In the world of full-time employment, out there in the weeds of xerox machines and customer service, there are these things called “coworkers” and – just like your neighbors and your children – you don’t get to choose them. Nope. You get what you get and you don’t throw a fit.
Most of the time. Unless you want to step into the lavatory stall, close the door, and silent scream. That’s a thing.
Jobs can be fun. Right?
“You’re too happy,” commented my coworker early on, “You like people too much. I give it six months. You’ll be jaded and cranky like the rest of us.”
“Jolie, you are a fish in a little pond,” a senior director manager type human said to me once, when I was considering a move up the corporate ladder into a larger professional arena, “but in that circle….they are sharks. You will need to learn survival skills. Don’t trust anyone.”
Too late. I already considered every person in that shark tank my “friend”. We were all helpful, kind, courteous, even going out to lunch once in a while. I couldn’t think of a single reason why any one of them would turn around and have me for lunch instead.
But adult friendships are trickier than third grade ones. I thought I had a friendship that was outside of office politics, the lady being quite worthy on her own two feet, but her loyalty to her boss was stronger than mere courtesy to me, and even though she apologized after the fact, she had not prevented me being thrown under a passing bus.
She was sorry/not sorry.
There were bigger fish fries than that, but are hardly worth recounting. I have since been told The Rules: under no circumstances do you consider a coworker a “friend”.
Even if you go to Happy Hour or yoga with these fish. Even if you “donate” an exorbitant amount of personal money towards an office baby shower gift for a fish from the next department over that you’ve never even exchanged paperclips with. Even if this fish swaps intimate mom stories with you and brings you Valentines Day treats and laughs with you over morning coffee.
If this fish has a personal family emergency, I am expected to act like my own mother was in a car explosion and make sure “the office” is supportive with donations, flowers, and cards. We will cover his work load with concerned faces and ask how the recovery is coming along.
But.
If this fish senses that I am drifting into their territory, or if the boss needs bait for a bigger fish, or perhaps I am just not taking their teeth seriously enough, queue the Jaws theme song.
I am investing more time and money and love languages with these fish than my own family. In return, I am to expect…shark bites?
This concept is so far out of my box that I don’t know where to begin. So I asked a thirteen-year-old girlfriend for some help. We agreed that relationships in both school and office arenas are based upon being temporary and the “every man for himself” attitude. And we suppose everyone goes in with this expectation. Which is a huge waste of possibility, in our opinion.
Somewhere out there in the deep blue sea is a company getting this aquarium thing right. Employees are trained that there are enough krill and plenty of waves for everyone.
I still have a habit of petting sharks, treating them like shiny yellow tang.
Perhaps the only way you will know for sure whether you made an authentic friendship at school or work is if the person is still friendly after the building is gone. If you remove the competition and the politics and the teeth, and are left with a real person with no agenda, I’d say you can finally call that fish a friend.
Everyone else can go jump in the lake.
Sorry/not sorry.
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Rom 12:18
My boss frequently crosses the employer/employee/friendship line with me. In between work-texts (she takes a lot of time off, but works from home when she’s “off”), she sends pics of her sick kids, or whines about her husband. I don’t have a ton of girlfriends, so I am constantly conflicted by the need to feel like she wants my advice as another mom/wife (no one else in our office is married with kids), and her employee. She’s super needy–I am less so, except when it comes to wanting to FEEL needed. I rarely talk about myself and my personal stuff because I don’t feel it’s appropriate to vent about my marriage to my boss. It’s weird, and I’m starting to resent it more and more. I’ve applied for other jobs, but no success yet, as I still want to be where I work, just not in this office… This is more of a vent. LOL! <3
I hear you and it sounds like you’ve already got things identified, sorted, and put a plan in motion, well done! One authentic friend is worth a dozen “friends” that feel shady and I imagine they are supportive of your vent! (And yes, that includes this little corner of the Blog-o-sphere) 😉
I feel like we are talking about the wonderful world of women here, no matter if its work, school, or your annual family reunion. I was once thrown under a big family bus by a gal I attended church with.. hmmm.. go figure
.. & then there was the time I was thrown to the female coyotes of my father’s side by the same species on my mother’s side! And this has all been many many years after the drama of junior high & college!!
Hmmm!
Yes, it’s true that there can be sharks almost anywhere. If I can raise my kids to be mature, confident, kind, and forgiving, maybe there will be five less sharks in the world. Meanwhile, we can show the world of women what’s possible and stop putting politics before people.