Unpacking Your Inner Professional

If you’re anything like me, you’ve realized that the codes of corporate culture are different from those of the environment you were raised in. Codes that are spoken and unspoken, sometimes well-articulated but more often whispered. You are judged by visible and invisible standards that may not align with your values or sense of integrity.  But let’s not forget, you signed a contract. You agreed to receive a specific wage for loosely-specific work output. Most importantly, you agreed to behave in alignment with the company Code of Conduct. And contrasting with that Code A.K.A. not actin’ right is where things most often go sideways.

I can recall a data management job many years ago where I was responsible for reporting on new vendor data feeds. Mismanaging a conflict situation with a senior leader in the org, I sent what I like to refer as the “Jerry Maguire” email (the one that’s sure to get you fired). Not only did I send the salacious email with the Goodie Mob mic-drop line of “I’d rather struggle on my feet than live on my knees” to the leader, I bcc’d everybody in the org I thought was “cool”. As you may imagine, it only took a few days for me to be oh so politely escorted from the premises. This was my corporate primer on if you leverage the wrong conflict resolution solutions for the environment, you can expect unfavorable results. I’d taken a “real one” approach to an artificial situation and ended up in the employment office.

So how do you artfully move through an environment that feels foreign and doesn’t always align with what is important to you? What are some ways you can honor yourself, your traditions, and professional voice while effectively traversing obstacles to your version of success? What other big questions do you wrestle with? If you’re looking for help in advancing your career journey and evolving your professional self, email me and let’s get busy working together.