The one thing you should never tell your boss
07-08-2013, 11:08 PM
@westcoast.
I see what you are saying...and to me it sounds great in theory, but my real life experience differs from that.
Respectfully, What you wrote about comes across as being too theoretical.
Let me try give you some examples from my own practical experience:
WORKPLACE #1.
I know three women named Helena and Ify and alaknanda...they are three of the most hardworking dogs i have ever met.
They put in gazillion of hours, always willing to help under any conditions, never complained. Always expanding their responsibilities.
They were never promoted.
As nice and sweet as they are...people feel threatened by them.
they outshine a lot of people...their co-workers talked soo much shite behind their backs, it will make you feel sorry for humanity.
Their superiors just takes them for granted. period.
In fact, if something comes up...or something needs to be done; It will simply get automatically assigned to these women, because they are dependable and excellent workers. Further burdening them.
In a rational universe, you will think their superiors will say "helena, ify and alaknanda works too hard...let me give this assignment to Ragnor or Kirill." Not at all...because these women are too good, the works just get assigned to them. with compliments thrown in.
The harder you work, the more work they gave you, the more work they gave you, they more work they expected you to do. It is like a cascade of escalating expectations and demands.
Also, the nasty, backstabbing totally fabricated lies, usually generated by lazy, envious workers(usually other women) who cannot stand the industrious nature of these three women. People will try and start stupid drama with them for no good reason at all. It is bizarre.
My philosophy is to work 10% to 20% above majority of people to get noticed by the Boss...but not to perform so far above average that i get backstabbed and sabotaged by envious co-workers or threatened immediate superiors. "...Good, but not too good..." is my personal philosophy.
I learnt this the hard way at my first job. they gave me nicknames like "superman"..."workaholic"..."showoff"...because i was too damn hardworking...however, the rumours and madeup lies behind my back...and the fact that i was threatening to the rest of my co-workers and one of my Bosses was enough to derail me. Such is life. Henceforth, every single place i have worked, i am "mr. good, but not too good...". If you outshine everybody, you merely paint a target on your back.
WORKPLACE #2.
I used to work at this place where these two lads (philipino and german, randy and heydrich) were insanely hardworking. The boss will come along and ask who wants to volunteer to go into the oven(you gown up with aseptic gear from head to toe, and step into this sterile environment that is brutally hot.) The german always volunteers....then, it became a pattern..... that even when the german doesnt want to volunteer, the boss will insist(with flowing compliments) that he does it. Even when the german protests that why does he always have to do it. They will compliment him and insist that he does it. A pattern has been established. Everybody is out getting fresh air, and he is boiling his balls working inside a fucking oven.
Also, these two lads were threatening to the level II workers above them.
the german and philipino were level Is.
They were just too hardworking. When the company was downsizing, i look in disbelief when they cut off these two hard workers and keep the lazy, good-for-nothing shitlocks that likes to entertain the boss with good stories and jokes. That is what the german gets for all his hardwork. Life is sad.
Correctly assessing the psychological profile of your boss...seeing the kind of person he is and how he makes decision is important. To hell with rationality. Adapt to his stupidity and ego.
WORKPLACE #3.
There were two girls at this place where i used to work. Kate and Agnita. Both hardworking. they were hired at the same time for different bosses. Same qualifications, etc...they were getting promoted at the same rate...then....Kate hit a ceiling....while Agnita kept climbing up. You know why? Because Kate was assigned to a less-than-competent boss...the dumb bitch boss practically cant function without Kate...whenever Kate takes a day off, it is pandemonium. Stupid bitch boss was that incompetent. To her, kate was a godsend....
This she-boss did whatever possible to:
(a)assign more responsibility to Kate(kate was practically doing both of their jobs)
(b)SHE-BOSS made sure that kate doesnt get promoted or transferred, because she doesnt know where she will turn without Kate. I shite you not. This was an open secret. She cant function without kate. We used to joke that she cant go to the bathroom without kate.
Of course, she was nice and respectful and gratuitously flattering to Kate...bringing Kate food and gifts and etc...Heck, she even push for kate to get raises....However, Kate career trajectory was being stymied while Agnita's career rose in quick succession(with increase pay beyond kate). Agnita later became Principal Investigator directing important research project. Kate? still working for this incompetent bitch. This incompetent female Boss uses her office connections and etc to block any promotion and transfer of Kate anywhere else in the company. She put kate on total lockdown. Fort knox.
THESE ARE ACTUAL THINGS I HAVE SEEN WITH MY OWN EYES....
Yes, people may appreciate that you are hardworking and that you always there to cover all the bases, etc, etc..and they may compliment you left and right, etc....however, being too hardworking can results in you developing enemies among your co-workers and immediate superiors if they feel threatened.
#2. It may create an domino effect that the Boss feels soo comfortable with you that s/he automatically overburdened you with more and more jobs. Deleteriously affecting your health, even affecting your performance because you are overstretched.
#3. You may get assigned to the shittiest things to do because you've developed the reputation as a hardworker that gets anything done regardless. This may may lock you down careerwise, not allowing you room to progress because the boss feels that you do certain jobs better than anybody; as such, promoting you will mean that job doesnt get done they way it should. As such, for your Boss, for him to keep looking good infront of his boss. it is better to keep you down there so that your hardwork will make him look good...and it it less headache. You are a victim of your own success.
#4. If you have a lazy boss that gets more and more dependent on you to do her job...she may use her office connections and play politics with your future and lock you down. Completely putting an end to your career advancement because this lazy boss couldnt live without you. To this lazy boss, you made her look good...why would she let you go? She needs you to do whatever she wants and makes her look good.
I notice that these dilemnas tends to happen to ASIANS and other immigrant workers the most.
THERE ARE, OF COURSE, SOLUTIONS TO THESE DILEMNAS...i will write about them later....
But these are the reasons why i found your posts to be a bit too theorectical for my taste...my practical experience indicates being a hardworker, taking responsibility, etc...can be deleterious to your career advancement almost as much as being a lazy, good for nothing doodle-head can be. It depends on how you finesse it. (b)what kind of a boss/bosses you have. this is very critical. (3)how well you understand and navigate office politics.
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A year from now you will wish you had started today.....May fortune favours the bold.