Alexandra Levits Water Cooler Wisdom How to Survive a Cutthroat Culture

Alexandra Levit's Water Cooler Wisdom How to Survive a Cutthroat Culture Unfortunately, there are some offices in which going into work feels like going into battle. For all of the talk about creating a positive culture, you witness backstabbing, hostility, and gossip on a daily basis. Is it possible to be successful in such a culture? While the situation is by no means ideal, you do have the power to rise above it. Here are some to-dos to that effect: Stay Relevant In a workplace where people are always trying to one-up one another, demonstrate that you are keeping up and able to contribute the freshest and most current approaches and ideas. This means always being ready and willing to try out the latest technologies, as well as honing your existing skills and acquiring new ones. Don’t Be Passive Allowing yourself to fade into the background will ensure that someone else steps up and takes your opportunities for herself. Instead, vocally communicate to your manager and other higher-ups what you’d like to work on and why you’re the best person for the job. Whenever a senior exec asks for a volunteer on a project, take it even if it’s less than desirable, and even when you’re feeling insecure, show confidence. This is how you get noticed. For the rest of the tips, head over to Intuits Fast Track blog.