When pushed up against a wall, do you look for the space between his legs to crawl out of, or do you push him out of the way?  I guess you could also stay at the wall. After all, it isn’t going anywhere. Where is the motivation to enhance performance?  Is anyone looking?  Would they know if you pushed him away like a hero, or if you snuck under him like a coward? He is power.  He is security.  He is achievement.

Many individuals are taught to be honest through deceit.  The righteous man struggles harder than the unjust, and no one’s truthful enough to admit it.  We all lie, in some form. We all steal, even without knowing it. When it comes to office politics, some us choose to do what’s right, and others choose what’s right for their career. Of those that believe in “doing the right thing”, are they happier than those that can get what they want?  Is being manipulative a skill that should be learned?

“Honesty is always the best policy” was preached down my throat since I was a little.  I embraced that philosophy and have allowed it to dictate my life.  Particularly, I find it to be my strength and I pride myself in my loyalty in my employers.  But I’ve recently came to realize that no matter where I am, I am not in the “popular” crowd. When I began to examine the many potential reasons behind this, I began to see a pattern in my work experiences.  I do not kiss by bosses’ butt. Let me elaborate. I do not “pretend” to be better than I am, interested in the same things as my boss, nor do I care to make someone else look bad so I will look better.  In the end, though, who gets noticed; the great actress, or the real deal?

There are endless workshops, seminars, and self help books on how to get a head in the workplace.  It’s no wonder that I didn’t think of it sooner.  These workshops aren’t scams; they are a means to teach people how to be “competitive”.  This education is priceless for us “old school” who believe that one day all our hard work will be noticed by just being good, honest, and loyal.  You have to be competitive to get ahead. It’s part of the game. You have to be better, smarter, friendlier, and yes, you may even have to go to a party or two to get in.  You may have to manipulate the situation to get what you want, even if you don’t want to.  “Yes, boss, I would love to work this weekend. I have a lot to get caught up on anyway”. Even the most honest person may not be willing to tell the truth, “I hate it when you ask me to work extra hours with no extra pay”.

Are you being honest with yourself? What “little white lies” have you told today. And what “acts of kindness” did you do when you really didn’t want to. How can you justify that honesty is the best policy when it is never 100% in practice?

There are three types of individuals. (1) The one who stays at the wall waiting for it to move for them, (2) The one that gives up under pressure and crawls away, and (3) The one that pushes the competition out of the way to move forward? Competition, manipulation, and even dishonesty are part of life. How far you take it is a completely different debate.