You are reading the FRACAT Blog Archive (also known as "FRACAT 1.0") for all posts prior to October 29th, 2007.
Are You Basing Your Career On Lies?
Recently, I read an article in the Wall Street Journal about how people not only believe myths they’ve heard, but attribute them to credible sources.
In one example, the Center for Disease Control issues a flyer to specifically contradict certain myths about the flu vaccine (i.e. “the side effects are worse than the flu” and “only old people need it”), but people just remembered many of the myths and now attributed them to the CDC.
This reminded me of the workplace.
A lot of people are passing around and believing myths about their own workplace. And it causes them to base their career on lies and misinformation.
Are you doing this in your career?
TRUST, BUT VERIFY
How many times have you accepted what your co-workers have said about “what I heard”? Whether it is about the company direction, the boss’ cross-dressing, or coming layoffs, a lot of employees will accept this information as 100% accurate and genuine.
What’s more, some will begin to act like it’s true without even attempting to verify the information.
So, just because Janie said that she heard there is a layoff coming, Julie starts to look for another job and act like the company has wronged her already.
Which, of course, leads to her performance declining and permanent damage to her career.
In these situations, I try to be like Ronald Reagan: “Trust But Verify.
Figure that the information came from somewhere, but has at least been altered (if not intentionally skewed for political purposes) by the time it got to you. Go to the source and ask. Find out the answer “from the horse’s mouth”.
Does that mean people won’t lie? No, but you’ve given the person who has the correct information the opportunity to tell the truth. That is the information to base your actions on.
At least, until they prove to be lying liars that lie a lot. We’ll talk about them tomorrow.
Enjoy the Search!
Dan
—–
Daniel R. Sweet
Chief Cook-And-Bottle-Washer / Technical Recruiter
FRACAT.com - Free Resume and Career Toolbox
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielrsweet
Call me on Jaxtr: http://www.jaxtr.com/fracat
Photo by: tico bassie
Stumble it! 
add to del.icio.us 