In today’s management lesson, we talk about workplace dynamics that prioritize interpersonal relationships and likability over job performance and competence. Here’s a short story which implies that your performance doesn’t matter, what matters is whether your boss likes you or not. The story is followed by our perspective on the situation.
It’s a fine sunny day in the forest and a rabbit is sitting outside his burrow, tippy-tapping on his typewriter. Along comes a fox, out for a walk.
Fox: “What are you working on?”
Rabbit: “My thesis.”
Fox: “Hmm… What is it about?”
Rabbit: “Oh, I’m writing about how rabbits eat foxes.”
Fox: “That’s ridiculous! Any fool knows that rabbits don’t eat foxes!
Rabbit: “Come with me and I’ll show you!”
They both disappear into the rabbit’s burrow. After few minutes, gnawing on a fox bone, the rabbit returns to his typewriter and resumes typing.
Soon a wolf comes along and stops to watch the hardworking rabbit.
Wolf: “What’s that you are writing?”
Rabbit: “I’m doing a thesis on how rabbits eat wolves.”
Wolf: “you don’t expect to get such rubbish published, do you?”
Rabbit: “No problem. Do you want to see why?”
The rabbit and the wolf go into the burrow and again the rabbit returns by himself, after a few minutes, and goes back to typing.
Finally a bear comes along and asks, “What are you doing?
Rabbit: “I’m doing a thesis on how rabbits eat bears.”
Bear: “Well that’s absurd !”
Rabbit: “Come into my home and I’ll show you”
Scene : As they enter the burrow, the rabbit introduces the bear to the lion.
Moral: It doesn’t matter how silly your thesis topic is, what matters is whom you have as a supervisor.
OR
It doesn’t matter how bad your performance is, what matters is whether your boss likes you or not.
Our management lessons highlight different perspectives on workplace dynamics. In some workplace environments or situations, the quality of your work may not be the sole or even the primary determinant of your success or career advancement. Instead, as the short story above implies, having a good relationship with your boss and being well-liked by them can be more influential in determining your career trajectory. Different workplaces and industries may have varying degrees of emphasis on these factors, so craft your career strategy based on your workplace situation.