Comments on: Cold Hard Truths About The Workplace I Learned The Hard Way

By: Cary Gonzalez

Cary Gonzalez — Fri, 12 May 2017 17:20:00 +0000

Very good article and I agree with most of it. Co-workers are NOT your friends is a cold, hard truth. I’ve become very good friends with some of my FORMER co-workers after we no longer worked together. My rule is and has always been that I don’t mix business with my personal life on any level.

Perception is reality…until you change the reality. I am EXTREMELY punctual but as I have told my current boss and former bosses, punctuality is a two-way street. I arrive 30 minutes before my day starts and get right to work. At 5:00 PM, I am out the door, leaving behind a clean desk and no pending issues. Every. Single. Day. I have gotten resistance to this but you have to be firm and get them to understand that there is no purpose to you lingering around when you have completed all you needed to do for the day and exceeded expectations. They eventually get it.

Honesty and the “irreplaceables” should include a third category: “the chosen ones”. Every company has them. They are typically not the most efficient or hard working but for some reason that no one really knows or is willing to reveal, they can do no wrong in the eyes of upper management and the executives. It took me years to learn the politics of the workplace and choose my language carefully. They should teach this in college as a required course for everyone going for a four-year degree.

Another art that I feel I have mastered is the art of CYA. Co-workers are ruthless when it comes to throwing others under the bus. Trust me, I have tire-track scars on my back to prove it. Learn to cover your ass. Document anything and everything that could possibly get you under the bus.

By: Leyton

Leyton — Sat, 18 Mar 2017 20:08:07 +0000

A manager and mentor I had early in my career told me about your point 1. Well, actually he said “In business, trust no one. Not because no one is trustworthy but in a pinch they will always put their interests ahead of yours”. Any time since if I’ve forgotten that I’ve suffered for it. Your points 2 and 5 have also been prominent in my career path; i.e. at times in my own career and in that of others I’ve observed. The biggest problems surface and become a corporate cancer when politicians are perceived as ‘irreplaceables’ and actual substance superstars are perceived as easily replaced.

By: Jennifer Rose

Jennifer Rose — Fri, 17 Mar 2017 23:31:47 +0000

This is tough to learn (for me) but it’s all true. Sad, but true! (You like Metallica? :-P )

By: Adaeze

Adaeze — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 22:38:49 +0000

Most of what you wrote stands especially the honest part ….. But what really gets to me is the Irreplaceable people part. I would be considered a Johanna in my workplace and as you rightly put it a lot of stuff has been said about me which isn’t nice but I got to where I am by working my butt like hell. As much as I don’t like being the company gist I can’t help it because I have a vision I am working towards. Thanks for this article.

By: Christina

Christina — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 02:39:44 +0000

Wonderful article and so true!