Team Players Not Appreciated

Remember your last job interview, two years or ten years ago? They asked you about people skills. “I’m great with people. I’m the definitive team player.” Of course you lied, like all of us. You had too. That’s how you got the job.

Some workers are really good with people. Unfortunately, we end up abusing them. Someone who always gets coffee for everyone is not stupid. He loves people. That’s why he doesn’t ask for money when he distributes the coffee he got from the mall cafe. Other workers are nice because they are new. They want acceptance.

Pseudo bosses like abusing nice workers. Your workplace probably has that person that loves giving orders. The minute the boss’ back is turned, she becomes the proxy manager and targets team players in the office. Nice workers sometimes end up being a trampoline. We ask them if we could swap days off. The nice person agrees once, then word gets around that he’s single so his time is flexible. His marital status doesn’t have to do with anything. He just loves people.

Team players replace paper in the photocopier. Yes, there are offices that still have photocopying machines. A team player might not mind filling in when someone calls in ‘sick’ after Thanksgiving. It doesn’t last forever though. Sooner or later, he will realize that he is being played. If you can’t beat them, join them so, he gets a new skin and becomes bitter and self-centred, like everybody else.

Looking forward to work tomorrow?

Nonqaba waka Msimang

Executive Blogger