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[MrAngryFace]

It seems that way to me. I rarely see hard workers get ahead. The ones that do are only where they are because they not only work hard, but somehow manage to forgo logic and adapt and follow Policy every step of the way.

I think its pretty sad actually, cause a lot of lazy people make it up to the top then spend all their time keeping worthwhile people at the bottom.

We need to go back to the old days where disputes were settled with swords in crappy barfights where everyone has viruses in their bowels.

 

[Justin Bailey]

Sometimes I wish for a violent revolution or zombies to take over or something, just so we can start all over again. If this means I have to die then so be it. The system is fucked.

 

[Teknopathetic]

Those who can work the system go further than those who work in the system.

 

[ToxicAdam]

The reward for hard work is more hard work.

 

[Dilbert]

Advancing is easy:

1) Work hard. Be willing to sacrifice (within reason) to achieve common goals.

2) Accomplish your goals while meeting all constraints of time/budget/performance. Without execution, nothing else matters.

3) Make your boss happy. The best way to do this is to make them look good to THEIR boss. Understand what criteria they are being judged on (hint: it's #2), and make them successful.

4) Be a team player. People who can generate consensus among a group of people who have different opinions are highly prized. Be willing to argue a different opinion or suggest a change to the status quo, but be willing to go along with the common decision, no matter what it is. Never EVER take credit for someone else's work. Praise publicly, coach privately.

5) BE SEEN. Make yourself visible within your organization, and don't be afraid to discuss your accomplishments. Ultimately, if you're going to move up, you will need a champion at higher levels...and the only way you get that is if they know what you are doing and see the value in your work.

 

[Justin Bailey]

Damn -jinx-, nice post. Maybe the zombies can wait.

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

Jinx sums up very nicely.

No idea what MAF's context is, so I have no idea what he can do about it. If he's working in a nuclear storage facility, damn straight following policy is more important than hard work (although ideally, you have both).

 

[demon]

If there's one thing I learned from my dad regarding the career world, it's that all your hard work and incredible accomplishments won't do you any good if it's done in a way that makes your superiors look like the idiots--and many times the idiots that they really are.

 

[miyuru]

I don't have a career, but if you're working on the side the only really important bits are your first and last impressions. By first impression, I mean how well you work for about the first 1-2 weeks and your actual first encounter with your boss. By last impression, just leave on a good note, nothing unexpected, no short notice, etc.

Other than that, if you work harder than most people for the length of your job, I really doubt it'll get you anywhere (in general; really depends on your management and how long you've been there).

 

[TheOMan]

Advancing is easy:

1) Work hard. Be willing to sacrifice (within reason) to achieve common goals.

2) Accomplish your goals while meeting all constraints of time/budget/performance. Without execution, nothing else matters.

3) Make your boss happy. The best way to do this is to make them look good to THEIR boss. Understand what criteria they are being judged on (hint: it's #2), and make them successful.

4) Be a team player. People who can generate consensus among a group of people who have different opinions are highly prized. Be willing to argue a different opinion or suggest a change to the status quo, but be willing to go along with the common decision, no matter what it is. Never EVER take credit for someone else's work. Praise publicly, coach privately.

5) BE SEEN. Make yourself visible within your organization, and don't be afraid to discuss your accomplishments. Ultimately, if you're going to move up, you will need a champion at higher levels...and the only way you get that is if they know what you are doing and see the value in your work.

Jinx - your posts are always full of good information and can usually be taken at face value and applied immediately (from your posts I find that we think alike and have similar views).

Now, 1 - 5 here are definitely what you need to do if you want advance (and I'll add being confident and politically savvy as fairly important as well - I'm talking about work politics here). However, number 5 is *crucial*. You have to sell yourself - I myself don't like it all that much, but speaking from first hand knowledge, it gets results and usually quickly.

Unfortunately, you have to play the game, and make no mistake, it is a game (otherwise, you wouldn't need number 5 to advance in my opinion). If you don't play, you normally can't win.