EDIT: I'm not comfortable with the accuracy of what I wrote. I'm leaving it for the use of the term "lying culture", which I think is real and is a useful summary term.
Negotiating such circumstances continues to be a struggle, for me. To the extent my opinion has any value, though, I would recommend being on the lookout for becoming part of or involved with a "lying culture" and getting out of such circumstances as soon as possible.
As I stated, in my case I compensated. For me, that seemed to end up being a self-destructive approach.
Several bad personal circumstances perhaps kept me more "trapped" than I might otherwise have been -- if it was not just personal weakness. Regardless, from that perspective, my recommendation is to walk away. The sooner you do so, the less it's going to cost you. And you won't be further empowering those who are shoveling the shit.
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I started a longer comment, but I'm going to reduce it to the phrase I used within it: A lying culture.
A lying culture is corrosive, and it is particularly damaging to those who don't lie and aren't interested in the priorities such a culture tends to emphasize. (Personal power, control, and exploitation.)
I've managed to negotiate some such cultures, in good part by finding and connecting with the decent sub-population within them. Sometimes that included winning the trust of somewhat disengaged employees over to my cause.
However, negotiating such a culture for a time does not equate with long term success. I think, in retrospect, it is better to get out. Personal connections can mask, but not counteract, the larger influences.
It is also worth keeping a keen ear tuned to if and when your work culture starts turning into a lying culture.
Those "stay the course", "engagement", et al. memos can be one canary, and if you're paying attention, you'll observe some of the brightest employees -- where their personal investments and risks aren't too high -- jumping ship soon after the scent of such a change begins wafting around.
It is, I think, not just about personal opportunity. It's about a low or zero tolerance for bullshit.
Negotiating such circumstances continues to be a struggle, for me. To the extent my opinion has any value, though, I would recommend being on the lookout for becoming part of or involved with a "lying culture" and getting out of such circumstances as soon as possible.
As I stated, in my case I compensated. For me, that seemed to end up being a self-destructive approach.
Several bad personal circumstances perhaps kept me more "trapped" than I might otherwise have been -- if it was not just personal weakness. Regardless, from that perspective, my recommendation is to walk away. The sooner you do so, the less it's going to cost you. And you won't be further empowering those who are shoveling the shit.
--
I started a longer comment, but I'm going to reduce it to the phrase I used within it: A lying culture.
A lying culture is corrosive, and it is particularly damaging to those who don't lie and aren't interested in the priorities such a culture tends to emphasize. (Personal power, control, and exploitation.)
I've managed to negotiate some such cultures, in good part by finding and connecting with the decent sub-population within them. Sometimes that included winning the trust of somewhat disengaged employees over to my cause.
However, negotiating such a culture for a time does not equate with long term success. I think, in retrospect, it is better to get out. Personal connections can mask, but not counteract, the larger influences.
It is also worth keeping a keen ear tuned to if and when your work culture starts turning into a lying culture.
Those "stay the course", "engagement", et al. memos can be one canary, and if you're paying attention, you'll observe some of the brightest employees -- where their personal investments and risks aren't too high -- jumping ship soon after the scent of such a change begins wafting around.
It is, I think, not just about personal opportunity. It's about a low or zero tolerance for bullshit.