3 things I would change working in a company I’ve had a pretty good run working either as an employee or a consultant in over a dozen companies and organizations (well, maybe with the exception of one or two). But there were some workplace interactions I wished I could have changed. Here are three that I think would have made the whole experience even better.
BE OPEN TO ‘CONFRONTATION’ No, I’m not saying you should ‘fight’ with colleagues. It doesn’t have to be tense and confrontational when trying to settle an issue, but you can be frank and direct. Always keep in mind, though, that the goal is to come to an agreement, or to achieve clarity, or to set things straight.
It should never be a showdown where one’s goal is to ‘defeat’ the other, whether they’re right or wrong. If you have the correct mindset when tackling an issue, it wouldn’t be as stressful as you’d expect it to be. When I join a company, I tend to give everyone a clean slate.
I have a stern-looking face but I’m a softie at heart. I like to be friends with colleagues and have sincere interactions and real teamwork. So it kinda makes me pause when I find out later that a colleague I trusted was actually Janus-faced. Or when someone steals my work or claims my idea as their own. Or when someone bad-mouths me behind my back, for whatever purpose it served them. I’ve done my share of ‘confrontations’ in the workplace.
Many were successes, but some were not. You can only do so much if the other person does not meet you halfway.
I learned that you cannot always win an argument, even if you’re right. But this should not dissuade you from facing the issue and having the hard talk. Nothing beats the sense of triumph when you and the other party have a meeting of the minds. Just keep in mind that what’s right for you may not necessarily be ‘right’ for others. Even if you reach an impasse, take comfort knowing that at least you tried.
As I was winding down in my corporate career, I’ve become very choosy about my battles. My peace of mind have become more important to me than going through the stress of setting someone straight. So most of the time, I let it slide. But there were exceptions. One was if it affected project results or if it impinged on the company’s efforts to achieve its objectives. The most meaningful exception for me is if the other party is someone I want to keep in my life.
So it’s saddening when others form an opinion of you based on what they get from the grapevine. That’s basically judgment without validation. If you’re still starting or are in the middle of your career, I would urge you to take action to avoid this from happening.
DON’T LET OTHERS DIMINISH YOUR BACKGROUND When I worked for a startup, there was so much ado about working in such an exciting and dynamic company. People would say it’s better to join startups than work in a traditional company. Yes, it’s a good experience working in a startup. But it’s not an inferior choice to work in traditional companies.
I came from such companies, like Anflocor and San Miguel. In my case, there were more merits working for traditional companies, whether it’s career growth, security of tenure, or salary and benefits. Before I joined this startup, I had long retired from the corporate world.
I worked as a PR Consultant in the private sector. I was also a Communications Consultant for international NGOs and intergovernmental-organizations. The pay was high and I did my work in my own steam, went to the office when needed, and traveled a lot with the team. It was gratifying to meet people working for the benefit of the needy.
That lent a meaningful dimension to the work I did. There was a sense of fulfillment knowing I was part of something bigger and more relevant than my own ‘world’. So no, I won’t let you belittle my work background just because they were spent in traditional companies or organizations. It’s where I sharpened my skills and deepened my breadth of perspective. It’s where my integrity and wisdom were strengthened.
It’s where I gained a more mature mindset having to deal with individuals from all walks of life. It has enabled me to better perform my roles in the succeeding companies I worked for. BE WARY OF A PAY CUT This comes before joining a company, when you’re at the job offer stage. Lemme share my story for better context. When I was in corporate, I was fortunate to have performed many critical roles in corporate communications—from internal comms to special events, from stakeholder relations to issues management.
It was not easy but it was exhilarating and fulfilling at the same time. So when I joined a startup, I was the usual new hire full of optimism. I had planned to use what I had in my arsenal to contribute to building the company. Maybe because I was hired specifically as a marketing communications specialist (which I guess meant they would only be utilizing my content creation skills), I was offered a pay that was around 25% of what I used to earn. I was still for a moment when told of the rate.
My counter negotiation was to accept it as a starting pay. I wanted to show what I could bring to the table first, then renegotiate my pay after six months. I also told myself that it was not all about the money but also the experience of working in this startup. Now, the lesson here is relative. Many would say accepting such a huge pay cut is a big no no, and that (and I agree to this one) it decimates your market value as a professional.
Some would even go to the length of saying that a company that does not acknowledge your market value is not worth working for. While I was fully aware of all these, I was still willing to give this startup a try. (Now, whether I regret it or not after five years is another story.)
By the end of my stay in the company, my pay had already doubled, but still nowhere near my old rate. So yes, if I were to join another startup, or any company for that matter, I will no longer allow myself to accept a pay lower than what I used to get. As they say, that ship has long sailed. But I’ve made my journey, learned my lesson, and am now better for it.
.
