Have you ever worked hard on something but didn’t get any credit for it? It can be stressful, right? Today, we’re going to learn about why this happens sometimes.
Meet Joe. He was brought up to be a good person, always doing the right things and following rules. Joe always does what he says he will do.
One day, there was an important meeting scheduled by the Boss. Joe and a few of his co-workers were called in. A potential customer was interested in a solution, and the team had to commit to the project. The boss needed everyone’s opinion, and Joe was the domain expert, which means he knew a lot about this project. Joe also had an excellent track record, meaning he always did his job well.
But this project was tricky. There is a good chance to deliver it, but the only problem was figuring out how quickly they could do it. The customer wanted to know the timeline. Joe didn’t want to promise something unless he was sure they could do it on time.
So, even though Joe worked very hard and gave his honest opinion, he didn’t get much credit for it. Sometimes, even when we do our best and follow all the rules, we do not get recognized for our hard work. It’s important to keep doing our best and remember that hard work will pay off in the long run, even if it doesn’t seem like it right away.
The boss asked Joe, “Joe, what do you think? Can we do this project? It will make our company big.”
Joe thought for a moment. He was unsure and said, “The problem is that it might take more time than the customer wants. There are some technical and non-technical risks”
Joe was a good manager and knew a lot about the project.
Suddenly, Martha jumped in and said, “We can do this! Let’s say yes!”
Martha is Joe’s coworker. She has less experience than Joe. She does okay at her job, not the best, but not too bad either.
Now Joe is a little upset. He didn’t like being interrupted. He wanted to explain the whole situation and risks before agreeing to the project. But the boss got what he wanted, and the meeting ended much sooner.
Joe takes full responsibility for the project. The boss told Joe to ask Martha for help if needed. The project was Joe’s work. It went okay, just like Joe thought. There was some delay, but the customer had business changes and didn’t complain much.
Surprise! Instead of Joe, Martha gets the credit!
Joe is boiling with anger about how unfair the world and workplace politics can be.
What happened?
Many people at work have the same problem as Joe.
The boss wanted confidence and assurance, not data.
A lot of people have plenty of data, but they wait for the boss to make the decision. They aren’t used to making decisions themselves. The boss was under a lot of pressure and didn’t have time for the full story.
The Problem of Decision-Making
Being afraid to make decisions is a big issue. If you often feel this way, you need to think about why. Talking to someone who isn’t part of your everyday life can help.
“Under-promise and over-deliver” – Applying it in the wrong context
Many people hesitate too much to make decisions. They are very cautious and then do more than expected. But this leaves the main risk with the boss during the project.
They think it is smart to do it this way. But for the boss, it adds more stress. The boss also wants someone to share the mental burden, not deliver the project.
Whoever shares the mental burden gets a good share of the reward, no matter who actually did the work.
Conclusion: Understanding People Over Office Politics
It’s more about understanding people than about office politics. If you think it’s all politics, you won’t find a way to change things. Understanding this helps you improve the situation. It’s about changing your beliefs and behavior, not dealing with politics.
