In this recent New York Times column, “Corner Office” (New York Times, Dec. 4, 2010) there is an interview with Kathy Savitt, CEO of Lockerz, a social networking and eCommerce site. Savitt talks about the importance of avoiding cynicism at work – she says, “I think it’s easy for people at many companies to become cynical, which then leads to politics, which can create a cancer that can topple even the greatest companies. And I do think cynicism is that first cell, so to speak, that can metastasize within an organization.”
Why is cynicism so damaging to companies (and to your career)? How can cynicism be avoided – or exploited to create better opportunities?
The Free Dictionary defines cynicism as “An attitude of scornful or jaded negativity, especially a general distrust of the integrity or professed motives of others.” Cynics are doubters and nay-sayers. They don’t believe in “the system,” and they don’t trust authority. They go beyond a healthy skepticism and enter a harmful level of mistrust where they cast aspersions on any new idea or anyone who tries to do something new or different. To a cynic, the work world is a cruel place, full of dog-eat-dog behavior. The cynic’s attitude can be summed up as: “Trust no one. Cover your own backside. Never stick your neck out.”
Why is cynicism so bad for companies?
• It hurts results. If your company is full of cynics, chances are you’re not going to innovate. You’re not going to push the boundaries of what is possible. You’re not going to try new things – or at least, you’re not going to try new things until one of your competitors has already shown that it’s possible.
• It creates mistrust. Cynicism feeds on itself. If you have a culture of cynicism at your company, that means employees don’t trust their managers (and vice versa). Eventually everyone starts going through the motions, protecting their own scraps of turf while the larger company goes into a downward spiral.
Why is cynicism bad for your career?
• It hurts your reputation. If you get to be known as hard-bitten cynic, you’ll start getting passed over for interesting new opportunities. You’ll never get into the game if you have a reputation for being more comfortable standing on the sidelines and making wisecracks.
• It becomes self-fulfilling. If you have a bad attitude, if you feel like the world is your enemy and no one can be trusted, if you feel like all CEOs are a bunch of crooks and all companies are a waste of time, that attitude will start to influence your behavior. Sometimes thoughts and attitudes creep into our real lives. Cynicism can start out as a protective shield that keeps you from getting fooled or hurt (“I don’t believe this CEO, I’ve heard it all before…”) but it can turn into a poison that undermines your career and stifles your potential.
How can you make the most of cynicism?
• Have some laughs. Cynics tend to be very funny people. So if you have cynical co-workers, enjoy them for the comic relief that they provide. It can be fun to laugh at the absurdities and contradictions of life at work – as long as you respect the underlying humanity and sincere efforts underlying the jokes.
• Turn it into skepticism. Skepticism is the good-natured twin of cynicism. It’s perfectly normal to be skeptical and cautious. By all means, look before you leap, and don’t buy in too fully to the words of any new CEO or company or strategic plan until you’ve weighed the evidence and decided if it makes sense to you.
It’s good to be cautious and aware and streetwise in your career, but try not to become a cynic. Cynicism can be corrosive to your career and exhausting to your spirit.
Don’t end up bitter and world-weary and stuck working in a job you hate for a company you don’t respect. Instead, look for ways every day to make a difference where you are. Value the people you work with.
It’s easy to be cynical. It’s harder to face the unpleasant realities of work and keep moving forward with a purposeful sense of optimism.
Ben Gran (http://benjamingran.com/) is a freelance writer based in Des Moines, Iowa. He is an award-winning blogger who loves to write about careers and the future of work.
Why is cynicism so damaging to companies (and to your career)? How can cynicism be avoided – or exploited to create better opportunities?
The Free Dictionary defines cynicism as “An attitude of scornful or jaded negativity, especially a general distrust of the integrity or professed motives of others.” Cynics are doubters and nay-sayers. They don’t believe in “the system,” and they don’t trust authority. They go beyond a healthy skepticism and enter a harmful level of mistrust where they cast aspersions on any new idea or anyone who tries to do something new or different. To a cynic, the work world is a cruel place, full of dog-eat-dog behavior. The cynic’s attitude can be summed up as: “Trust no one. Cover your own backside. Never stick your neck out.”
Why is cynicism so bad for companies?
• It hurts results. If your company is full of cynics, chances are you’re not going to innovate. You’re not going to push the boundaries of what is possible. You’re not going to try new things – or at least, you’re not going to try new things until one of your competitors has already shown that it’s possible.
• It creates mistrust. Cynicism feeds on itself. If you have a culture of cynicism at your company, that means employees don’t trust their managers (and vice versa). Eventually everyone starts going through the motions, protecting their own scraps of turf while the larger company goes into a downward spiral.
Why is cynicism bad for your career?
• It hurts your reputation. If you get to be known as hard-bitten cynic, you’ll start getting passed over for interesting new opportunities. You’ll never get into the game if you have a reputation for being more comfortable standing on the sidelines and making wisecracks.
• It becomes self-fulfilling. If you have a bad attitude, if you feel like the world is your enemy and no one can be trusted, if you feel like all CEOs are a bunch of crooks and all companies are a waste of time, that attitude will start to influence your behavior. Sometimes thoughts and attitudes creep into our real lives. Cynicism can start out as a protective shield that keeps you from getting fooled or hurt (“I don’t believe this CEO, I’ve heard it all before…”) but it can turn into a poison that undermines your career and stifles your potential.
How can you make the most of cynicism?
• Have some laughs. Cynics tend to be very funny people. So if you have cynical co-workers, enjoy them for the comic relief that they provide. It can be fun to laugh at the absurdities and contradictions of life at work – as long as you respect the underlying humanity and sincere efforts underlying the jokes.
• Turn it into skepticism. Skepticism is the good-natured twin of cynicism. It’s perfectly normal to be skeptical and cautious. By all means, look before you leap, and don’t buy in too fully to the words of any new CEO or company or strategic plan until you’ve weighed the evidence and decided if it makes sense to you.
It’s good to be cautious and aware and streetwise in your career, but try not to become a cynic. Cynicism can be corrosive to your career and exhausting to your spirit.
Don’t end up bitter and world-weary and stuck working in a job you hate for a company you don’t respect. Instead, look for ways every day to make a difference where you are. Value the people you work with.
It’s easy to be cynical. It’s harder to face the unpleasant realities of work and keep moving forward with a purposeful sense of optimism.
Ben Gran (http://benjamingran.com/) is a freelance writer based in Des Moines, Iowa. He is an award-winning blogger who loves to write about careers and the future of work.
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