Don’t believe everything you read in business books about giving your “best effort” on the job. Don’t kid yourself about your feelings!
“All this talk about passion, commitment, and identification with an organization is absolutely correct if you are in a good job and are treated with dignity and respect. But it is hypocritical nonsense to the millions of people who are trapped in jobs and companies where they feel oppressed and humiliated–where their goal is to survive with their health and self-esteem intact and provide for their families, not to do great things for a company that treats them like dirt. Organizations that are filled with employees who don’t give a damn about their jobs will suffer poor performance, but in my book, if they routinely demean employees, they get what they deserve.” Source: The No Asshole Rule, Robert I. Sutton, PhD
I couldn’t agree more with Robert Sutton, PhD on this paragraph in his book. Some business books are filled with total nonsense when it comes to “giving your best” when you work for a jerk company. In fact, it may be time for you to leave so let me explain….
Also, things can be going great for your personal career at a company but it’s time to fold instead of hold.
Personal story: I’ve had the opportunity to work for a lot of companies (including the infamous and absolutely horrible, in my opinion, work environment–WorldCom). However, this story is not about WorldCom but a midsized company (defined between $100 million and a billion in sales). This company was profitable with a long track record of success and I can tell this story because I worked for the company until the untimely death of the founder in an accident. His son took his well run profitable company and drove it straight into the ground. And so, am I a disgruntled employee? Not at all, because I had a great career and a promise of a great future. Just one little hiccup: “I’ve been around for a while in business and have begun to understand what makes a good to great company.”
After the death of the founder I began to interact with his son which gave me great insight into his character. It wasn’t long before he told me that he and his father really liked me and my work but couldn’t stand my boss. Reading between the lines: “I had a future with the company and he didn’t.” Everyone has things they don’t like about their boss but I had great respect for my boss while I was losing respect for the new CEO (many issues). In fact, I would have trusted my boss to be the head of the company in troubled waters because I trusted his business judgement. When I turned in my resignation to my boss he was extremely shocked: “Why, you have a great future here?”
As expected, the new CEO began to bring in new executives to run the company. People with great degrees and reputation in the community but questionable track records in our industry. Many have been down this road before. Please never expect new executives not to bring in their own team of people they trust to watch their back. If you think you will fit in long-term you may be kidding yourself. There’s nothing that makes me more antsy than getting a new boss. During this period I was offered thousands of dollars more in pay to stay on in my position but I went with my gut and past experience and stayed true to my resignation time line. My boss told me that he could financially afford to leave the company but was going to stay on as a consultant to “make sure” that the company he had spent many years with stayed healthy. Evidently, he was much more committed to the company than they were to him. My only question after his comment: Why? I never mentioned that they didn’t like him and I’m sure he knew that already. He believed in giving his all to the company and it appeared he was psychologically bound as if he was part owner. (??) Folks, if it isn’t your company it isn’t your problem. Past abuse and experience (along with watching other idiots make the same mistakes) drummed this into my brain. Don’t get me wrong, obviously I did a good job.
Even if you are the owner is being married to a company worth your family and everything important in your life? Perhaps it is time as an owner to fold? How much money do you really need Mr. Ego? If you can’t figure a way out then get help. I’ve asked and been told by the owners of some large and successful companies that if they had it to do over they wouldn’t do it. Or, is this the only thing important in your life? So sorry.
Strangely, after leaving, it didn’t take near as long as I imagined for the company to go down and the owners (including some top executives) to be sued for fraud losing wealth and reputation. Please don’t be stupid when you are in the financial arm of the company–you are the fall guy when things begin to go South. If you don’t understand that please be informed. The new CEO started pointing fingers (financial people) regarding the financial shenanigans.
Here’s the point regarding any organization (Government, Church, State, and Business): Character and how you treat people means everything!
“Bad company corrupts good character.” 1st Cor. 15:33 (*)
With my eyes and ears open I could see how the new CEO would treat the people. Can you trust what you are told or is it just a bunch of lies? You won’t believe how many people were shocked at my good judgement to leave when I did because they weren’t so lucky.
At times we go with our gut, and thankfully we are sometimes correct, even when told we are passing up a great personal opportunity. There’s the door and never look back or second guess your decision.
(*) The No Asshole Rule book was reviewed by Professor Richard Beck, Abilene Christian University, in a study of 1st Corinthians chapter 13.
