Rolling with the punches or rolling out?

With this melting pot of different cultures, comes the challenge of communication, team work, single-point objective, project management and team leading. We all experienced a time in our life when we had a hard time understanding one of our colleagues, leaving a blank and cold gap between the two of you. I am also certain we also experienced some tensions when we saw our colleague walking on our feet (or trying to), to get to the goal or position before we did. It was not fair play, or a game of skills, it was more or like a virtual punching game, a cold war syndrome, with many secrets, espionage and hush-hush alliances that dawned on us. If you have never experienced this—then my hat goes to you —for the rest of us immortals, we can relate.

How do you deal with the frustration of such a colleague? Do you unleash the wrath on your spouse, family or friends? Do you play a dirtier game and hope to be the winner? Do you leave the organization as it becomes unfit with your own values?

Great questions we covered during our last seminar in Montréal last month. We always advise to stick with your gut feeling, your values and what you really want from your current job. It is never easy when the “Joe” or “Suzanne” that started

With you a few years ago and was always the closest of allies, is now turning against you because of a brighter, better position.

Human nature is a complex thing and we all have that Neanderthal ancestor in us reaching out—when it does, it is ugly! We become rudimentary in our relationships, running on our basic instinct to survive the workplace. We don’t need to be like that. The workplace today is full of Neanderthalians trying to alienate us, for the bigger pray.

In such a situation, we recommend you take a step back and ask yourself these questions:

1– How do my skills measure –up today?

2– What do I need from my job?

3– Would my interaction/challenge with “Joe” or “Suzanne” cause value disruption?

4– Would my current performance be affected if I don’t get the promotion?

5– What are my values? Do they align with the current situation, practice?

Once you have assessed your position, you will have two choices—you either roll with the punches and move on, or roll out of the company because it does not fit your values. In either of these cases, the decision is hard Rolling with the punches will mean accepting your colleague’s acts but not agreeing with them (because playing the game is just NOT you!), understanding your value within the organization and ensuring your performance is up to par. In other words, you will just fly above the situation and move on. It does not stop here. Does moving on mean that someone else might just do the same to you again in the future? Not if you learn the game and avoid the punches next time—Use you gut feeling to detect these situations and remain true to yourself, you will be the winner!

Rolling out will mean searching for an organization that fits your requirements and with which you have chemistry. Monetary satisfaction is not even close to “milieu” satisfaction in an organization because there is a fit!.

We have all faced these decisions in our past or present life, and we will be facing much more in the future, seeing how diverse and contingent the work environment has become, but what is most important, what will remain with you and your children, is the legacy you leave behind—would you want people to remember you as a relentless shark that walked on everyone, or an individual emulating integrity, consistent with his own values and true to himself? I am positive you will choose the later!



Rolling with the punches or rolling out? - To learn more about this author, visit Michel Amour's Website.

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