Corporate culture is getting a lot of bad rap. Is it really all that bad?
I owe a lot of who I am today to American corporate culture. Maybe I was lucky in finding the right company and environment - be it as Voya or Prudential.
Or maybe most of my mentors were old school, who spent most of their careers focusing more on doing good work, than using politics to get ahead.
I realize now, the most important skill that one learns early in their career- isn't any technical skill. It is building character.
Apart from knowing and doing your job. It includes building qualities like - ethics, principles, discipline, responsibility, politeness, empathy, honesty, kindness, respect, sincerity, excellence, and much more!
These qualities build the foundation of your career. Things that are honed over time.
These can't sink in by reading a book or watching a tutorial. You need to work and find good mentors. If you are choosing to work for someone, you need to find companies that foster a nurturing environment.
Your company affects you more than what goes on your resume.
Not to say I never faced a toxic situation or never felt frustrated with company transitions. Whenever I spoke to my managers about a hostile situation, or a company environment getting tense after a transition, they would often tell me how things aren’t what they used to be in their time.
In hindsight, maybe I was too naïve to understand and accept the change in the wave of American corporate culture.
Over the last few years, it seemed that you can no longer be too emotionally attached to your company, your managers, and your team.
But if someone who graduated from school less than a decade ago can vouch for the corporate environment, I am sure there are more like me who strive to build culture that isn’t toxic but nurturing.
Where you do feel a sense of belonging to your team and employer.
Where loyalty is a virtue – but does not compensate for a lack of upskilling.
Where company leadership is honest with its employees about the future of the company
I commend and support people who are choosing to speak out against toxic corporate culture. It’s long overdue. I also congratulate the companies who are fostering a great working environment.
PS: This is from my last day at Voya Financial.
Apparently, there was a poll on the flavour of the cake, and the result was a tie, so they got me both :)
This pictures always makes me smile.
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