder, put in more overtime, seniority or have always had first choice).
__When workspaces are assigned; you demand the corner office as you can’t work with distractions and you need more light.
__You arrive at 9:30 am because you drop off your kids and leave at 4:15 pm because you need to get them from daycare.
__In meetings and when asked for your opinions; you dominate each interaction and feel strongly that you are heard only when your idea is accepted. If your idea is not accepted, you speak louder or longer until the idea is accepted.
Healthy Sense of Entitlement – The Star Talent
__If you do not receive a promotion, you graciously accept the decision and decide to take classes to improve your areas of weakness.
__If a change to a policy or procedure is announced; you trust that the change was made to attain larger strategic goals. You give the change a chance before denouncing it. It may have been your suggestion in the first place!
__When planning summer holidays; you want to negotiate amongst the team for a fair distribution as your needs are not unique as others may be in the same position.
__When workspaces are assigned; you work with the planning team and make reasonable requests due to serious health issues or proximity to the rest of the team.
__You find a daycare that is open from 8:30 to 6 pm so you can arrive at 9 am, take a 30 minute lunch and leave at 5:30 to pick up your kids from daycare.
__In meetings and when asked for your thoughts or opinions; you offer your ideas and listen to the ideas of others to come to a consensus.
Low Sense of Entitlement – The Office Doormat
__If you do not receive a promotion, you aren’t surprised as you didn’t deserve it and never will.
__If a change to a policy or procedure is announced; you become highly stressed and act in a passive aggressive way as you feel like a victim of decisions made above your head.
__When planning summer holidays; you let everyone else pick their holidays first regardless of your needs or plans. You’ll take the leftovers.
__When workspaces are assigned; you don’t speak up until it is too late or so late that your special needs are either not addressed or are accommodated with a hassle. If your special needs are not accommodated, you complain and harbor resentment.
__You pay the late fees at daycare because all daycares won’t accommodate your schedule and you don’t want to inconvenience anyone.
__In meetings and when asked for your thoughts or opinions; you let others speak and keep your thoughts and ideas to yourself. Your opinion doesn’t matter.
The section above with the most checks represents your overall tendency. The statements you’ve checked in either the high or low sense of entitlement sections are the areas of professionalism that need attention in order for your career to be successful.
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