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Corporate Culture

January 24, 2002

Working in an office can be a trying experience.

Often the easiest part of the Job is the actual work. The trouble comes in trying to get along with your supervisors and co-workers. And how they behave is often a function of the corporate culture, company ethos, and the subsequent behavior of individuals within the organization. There are a myriad of methods that you can use to adjust to the seemingly bizarre behaviors that confront you in the workplace, and how well you adapt depends on who you are, and how you perceive yourself.

Some people isolate themselves as much as possible, realizing that they get more work completed without interruptions - and limit their chances for negative interaction with colleagues. They regard work and home as separated entities, and try not to confuse the two. They tend to avoid revealing much about their life outside of work to people they work with, and are unlikely to join in workplace gossip or games. They may realize that substantial interaction under stress at work causes them to blow up at co-workers (and supervisors!).

Other workers need the support, advice, interaction, and camaraderie of not only their peers, but supervisors as well. They want (maybe even need) to have fun at work, and many of their friends started out as co-workers first. Self described "people persons" (ugh) live for the hustle and bustle that makes an office seem more like a home away from home. Interoffice gossip, email jokes, and goofing on friends at work makes their day go by quicker, and may (arguably) prolong their productivity and tenure at the firm.

To survive (and thrive) in the workplace you need to come to grips with the corporate culture that predates your arrival on the Job, and integrate it with your personal idiosyncrasies.