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You ever have a friend or just a cool co-worker at work get promoted and then completely changes. Like a celebrity makeover gone bad. That absolute power corrupts absolutely thing is right on target. These nice people get a step up at the company and then grow a chip on their shoulder. Back, when I worked in the mail room of an advertising company I had this friend Dave who was an account manager. He was great; we would always talk sports and joke around. He gets promoted to Vice President and presto. Instant Jerk. The guy didn’t have time for me anymore. But, a hello? Sometimes I could get a smile from him if I really pushed.
Now, I know with a promotion comes added responsibility and added pressure. OK, but don’t you still need your friends? Guess not. They say it’s lonely at the top. Well, that’s because these people never let anyone near the top even to visit for a while. I had another co-worker that I used to go to lunch with almost everyday. He gets a promotion and I am happy for him. We go out to a club to celebrate and party all night. Within a week, we weren’t even on a first name basis anymore. What gives?
There seem to be two different types of new bosses. The General, the one who thinks they were destined to lead people and The Buddy, the one who truly believes he is still one of us.
The General already thought he or she was the boss even when they sat in the cube next to you. He would give you advice when you didn’t want it and take credit for everything even if he had called in sick that day. So now, he gets the promotion, no surprise to him, he thinks it’s his birthright. He moves into his new office, rearranges everything in the office, no matter if it needs to be or not and now only talks to you through his secretary. Or worse, through you. And then like it or not, you’re lumped in with his dictatorship.
Then there’s the Buddy. Sure, you think that’s better, your safe now. The jokes on you. The Buddy will always be around, always trying to be one of the guys or one of the girls. He will spring for pizza during long days, wanting to have a drink after work, and always asking about the family and seeing how you are feeling. Well wake up! You can’t let your guard down. At least with the General, you know where you stand. The enemy lines are drawn. But, with the Buddy, as much as he tries to be sincere, one of the guys, he isn’t. Don’t forget that. The bottom line is his job, the company, his superiors’ view of him. If you get drunk with him, he’ll wonder if you have a liquor problem and if you are a detriment to his department. If you tell him that you and the wife are fighting, it will cross his mind, as he is consoling you, maybe he should take give the big account to someone else because your mind just isn’t in it.
So when your co-worker and or friend gets that promotion and becomes either The General or the Buddy, maybe you would be better off to cut the friendship right there. Though, that might get you fired. Oh well… your screwed either way. The best you can do is determine what kind of boss her is she will be so at least you’ll know of your demise ahead of time. Good Luck.
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