

And no, it isn't about being a better employee.
Or being better at your job.
It's about understanding why your company actually values your boss, and how to signal that you are "boss material".
THREAD...
The company you work for has a real, vested financial interest in keeping the morale of its bottom line extremely low.
Your manager isn't "manager material" because he's such a good leader, in spite of his toxicity.
It's BECAUSE of it.
(cont)
Your manager isn't "manager material" because he's such a good leader, in spite of his toxicity.
It's BECAUSE of it.
(cont)
It's because of his ability to keep his subordinates under his thumb.
How he makes his employees feel incompetent, fearful.
How nothing they do is ever good enough.
How they'll never make it anywhere else.
With every crack of the whip, he solidifies his status.
(cont)
How he makes his employees feel incompetent, fearful.
How nothing they do is ever good enough.
How they'll never make it anywhere else.
With every crack of the whip, he solidifies his status.
(cont)
His company values him deeply because he helps keep the bottom-rung workers in line.
Make no mistake,
This man can be objectively useless in every other facet of life.
But if he keeps the workers who create the real value under his heel,
His company values him more than gold
Make no mistake,
This man can be objectively useless in every other facet of life.
But if he keeps the workers who create the real value under his heel,
His company values him more than gold
So, the question is, what do you do about this?
Especially given that your competency at your job is irrelevant. The value you provide is irrelevant.
Nothing will be impressive enough for your boss to give a damn about, much less merit a promotion.
So, what, then?
(cont)
Especially given that your competency at your job is irrelevant. The value you provide is irrelevant.
Nothing will be impressive enough for your boss to give a damn about, much less merit a promotion.
So, what, then?
(cont)
The key to being recognized in corporate America, and to get in line for promotions, is this:
Signal to your company that it is in their direct interests - their REAL interests, not stated ones - to promote you.
How?
By showing that you are a "whip-cracker" yourself.
Signal to your company that it is in their direct interests - their REAL interests, not stated ones - to promote you.
How?
By showing that you are a "whip-cracker" yourself.
You may not have anyone that directly reports to you.
But, in most situations, you will have other contacts that you need to reach out to for information or materials to complete your job.
If you do not, ask your coworkers for job-related favors and go off of that.
More:
But, in most situations, you will have other contacts that you need to reach out to for information or materials to complete your job.
If you do not, ask your coworkers for job-related favors and go off of that.
More:
Constantly be on top of them for getting the task completed, or getting you the things you need.
Stop by their desk in person.
Send frequent emails.
On the 3rd or 4th email, CC your boss.
Mention to your boss that you've been following up with these contacts frequently.
Stop by their desk in person.
Send frequent emails.
On the 3rd or 4th email, CC your boss.
Mention to your boss that you've been following up with these contacts frequently.
Now, this is the key:
It's not about going out of your way to make people look incompetent.
The ultimate signal you're trying to give off is:
"I'm more than willing and able to be a complete pain in the ass to get the job done"
It's not about going out of your way to make people look incompetent.
The ultimate signal you're trying to give off is:
"I'm more than willing and able to be a complete pain in the ass to get the job done"
How to know when you've REALLY hit gold:
When others complain about how you can be such a pain...
But they CAN'T say anything, because EVERYTHING you've been doing is, on the surface, about doing a good job for your company.
This is the ticket.
When others complain about how you can be such a pain...
But they CAN'T say anything, because EVERYTHING you've been doing is, on the surface, about doing a good job for your company.
This is the ticket.
The absolute pipe-dream is if other people are schmoozing around, at the watercooler or coffee machine,
And they complain about how you're always asking for materials, getting on their ass for this and that, etc.
And your boss overhears them.
And they complain about how you're always asking for materials, getting on their ass for this and that, etc.
And your boss overhears them.
I should make this clear:
NEVER do ANY kind of "whip cracking" at your boss.
The key is to be indirectly boss-like, and make enough racket (without being overt about it) that your boss naturally notices it.
Whether it be on emails he's CC'd on, or overheard bitching.
NEVER do ANY kind of "whip cracking" at your boss.
The key is to be indirectly boss-like, and make enough racket (without being overt about it) that your boss naturally notices it.
Whether it be on emails he's CC'd on, or overheard bitching.