Comments on: Ways to distinguish yourself #126 Don't get promoted to a job that you may not enjoy

By: RealityCheck

RealityCheck — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 12:19:22 +0000

Better… or rather “Different” advice that the other article I just read. The other article I read stated (in not so many words) to be a blatant suck up and brown noser. Don’t work too hard because you’ll look “desperate”. I have always been 1. Hard working. 2. Dependable. 3. Competent. These qualities have never gotten me ANYWHERE… Hard work, reliability, competence, mean NOTHING. The fact is you have to be a lazy, shameless, shoe licking, rat to get ANYWHERE. If you are not willing to be a soulless, suck-up HOOKER who does NOTHING but sit around and nitpick irrelevant details about your co-workers to middle management to make yourself look good, then you won’t go anywhere. Sad but true. This is also one of the main reasons that the U.S. is in such a rapid decline. The bosses “Buddies” are never, ever required to know what they are doing, have any kind of past experience, or let alone show up for work half of the time. The sorry fact is that NO boss wants a good employee. Every boss wants a Pal that they can SIT around with and talk about football or whatever hobby they’re interested in with. I have seen it my entire life and it will never, ever change.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 18 May 2006 01:19:33 +0000

Thanks Aditya. At a global level, I am of the opinion that you should always enjoy the journey. Of course, there will be exceptions and at that time you will use your wisdom to determine the right course of action.
I have seen far too many people that should have refused a promotion as the resulting position was not right for them. Hence the post.
Thanks again.
Best,
Raj

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 18 May 2006 01:03:45 +0000

I think you are trying to address two different issues here. I totally agree with “Don’t get promoted to a job that you may not enjoy” fact. I take this advise more for a ‘personal satisfaction’ factor. But I really can’t connect this advise for not to fail in the new role. I really doubt the failure in the new role is mainly about not enjoying that new role. Failure is mainly because of lack of capabilities in that role.
If you are capable, then you know how to compromise on your interest and still succeed in your career. Ofcourse, if you are capable and you also enjoy the role, then nothing like it. But just because you may not enjoy the new role doesn’t mean that you should not take that opportunity.
Sometimes HOW you do it is more important that WHAT you do?
When world expects that something is right for you, they make this opinion based on your capabilities and your past record.
And also, unless you face the challenges in the new role, you can not be sure that you will not enjoy it.
So some probablity of not enjoying the new promotion is not sufficient reason to refuse the promotion offer. Certainly its more than that!