Classmates aren’t friends; Colleagues aren’t family.

Growing up, I knew I couldn’t be in a commission-based profession.
I salute the folks in this line of work and often ask myself how they survive the competition disguised as meeting targets.
I know it can get intense and requires some tactics so sail through.
And while competition can be healthy, the potential for unethical behaviour among competitors can be concerning.
Competitors can play dirty so be prepared for just anything.
If I were in such a job, I can’t swear I wouldn’t be tempted to sneak emetics into a colleague’s meal so they could puke their gut after they might have snatched my favourite client.

Before you come at me with the whole team player yadda yadda yadda, let me clarify that I’m more of a fair player than a deceptive teammate.
Your backyard motivational speakers might have told you to embrace competition, but they often forget to mention that only healthy competition is beneficial; toxic competition can be harmful.
If your competitor has chosen not to play fair, it may be self-deceptive to maintain a stance of righteousness.
Also, if you find yourself playing fair in an inherently unfair game, it may be worth reconsidering your participation in that game.

It is important to note that THE JUGGLING PRAWN does not endorse workplace rivalry.

ICYMI: Did that job make you come?

The reality is that workplace rivalry exists, whether we acknowledge it or not.
But rivalry didn’t start at the workplace. It began long before we landed those jobs.
Before we started our professional careers, we were all just students in our various schools.
And while in school, we were taught to aim for the top spot and be the best we could be.
We were encouraged to compete for first place, with the ultimate goal of becoming the valedictorian.
Some teachers even let us know that only a limited number of students would pass.
Before you feign surprise, remember we didn’t all go to the same type of school.
Some of us attended the real School of Hard Knocks.

These lessons instilled in us a sense of competition and the need to outperform our peers.
The school environment didn’t really promote teamwork; it was more about doing our best and hoping to stand out from our classmates.
And that’s how the rivalry began.

Who agrees with me?

We may have spent our time as classmates playing together, attending beach parties, and staying out late into the night,
But little did we know that we had an unspoken academic competition.
It’s intriguing how some individuals took this competition to an extreme.
I’ve witnessed friends intentionally feeding each other incorrect answers during tests.
Despite the differing results, they returned to hanging out, showcasing the underlying competition we had overlooked.

Eventually, everyone graduated, each with their corresponding grades.
We all partied again.
Then, we entered the job market… the real battleground.
It’s undeniably a battlefield.
Or how else can we describe a situation where 20 applicants vie for a single job opening in a company?
The struggle is indeed real.

Have you ever seen two friends competing for the same job, knowing there’s only one position available?
It really can be tricky.

Be cautious when you find yourself in a workplace where everyone seems to like you.
It is rarely genuine.
Some people may like you, especially when you’re nice and good at your work.
However, being nice and skilled can also upset some people.
It’s important to understand that pleasing everyone is an impossible feat. So don’t even sweat it.
Feel free to disagree.

If you’re fortunate enough to have people who genuinely like you at work, stick with them.
It will make a difference.
A lone wolf can’t thrive in a workplace.
It would help if you had your pack; otherwise, you might be torn apart.
This is why I support the idea of work besties.
Someday, something will inevitably go wrong, and someone will need to take the fall.
In such situations, you need your team—your workplace ride-or-die.
It would be best if you had support.
But let’s hope it never gets to that.

That being said, I never apply for the same role as a close friend.
Instead, my approach is to establish close connections once I’ve secured a role if the odds are in my favour.
This is because some workplaces are inherently a dog-eat-dog environment.

All I am trying to say is that you should be vigilant, as not everyone at your workplace is supportive of you.
Do not be deceived by superficial gestures of kindness.
Commit to your work with unwavering diligence and strive for excellence without any compromise.

So far, I might have been fortunate to have fair teammates throughout my professional journey.
That doesn’t happen to a lot of people, but it’s possible.
Just be cautious and stick to the simple rules to protect yourself.
Be friendly, but ensure to keep your personal matters private.

But what do I know?
I am only interested in getting what I deserve.

Feel free to get in touch by emailing hello@thejugglingprawn.com

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