At Work by Lindsey Novak

Q: I have an excellent memory and organizational skills, but I am not aggressive. I am just fine with being a "worker" rather than a leader, which makes me a great team player. I do the work I am given, and I don't question the why or when. I like working but would prefer not to be the boss and order others around. For that, I get paid less and get told that I should develop my leadership skills.

A team can only have one leader; otherwise, you have arguments and disruption on the team. I don't think I should be penalized by less pay because I am easy-going and would prefer to do the work that others decide I should do. I never create problems for my co-workers, supervisors or my boss. I have a good work record, and I never challenge others in a doubting way. How do I convince my boss of my value when I have my next performance review?

A: Different performance levels within the same job category and varying job categories should be paid differently. You are not going to receive the same salary as a person in a higher level job or even the same salary as an equal co-worker who outperforms you. Leadership skills and aggressiveness do not belong together.

Good leaders are not known for their ability to order people around. In fact, bossy, aggressive people are better known as dictators, not leaders. It's possible that your boss isn't articulate in describing the character traits he or she would like to see in you, but it is important for you to know what good leadership is.

A good leader recognizes each person's abilities and knows how to make use of workers to the best of their abilities. A good leader knows what work to keep and what work to delegate and to whom. Delegating work doesn't mean simply handing it off to others without analyzing the employee's skills.

Your boss is mistaken if he or she thinks taking a course or reading a book or even getting a degree in leadership makes a person a good leader. Good leaders have innate personality traits that allow them to recognize, encourage, and communicate the best in others. Of course, knowledge never hurts, especially if you read about leaders such as Abraham Lincoln, Mahatma Gandhi, Eleanor Roosevelt, Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela and others who have made a difference in the world. They didn't take leadership courses to develop their skills. They were intelligent, ethical beings who stood by their principles and need to treat people fairly.

Instead of trying to develop leadership skills, reflect on your talents and skills. If you want to maintain your status as a hard working, flexible person who completes all assignments accurately and on time, then explain the importance of those traits to your boss. If you implement new and efficient ways to accomplish certain tasks, keep a list of your achievements so you can formally present the list to your boss before your performance review.

And if, in the end, you simply are comfortable being a worker who is dedicated to doing the work without deviation, then understand that and explain to others that all people are not meant to do the same level of work. As long as you know and accept your capabilities, you will be able to explain to your boss the need for all types of workers in the workplace, and you will understand what determines salaries.

Email all your questions to workplace expert Lindsey Novak at LindseyNovak@yahoo.com. She answers all emails. To find out more about Lindsey Novak and to read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Website at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2013 CREATORS.COM