Pushor Mitchell | Does It Pay To Be The Bad Guy At Work?

Oct 30 2008

At work, there are two types of bad guys or gals. One is the actual enemy -- the person who sets out to make your life miserable. This could be the co-worker who steals your ideas and then makes you look incompetent in front of the boss. The other kind is the person who will take unpopular stances for the good of the company.
At first glance, being the second type of bad guy doesn't seem so bad because your ultimate purpose is an admirable one. But, do you want to explain to the boss that her new plan is actually an old one that failed miserably? Do you want to tell your colleague that his work ethic is damaging the team's reputation? Honesty can earn you a reputation as the enemy rather than the tough-love friend and alienate co-workers who don't see you as a team player.

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