Culture vs career progression

[Eternal Sunshine]

Is it possible to have great team/company culture (what I mean by this is generous, honest, friendly, trusting) while still being able to climb up the corporate ladder?

 

 

I am starting to think it's impossible to have both. I completely underestimated the value of being able to trust your teammates and bosses.

[basil67]

I think you're going to get different answers from the pessimists vs the optimists vs the realists.

 

My answer is that of a realist: Stuff happens, people change their minds, communication can be rubbish, personalities can clash, project priorities can clash. But I think most people are doing the best they can in the situation they are in and don't set out to cause harm. So, I would say yes, people can and do climb the ladder but due to complexities of running a company with multiple people and projects, it's never going to be plain sailing.

[Eternal Sunshine]

I think you are right. Nobody (well almost nobody) sets out to cause others harm. But fight for promotions stimulates the worst in people. I'm still at a pretty low level and it's already affecting me. It affects how I act too. It just makes me question how bad it gets when you go even higher. Or maybe it's just my company culture.

[schlumpy]

You are talking about why companies rise and fall. It's because the people in charge have a relationship that could be compared to a great marriage. Then when one or two people retire the company starts to plunge.

 

It's really evident in restaurants where the service is excellent and the food is good and the next time you go it's all turned around and you notice all the new faces. Even the fast food chain restaurants like Mcdonald's are affected by this dynamic.

 

I think keeping a consistent level of service and quality is the hardest part of running a business.

[Mr. Lucky]

Or maybe it's just my company culture.

 

You can find discord in any organization, from Apple to the Franciscan Order.

 

Your focus causes you to see either challenges or opportunity. One (usually) leads to advancement, the other (usually) doesn't...

 

Mr. Lucky

[Watercolors]

Eternal Sunshine yes it's totally possible. I'm a huge fan of TedTalks so here's a few that came to mind.

 

There is a great TedTalk by Linda Hill about how to manage for collective creativity.

 

 

Here's a TedTalk by Margarete Heffernan about pecking order at work.

 

 

Here's a TedTalk by Simon Sinek: Why Good Leaders Make You Feel Safe.

 

 

Here's a great one about the affects of "incivility on people"

 

Edited November 26, 2019 by Watercolors

[Foxhall]

I would have thought strong people skills would go hand in hand with climbing up the corporate ladder,as opposed to otherwise,

 

rubbing up people the right way, knowing what makes a certain person tick so to speak

 

if you are only average in people skills, you will need to be highly qualified to progress,

 

a less qualified person can progress further by bluffing their way.

Edited November 26, 2019 by Foxhall

[Watercolors]

a less qualified person can progress further by bluffing their way.

 

And so many do. These types of people are savvy political schemers and schmoozers and strategizers. They know how to manipulate their coworkers, their supervisors and everyone around them like chess pieces, until they checkmate whomever it is, who is handing out the promotions.

 

My cousin's daughter is like that. She's as dumb as rocks, yet makes $75K as a recruiter because she's a slick saleswoman and can b.s. like nobody's business. She constantly lies and maneuvers around the truth quickly, like a hockey player on skates. She excels because she can talk her way into any situation and talk her way out of any situation. It's as frightening as it is impressive.

[preraph]

I find "teamwork" such a farce that if in interview, the hirer kept throwing those words around, I wouldn't even want the job.

 

I think it's interesting you think no one is out to hurt anyone else. I can say for sure that isn't the case. There's always someone looking to climb over your tired overworked corpse at work.

 

Bottom line, everyone's Number 1 is themselves, and so it should be. That said, you have to be able to work with others as smoothly as possible when necessary.

[Eternal Sunshine]

On 11/27/2019 at 6:23 AM, Watercolors said:

 

And so many do. These types of people are savvy political schemers and schmoozers and strategizers. They know how to manipulate their coworkers, their supervisors and everyone around them like chess pieces, until they checkmate whomever it is, who is handing out the promotions.

 

My cousin's daughter is like that. She's as dumb as rocks, yet makes $75K as a recruiter because she's a slick saleswoman and can b.s. like nobody's business. She constantly lies and maneuvers around the truth quickly, like a hockey player on skates. She excels because she can talk her way into any situation and talk her way out of any situation. It's as frightening as it is impressive.

 

This is my problem. I'm good at reading people and can see a BS from a mile away. I can not hold back from exposing people like your cousin's daughter. The problem is that exposing them is incredibly hard because they turn things around to make you seem like you are the problem. In a corporate world there seems to be an abundance of them in powerful positions. Just being around them creeps me out, even if im just observing them manipulating others.

 

I value authenticity and substance above all and am not interested in playing those games. This means I will probably no longer be able to progress in my career.

 

[schlumpy]

On 11/26/2019 at 2:57 PM, Foxhall said:

I would have thought strong people skills would go hand in hand with climbing up the corporate ladder,as opposed to otherwise,

 

rubbing up people the right way, knowing what makes a certain person tick so to speak

 

if you are only average in people skills, you will need to be highly qualified to progress,

 

a less qualified person can progress further by bluffing their way.

A minor is theater along with the MBA is essential.

[Watercolors]

9 hours ago, Eternal Sunshine said:

 

This is my problem. I'm good at reading people and can see a BS from a mile away. I can not hold back from exposing people like your cousin's daughter. The problem is that exposing them is incredibly hard because they turn things around to make you seem like you are the problem. In a corporate world there seems to be an abundance of them in powerful positions. Just being around them creeps me out, even if im just observing them manipulating others.

 

I value authenticity and substance above all and am not interested in playing those games. This means I will probably no longer be able to progress in my career.

 

 

Those of us who value authenticity and substance above all are the sacrificial lambs in the business world. Managers and CEOS make their sacrifices daily to the corporate god of $$ by firing their employees who possess morals and ethics, because, I think, they don't want the reminder around that they themselves lack both. Artificial Intelligence is taking over processes in the business world, so the emphasis on what humans contribute is decreasing. So, it would seem, are the values of CEOS who put profit margin above the well-being and morale of their staff. 

 

I hope that doesn't mean you won't be able to progress in your career. It's sad that people like my cousin get promoted when all they offer clients is a lot of b.s.. As that saying goes, "words are but wind." And, people like my cousin's daughter, sure know how to blow that wind around to make it aromatic to people's senses. Some people love the smell of b.s. I can't stand the smell. Always gets me into trouble as a temp. I hope I don't have to languish in these horrible temp jobs and can find a full-time job that I actually care about. 

Edited December 10, 2019 by Watercolors

[MetallicHue]

I almost think neither exist. Where is there great culture and career advancement for all? First off there is no way possible everyone can advance their career or everyone would be CEO and no one would do the work.  I’ve never really found good culture. Is it even possible at a corporation? You may think it’s great but someone in another department will not.