I will outline my postulates based on my experiences in the year 2006 and I will look at initial reflections and plans in the New Year in a later post
I feel that the year 2006 was extremely important for my career. It was the year, in which I learnt/I was taught the art of office workmanship. There are some things that happen for no apparent reason and sometimes some things just don’t happen when everyone’s expecting! I don’t have too many examples to prove my point but I feel that I have experienced the best and worst of my still nascent career.
There are ‘sayings’ that everyone believe in and should hold true in any competitive office environ and I did not believe in them. This is probably because I am/was naïve or some other reason that I am yet to figure out.
With whatever little comprehension skills that I have, I have tried to give shape to my postulates about surviving office environs! I will not take anyone’s name here; still hope no one gets offended; it is just an honest self assessment. Nothing more. Nothing less
1. It is very important to be in the good books of not only your boss but also his chamchaas. Bosses have a wide range of arsenal in these parasites to sting and bite using these breed of people. Their talent cannot be underestimated. But I feel that somewhere down, we need to draw the line and say to yourself that, come what may, I will not cross that line! When you stoop once too often, it becomes a rule rather than an exception.
2. It is very important to earn respect from your peers. Respect need not come on the back of that ‘all important’ assignment you successfully did in the project, it can come riding on a variety of shapes. I feel that respect should be always commanded and never demanded, so to speak! Always respect your peers and give credit where it is due. Credit should never be withheld because of personal grudges or prejudice.
3. Never get romantically involved with only ONE. This is the most important among all others and only applies for men. If ‘it’ goes wrong, it disturbs your mental balance, clouds your clarity of thought and judgment. The bad feeling lingers on and one, even when the outcome is written on the stone, loud and clear! You don’t have control over your heart but I feel that you need to assess your priorities, think about possible downsides, think about every possible reason to avoid that person in question. I have the three equations about this:
Not enough prospects = Too much concern for one
Too much concern for one = mis-focusing the energy
mis-focusing the energy = missing other opportunities
4. Always highlight your work. They say that you cannot put down a good person for too long. I agree, but here in software industry, the pace of change is such that, the phrase “for too long” has different connotation. Announce, Highlight, Shout and in fact basically do whatever it takes to accentuate your work.
4. Always highlight your work. They say that you cannot put down a good person for too long. I agree, but here in software industry, the pace of change is such that, the phrase “for too long” has different connotation. Announce, Highlight, Shout and in fact basically do whatever it takes to accentuate your work.
5. Humour. This is one thing not every one is blessed with, but you can always laugh at others jokes. Get that sense of humour or if you don’t have it, get that ‘nonsense’ of humour!!! Laughing at oneself should be strictly avoided in presence of noobs and detractors.
6. Choose your friends carefully. It is always better to go along with your ‘type’ of people, but having said that, you should be in talking terms with all.
Those are some things that I can think of now and I am sure, people who read this can relate to their environs. You can add yours in the comments but I only want the aspects you experienced first hand.
Those are some things that I can think of now and I am sure, people who read this can relate to their environs. You can add yours in the comments but I only want the aspects you experienced first hand.
