Does it help to be a jerk in the workplace? 1

[mugs82]

According to a new study, it does:

http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN0230737820070803

Your thoughts?

 

[mrdenny]

They faulted senior managers for not recognizing the signs of workplace strife wrought by bad bosses. "The leaders above them who did nothing, who rewarded and promoted bad leaders ... represent an additional problem."

The problem that I see with this is that the senior managers in question probably like what the see from the bad manager, because more than likly the senior manager used to be a bad junior manager.

Also people who work for bad managers tend to get the work done ontime or early which makes the bad manager look good to those above. The reason that the employees work there a** off for said bad manager is so that they don't have to worry about the bad manager comming over very often. If the work gets done quickly that's one less conversation that has to be had with the bad manager.

I'm guessing that the people who ran the study never worked in an office before.

Denny
MCSA (2003) / MCDBA (SQL 2000)
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--Anything is possible. All it takes is a little research. (Me)

http://www.mrdenny.com

 

[LadySlinger]

IMO it depends on who you define as a "jerk". There was one article on MSN a while ago that said that its not brains that will get you promoted, its brown nosing. I think this article reflects that idea.

If you constantly are stepping up and making yourself known to senior management, then they're more likely to remember who you are rather than sitting in a corner cube typing away.

Some people view these as jerks since perhaps as you're typing away on the computer and you mention something to the "jerk" coworker who takes your idea and promotes it to management as his own, then yes, he's a jerk. However he at least got off his butt and did it.

However if he promoting himself by coming up with these ideas on his own, then I don't consider him a jerk. Even if the ideas come back and requires you to do more work.

 

[spamly]

I agree with Denny. It's not the "bad" quality in these people that is getting them promoted, it is the aggressive nature of their personalities. They stand out and (for better or worse) put the project and career before anything else.

 

[JCreamerII]

One other thing is that a "jerk" isn't concerned with how you perceive them, or whether or not they are a good person. They can get away with behavior that another person wouldn't try, because the good person wouldn't want to treat another human being that way, the "jerk" doesn't suffer from those type of inter personal constraints.

Jim C.

 

[thefourthwall]

in a previous job it was *always* the ones acting like jerks and pushing others out of the way that got noticed and promoted. sad, though, that that kind of behavior is looked upon favorably and regarded so favorably.

 

[aarenot]

http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric....line's-Spine/E7DFEEA87551C27148256DA4000CC2D0

These lyrics sound like your workplace?


This is the usual corporate situation, my few friends who have other scenarios are happy, and appreciate the boss for it. Reality is that we expect chit from the boss, we excuse what they do because they are the boss, and we have come to expect this chit behaviour. If we could slip a dead fish into his office file cabinet drawer, and break off the key, without getting caught maybe we would, and he deserves it. It has been getting worse for many years in the workplace, but since the water was not hot when we jumped in we have become used to it. We just accept this chit as part of life, instead of quitting, standing up to them, or getting a transfer. We rationalize how we endorse, and enable this behaviour because we need the money to buy our toys, while we miss out on our lives, and those of our family.

 

[markphsd]

I'm often considered harsh at work. However, it's usually because of mistakes that were made and me trying to correct them. I'm also often very nice. Which is confusing to me and others.

To me this document only expressed "promoted for domineering ways." as the basis for a negative individual. That's not a bad thing, and often if there's performance gleaned from the individual it's a positive thing. Higher ups want leadership, domineering and tyrants are aren't always "doominering". The workplace is not always a democracy, nor should it be.

Also, the people I work with do appreciate me. Being strictly a Jerk probably won't work out for a manager. This "Bad bosses" document is vague and essentially useless since there's not enough information.

An easy example, watch House and Scrubs, those head doctors are jerks, but they are also driven and produce results. One is miserable though, probably best to have a balance.



Mark P.

http://www.cafecartel.com

Providing Low Cost Powerful Point of Sale Solutions.

 

[aarenot]

A shepherd is a leader. Leaders are not served by those they lead, they serve them. That does not mean that the leader does as they are told, but that they see their role as one of leading others, not dominating, or dictating to others. Good leaders, are also good followers as a rule, and have influence regardless of whether or not they have any power to enforce, or intimidate. Short of these abilities, attitudes, and influential ways, you are a dime a million, easily replaced, and of little value to any organization. If you have these types of abilities, talents, and atttitudes you are few, and far between, almost impossible to replace, and of almost priceless to those around you, and the teams you lead.

If you have worked for this type, which is the only type of leader there is, you know what I mean. If you have not, then you are one of the unfortunate, and probably do not comprehend what real leadership is.

This does not mean a person cannot be a manager, supervisor, superintendant, president, vice president, senator, father, boss, arsehole, or be in any position of power, and authority without these qualities applied. It just means they are not a leader, but a baby sitter, as opposed to someone doing child rearing.