Exercise 17. Supplementary reading for further discussion.

 

Relationships with colleagues is probably one of the most difficult problems with which the junior worker is faced. For one thing, there is always a certain element of competition between staff for promotion. This can lead to all kinds of suspicion of the motives of fellow workers. The ambitious drive of some people can make them very difficult to work with.

It can be very disturbing, for example, to discover that one’s mistakes are being relayed to the “higher-ups” by colleagues who are seeking to benefit themselves by that method. Unfortunately, human nature being what it is *, this kind of situation does happen, and when it is discovered, the relationships within an organization can be seriously impaired. This is not an easy situation to deal with. Our “communicability” is lessened because we become more guarded * and less frank with our colleagues. Perhaps we should look at a couple of the main motives which make the promotion seeker what he is. The first motive is the desire to earn more money, which is quite natural. Most of us never seem to have enough money anyway, and it is not unreasonable to want more *.

The age we live in places a high value on the possession of money and what it can buy, so the urge to increase our income is very strong in most of us.

The second motive behind promotion seeking is what we loosely called “status”. This is closely linked with money, of course, but is based on the belief that the higher up the ladder we climb, the more we receive the satisfaction of respect and authority.

We may certainly acquire a measure of power and authority, but respect is another matter. Respect depends more on the nature and personality of a person than on his position in an organization. It is important to recognize the efforts, even among junior staff, to acquire both money and status and to be aware of the kind of threat they create to human relationships at this level.

 

Notes

* human nature being what it is   *we become more guarded   *and it is not unreasonable to want more

т.к. человеческая натура остается такой, какая она есть… мы становимся более настороженными и нет причины для того, чтобы не стремиться к большему

Exercise 18. Think and answer.

 

· Do you agree that promotion seeking may impair relationships among colleagues? Why (not)?

· Is there competition for promotion in your organization?

· Does it lead to some disturbing situations? How do you deal with such situations?

· Do you recognize some ambitious drive of some of your colleagues?

· What do you think of promotion seekers?

· Do you agree that the urge to earn more money is the strongest motive of promotion seekers?

· What do you think of the “status” motive?

· Which do you think is more difficult: to acquire power and authority or to earn respect of the colleagues?

· Are you aware of your colleagues’ attitude to you? What do you think it is?

· Are you satisfied with your relationships with colleagues? Why (not)?

Exercise 19. Do the test ”We are only human”.

 

A. Fill in the test. Do this test as a simulation exercise: imagine an office situation where you work together with different types of people. There are a variety of emotions among people who work together. Tick (√) the answer you think applies.

 

To create a positive atmosphere at work, do you think people should

a. be encouraged to express their feelings clearly;

b. be discouraged to act on feelings because they may

spread ill will;

c. make an effort to spread the effects of positive feel-

lings to create an effective working environment.

Are you aware of the emotional effect you have on

Others? Do you make them

a. tense;

b. relaxed;

c. enthusiastic;

d. subdued;

e. open;

f. guarded.

When you feel good, do you

a. pass it on, sharing the positive mood;

b. lose the positive effect of your own good mood by buttoning up.