Be A Mercenary
Right Person, Wrong Situation
You’ve done everything you possibly can to make your work situation better, yet nothing seems to gel. In college, you went above and beyond to position yourself for success, but things don’t seem to be clicking the way you had hoped. We all perceive ourselves as the main character, so is it possible that you’re the right person in the wrong situation? Could it be that you are capable, efficient, and communicative but for reasons out of your control, you don’t mesh with the team or subject matter?
Corporate America is a lot like the NBA. The “free agents” are those on the hunt for the next opportunity or chasing a bag. “Blue chip” players are heads or influencers of “blue blood” big market organizations, and their movement “team to team” is far more seismic than an entry-level employee (who could be viewed as a “role player”).
We’re all looking for situations that benefit us financially while also providing purpose to our day-to-day responsibilities. We all desire to win, which means different things to different industries. Losing games, or – to play into our analogy further – clashing with teammates, struggling with a task, making mistakes feels shitty. In fact, it hurts. It weighs on us because we feel like all the legwork we’ve done leading up to this moment should have translated to a positive outcome. More than anything, we crave a positive work environment that empowers us to be better. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. If I’ve learned anything in my career about navigating tricky situations & suboptimal work relationships, it’s not what happens that defines you, it’s how you react to it that truly matters.
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Let’s say you’re an all-star at what you do, but your situation doesn’t play to your strengths. How do you operate to make the situation better overall or at the very least, carve out positivity for yourself?
Be A Mercenary:
Our generation has adopted a new way of working that strongly differs from generations past. There’s very little brand loyalty. We bounce from company to company like a middle school relationship: short & sweet with no hard feelings. When there’s opportunity afoot, it’s in all our best interests to take action in hopes that the next place offers more stability and upward mobility. If you’re in the early stages of your career and don’t love your current role; think like a mercenary. You’re a hired gun who has been given the chance to learn from seasoned vets – the good, the bad, and the ugly. If you don’t gel, you don’t need to pledge allegiance to that organization. Just view it as a stop on the road of a long journey.
Identify Corporate “Factions”:
Don’t feel like you can’t forge an alliance outside of your immediate team. This has become more challenging than ever in the current WFH era because you have less exposure to people outside your discipline but keep your ear to the ground to see what other people are saying. People in different departments might have unique insight and perspective on your situation. Their view of your department could help you confirm concerns or quell anxiety. Tap into them early and often to gain an outsider outlook. Plus, there’s a scenario in which you switch over to their department or capability. Make friends, not foes.
It Ain’t That Serious:
Know when to walk away. We all joke that we’re “not curing cancer” or “putting out fires”, but the fact of the matter is… we’re FAR from it. You should never ever ever feel emotionally overwhelmed at work. That’s usually a good solid red flag to abort mission or talk to an HR person. You’ll work with people who take things way too seriously, and those individual actors are the hardos that poison team culture. Take what they say with a grain of salt and try to deflect. No rhyme or reason for those who look to diminish your work. There’s a difference between passion and pressure.
WIFM, but with More Humility:
I’m all about “what’s in it for me”, but I try to remember that my decisions affect others I work with. Yes, you should come first in your career, but for real, just realize that you might burn a bridge or mess with someone’s life. Be aware of your work situation. Ensure it’s right for you but try not to leave people in a lurch. You never know if your paths will cross again.
Don’t Make Excuses & Don’t Feel Sorry For Yourself:
Big double-hands up for your boy here. I used to do this all the time and found it wildly unsuccessful and counterproductive. The default for our age group is noting age as an excuse. “I’ve never done this” or “I just started so I can’t.” Turns out, nobody gives a fuck. You’ll meet Good Samaritans and proper mentors who remember what it was like to first start out, but the rest of the team won’t get it and will feel like you’re not giving it your all. It’s okay to feel lost but remember the first two points: be a mercenary and identify factions. Bring your concerns and questions to trusted sources who will help you. Sometimes, you just gotta smile and wave.
You’ll find harmony soon enough. It’s hard to come by, but for now, work on you and use some of these principles to your advantage. You create the environment you want to work in, even when it feels like it’s totally out of your control.
About The Series
Sometimes you gotta set your own deadlines to get where you wanna go. 15 articles for 15 weeks, all randomly selected until we reach the last. Maybe then I’ll form the habit? Each week selected and announced through TikTok if anyone cares.
Graham Olney
Graham is the host of Tough To Say (sorry, Barry). In hopes of forming better writing habits, he’s committing to a 15 week self-imposed program to sharpen the skills.