People Strategies: Weigh values to decide if working for 'beasts' worthwhile

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Linda Bower is a speaker, executive coach and human performance improvement consultant in Rogersville.|ret||ret||tab|

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Dear Linda:|ret||ret||tab|

At my place of employment, the old saying, "The beatings will continue until morale improves," is painfully close to the truth. |ret||ret||tab|

Unfortunately, the rest of my industry and the outside world are aware that my employers (a family of beasts did I say that out loud?) are, well, shall we say, unsavory? |ret||ret||tab|

The good news is that I love the job I perform, and I am paid quite well, so I have no intentions of leaving.|ret||ret||tab|

But I also want my colleagues in the industry to be aware that I am not them in other words, the fact that I continue to work there should not say to them that I condone the attitudes, actions, words and deeds of the beasts. I have no intention of trying to change the culture of my workplace.|ret||ret||tab|

My question is if it's possible for me to separate myself and my work from my employers? |ret||ret||tab|

How to do this without disrespecting them outright (a practice I despise when I observe it in others).|ret||ret||tab|

Employed by Beasts|ret||ret||tab|

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Dear Employed by Beasts, |ret||ret||tab|

I don't believe it is possible to separate yourself from your work and employer. Personally, I avoid the kind of company you describe, unless they really want to change. |ret||ret||tab|

I understand that it may be best for you right now to create an island to stand on. It was sure healthier for some people to choose to work for the Nazis during World War II rather than try to fight or change them. Strong analogy? Not really. |ret||ret||tab|

Idealism knocks me back on very few issues, this is one of them: If people stop working for beasts, then beasts will cease to exist. |ret||ret||tab|

Now, let's get practical. In November, I will review the book, "Be Your Own Brand," by David McNally. He introduces a formula for "standing out from the crowd." I think this book contains the answer to your question about how to separate yourself. |ret||ret||tab|

If you have your own, "brand," then people will be more inclined to see you as different from your employer. The rest of this article is dedicated to the answer that you probably weren't expecting. |ret||ret||tab|

Here's my experience: Working in this environment will eventually wear you out. It wreaks havoc on emotional energy when personal values are in conflict with an employer's values. When it gets to be too much, many people lash out at their family and friends rather than at their employer. You are taking a very great risk by thinking you can sustain rising above a stinking system. |ret||ret||tab|

It all comes down to setting priority to your values. |ret||ret||tab|

It is better to be conscious about choosing your most important values, rather than assuming them. |ret||ret||tab|

By articulating your values, you will have built goal posts and boundaries that guide your day-to-day decisions. This is your best defense from getting sucked-in to being one of them. |ret||ret||tab|

Below are work-value definitions from The Inventure Group's program, "Creating Career Vitality." You have obviously placed high priority on the first value, what about the others here, and those that aren't listed that are important to you? |ret||ret||tab|

Money: Enough to purchase essentials and luxuries; prosperous lifestyle; increased earnings anticipated.|ret||ret||tab|

Integrity: A work culture that walks its talk, is authentic in its decisions and actions.|ret||ret||tab|

Responsibility: Participative working environment; feeling directly accountable for results; ability to influence decisions, direction and people.|ret||ret||tab|

Control: Make decisions about my work; manage myself; opportunity to set my schedule.|ret||ret||tab|

Achievement: Motivation to create or run something; opportunity to develop a new product or service.|ret||ret||tab|

Risk-Taking: Projects with excitement, flair and high stakes; job that demands ability to meet new people and cultural situations. |ret||ret||tab|

Employability: Work that enhances my talents; work that supports my long-term prospects here or elsewhere. |ret||ret||tab|

Mastery: Work results visible to others; job this is viewed as critical to the organization's success; recognition for my expertise. |ret||ret||tab|

Openness: Belonging; develop honest, open relationships as a result of work activity; supportive, compatible colleagues.|ret||ret||tab|

If the world were lit in black and white, I would ask you if integrity is less important than money. |ret||ret||tab|

But I don't know what you do with your money. I know people who work in white-collar sweatshops so they can rescue animals or spend more for educating their children. |ret||ret||tab|

Who am I to say that they have less integrity because they work for the bad guys? |ret||ret||tab|

Choosing how to represent yourself is a very personal decision. If you choose without considering your most important values, then you are walking the path to beasthood.|ret||ret||tab|

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