Can you find a best friend in your workplace?
I guess not. Unless the said person's role has no conflict with yours. Or else, it'll be super difficult to befriend with someone who is above or under you, i.e., your superior or subordinate. Friendship is likely to blossom only after you have left the company.
The reason being is that, if you are too close with your superior, you'll be mistaken as a shoe-shine girl/boy. On the other hand, if you are too close with your subordinates, your friendship will be taken for granted. Distance should always be kept and maintained within and between the hierarchies.
Then what about the people who are on the same level or same rank as you? You asked.
Still cannot. Because of work-related competition. It's either you or him will be promoted if opportunity arises. With such fierce contention, it's difficult to keep level-headed over the smallest of things. Both of you will aim to rise to the top no matter what. Disagreement and conflict will and can ensue easily. You think you are the best and he thinks he is the best. You think your idea is good and he thinks his idea is better. You think red is lovely and he thinks green is pleasant. When will it end?
Well, there is, however, a way around it. It might not be the best solution. But still, it's a solution. *winks*
Fake it. Fake the friendship. Fake the agreement. Fake the nice-ness. Fake everything if you can. Cunning colleague will not hesitate to come forth with a proposal that since the both of you are colleagues, you two should not commit ghost-fight-ghost internally. Instead, you two should cooperate to cover each other's ass to look good in front of your boss. So that your stupid boss will not suspect something is amiss.
Consider this:
How many bosses in this world will like to see their own staff busy bickering at each other and neglect their assigned work?
Those who started the fight will be seen as the trouble-maker. And the trouble-maker cannot stay. That's the grandfather rule of thumb in Management 101. You must not forget that you are hired to contribute and not make things worse by taking the team apart.
Thus the best way to remain competitive yet not being seen as an overtly aggressive person is, act blur. Pretend-pig-eat-tiger. And do not get yourself involve in any gossiping. Even if you find yourself stuck with the kepohchis stabbing people left and right in the pantry, just keep smiling, nodding, quickly finish off your food, and leave.
Your unintentional remark here and there might be used as a weapon by the gossipers to attack others and yourself back one fine day. When that happens, you'll become the victim and also the villain in the office everyone loathes. As the Chinese saying goes, 病从口入，祸从口出 , which means, illness comes in via the mouth because of food, and trouble goes out via the mouth because of words.
Life is tough. And no one is virginal anymore once they have joined the rat race. Because office politics fcuk everyone. Therefore, cooperate with your rival if you must. Pretend to be humble and subservient too. You 'use' I and I 'use' you only. Just like those baddies in the movie, you don't know how crooked and despicable they can be until you have been used, betrayed, and stabbed (from the back of course).
So, my dear friend, to survive in this dog-eat-dog world, you have gotto be a baddie. People will not shed tears when you die. People will not pity you when you are broke. People will not slow down when you are stationary. People are people. And, people DON'T CARE. Enuff said.
The reason being is that, if you are too close with your superior, you'll be mistaken as a shoe-shine girl/boy. On the other hand, if you are too close with your subordinates, your friendship will be taken for granted. Distance should always be kept and maintained within and between the hierarchies.
Then what about the people who are on the same level or same rank as you? You asked.
Still cannot. Because of work-related competition. It's either you or him will be promoted if opportunity arises. With such fierce contention, it's difficult to keep level-headed over the smallest of things. Both of you will aim to rise to the top no matter what. Disagreement and conflict will and can ensue easily. You think you are the best and he thinks he is the best. You think your idea is good and he thinks his idea is better. You think red is lovely and he thinks green is pleasant. When will it end?
Well, there is, however, a way around it. It might not be the best solution. But still, it's a solution. *winks*
Fake it. Fake the friendship. Fake the agreement. Fake the nice-ness. Fake everything if you can. Cunning colleague will not hesitate to come forth with a proposal that since the both of you are colleagues, you two should not commit ghost-fight-ghost internally. Instead, you two should cooperate to cover each other's ass to look good in front of your boss. So that your stupid boss will not suspect something is amiss.
Consider this:
How many bosses in this world will like to see their own staff busy bickering at each other and neglect their assigned work?
Those who started the fight will be seen as the trouble-maker. And the trouble-maker cannot stay. That's the grandfather rule of thumb in Management 101. You must not forget that you are hired to contribute and not make things worse by taking the team apart.
Thus the best way to remain competitive yet not being seen as an overtly aggressive person is, act blur. Pretend-pig-eat-tiger. And do not get yourself involve in any gossiping. Even if you find yourself stuck with the kepohchis stabbing people left and right in the pantry, just keep smiling, nodding, quickly finish off your food, and leave.
Your unintentional remark here and there might be used as a weapon by the gossipers to attack others and yourself back one fine day. When that happens, you'll become the victim and also the villain in the office everyone loathes. As the Chinese saying goes, 病从口入，祸从口出 , which means, illness comes in via the mouth because of food, and trouble goes out via the mouth because of words.
Life is tough. And no one is virginal anymore once they have joined the rat race. Because office politics fcuk everyone. Therefore, cooperate with your rival if you must. Pretend to be humble and subservient too. You 'use' I and I 'use' you only. Just like those baddies in the movie, you don't know how crooked and despicable they can be until you have been used, betrayed, and stabbed (from the back of course).
So, my dear friend, to survive in this dog-eat-dog world, you have gotto be a baddie. People will not shed tears when you die. People will not pity you when you are broke. People will not slow down when you are stationary. People are people. And, people DON'T CARE. Enuff said.
Labels: People
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