Workplace Predators
Repeatedly, the bear bit the neck and body of the walrus. But grayish-brown skin, up to two inches thick, protected her from the Polar bear's honed claws and teeth. In the end, the bear lost more than that battle. Alone, exhausted and unable to kill any of the hundred or more clustered walruses nearby, he ultimately starved.
This interaction of the bear and the walrus reminded me of workplace predators. You know the ones. Coworkers who knock others down for sport, trivializing successes, throwing stones at accomplishments, and ridiculing initiative as brown-nosing.
Coworker predators celebrate your missteps and failures, offering public jabs as a way to ward off contenders. Their caustic teeth of jealously, and jagged claws of success-envy, can painfully hit their mark in a forum fraught with public scrutiny. Their messages can derail projects, reputations and careers. They tear down others as a way of building themselves up, trading potential substance and significance for sarcasm and snide remarks.
I've encountered my share of workplace predators, attacking, biting, and clawing others to hinder success. They deliver reasons you won't, can't or shouldn't try something, and their negative predictions cast doubt shadows.
Early in my career, I was cowered by the seeming strength of workplace predators, retreating into more neutral positions or second-guessing my thinking. The thinness of my confidence skin, soft and vulnerable, was an easy target for them. Their attacks made me question my abilities, direction, and contributions, at times feeling like they might even succeed in breaking my spirit or pushing me from the environment.
But I finally realized their attacks came as a result of my competence, success, and achievement. As my confidence grew, so did thicker skin, and it became easier to withstand their attacks.
Workplace predators are not winning at working, since people who are never tear down or attack others, even if their livelihood depends on it. Instead, people who are winning at working are like walruses, developing their protective thick skin in a group oriented approach. They do that through teamwork, results, quality and self-esteem, growing denser skin with each success, achievement, and accomplishment.
Unfortunately, here's the reality - when you're winning at working, you're going to have to deal with workplace predators. So, get yourself ready. Develop behaviors that repel and weaken their antics. Grow the thickest skin possible by your consistent performance, trust, integrity, and achievement. Cement your strength with persistence, determination and passion.
Then, when they strike, practice Thomas Jefferson's words, "Nothing gives one person so much advantage over another as to remain cool and unruffled under all circumstances." Remember, unruffled walruses starve bears.
(c) 2007 Nan S. Russell. All rights reserved.
Related Tags: relationships, success, predators, coworkers, company politics, winning at working, achivement
Sign up to receive Nan's complimentary biweekly eColumn at http://www.winningatworking.com Nan Russell has spent over twenty years in management, most recently with QVC as a Vice President. She has held leadership positions in Human Resource Development, Communication, Marketing and line Management. Nan has a B.A. from Stanford and M.A. from the University of Michigan. Currently working on her new book, Hitting Your Stride: Your Work, Your Way (Capital Books; January 2008). Visit http://www.nanrussell.com
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- Smile Therapy At The Front Desk
Walk into any type of medical office and the first thing you should see is a smile with a warm and f - What Are The Costs Of Hiring Culturally-Incompetent Staff?
It may come as a surprise to the casual observer that many organizations never consider the conseque - Right Choice Of Words For Effective Business Communication
Communication is a process by which meanings are exchanged among people through the use of words. Bu - Don't Throw The Baby Out With The Bathwater
I recently read about a business philosophy that is starting to become a popular water cooler topic - Improve Your Relationships by Cutting Them Off At Their Knees!
Perhaps your work colleagues are causing you to experience stress through their methods of communica - What's Your Communication Quotient? Workplace Communication - Your Key to Success!
Forget GQ! These days it's your CQ that matters...your Communication Quotient. Degrees and awards a - Not Understanding Questions - Is It Me or Is It Them?
To begin with, this is a great question. Let's begin by breaking down what you've just asked me into - Speaking with Your Authentic Voice
Imagine a world where everyone spoke their truth.If that stirs up an, "Oh my Gosh, I couldn't do tha - Is High Definition Video Conferencing Right for Your Business?
If you are looking into purchasing a video conferencing solution for your business, chances are you - Profound Communication
To be a profound, or at least half-way decent, communicator you must know the basics of communicatio
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Intercultural Stereotyping: We Are All Guilty Of It!
Defined as "beliefs about the characteristics, attributes, and behaviours of members of certain grou - Think Local, Act Global
Any observant professional would have now been aware of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank's advertisem - Communicating with Singaporeans: Understanding 6 Key Aspects
To the first-time visitor, Singapore is a thoroughly Asian country with Western trappings. Not to me - Listening is Loving
When you really listen to other human beings you are:• honoring their unique presence in the univers - 14 Work Behavior Sins You Don't Want to Make
Are you a good co-worker, or are you annoying the life out of those around you? Many people claim t - How To Understand Cross-Cultural Analysis
Cross-cultural analysis could be a very perplexing field to understand with many different viewpoint - Laughter and Fun are the Best Medicine for Companies
The immune system is the body's defence mechanism to handle viruses. Laughter and fun have been he - Eye Protection and Safety Glasses - Workplace Safety
The most common form of eye protection is safety glasses. I have always hated wearing safety glasse - Important Uses Of Stickers And Labels In Your Business
For businesses, the need to be orderly and organized when it comes to documents, files and records i - Creating Workplace Harmony: Discover and Release Hidden Causes of Tension
There is nothing that disrupts productivity and satisfaction at the workplace as much as tension tha