Chris Haroun explains how to handle backstabbing coworkers in large companies where politics matter more than merit. Stay professional, use neutral language so they can't use your words against you, and find mentors who actually support you. Channel your frustration into starting something of your own.
How do we deal with competitive colleagues, for example, when they try to downplay your accomplishments or are harsh during meetings? I know exactly what you're going through. And this was why I was so frustrated working for other people and working in big companies, because it's not a meritocracy. You don't eat what you kill. You don't get compensated or promoted based on the job you do. A lot of it is based on politics and who you know and how you play the game. And you're always going to be surrounded by jerks that are sharks. There are sharks in every company. Some of them you don't know they're sharks right away. A couple years later you find out they are sharks. So just assume that most people are sharks. So the best way to deal with them is don't ever stoop down to their levels, okay? I promise you that karma is a bitch and they will get caught for what they're doing, okay? If they're seen as a backstabber, you know, somebody else will call them out in their bullshit one day. It'll happen. It'll happen. Don't worry. Just be yourself. Be a nice person. Do the best job you can. Get mentors within your company that care about you and your career and will help you rise through the ranks and stay away from anybody that seems like a backstabber that's hyper competitive like that. Because again, I promise you they will get fired or they will get reprimanded or they eventually will quit because nobody likes them. They will get caught. They will get caught. You know, it usually happens. You know, fool me once, shame on me. Or fool me once, shame on. Shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. You know, don't trust them ever again and don't associate yourself with them and avoid them. Avoid them. And if they try to bait you into their poisonous politics by asking you certain questions or making certain comments, don't give them the satisfaction of answering with something they can repeat. Right? You can basically say, I understand. I know it sounds elusive, but if you say I understand, you're not saying I agree or disagree, you're just kind of saying, I understand. And they can't use that against you. So watch out for those people. There are sharks everywhere, I promise you. Every company you work in. And it sucks because I worked at companies in the past where, and it's, I want to be humble, but I'm not right now when I say this. I've worked in companies in the past where I've been amazing at what I what I do, and I've been a team player, but because I've been so good, you know, people have felt threatened by me. You know, maybe my boss might have thought, goodness, I hired my assassin. If this person is so good at what he or she does, they might rise to the ranks. I'm going to make sure to keep them down in the ranks. And if you feel frustrated by that, that's a good thing because it will motivate you to get out and start your own company where you can create your own culture of collaboration and not have to deal with those jerks that are hyper competitive that backstab you. The bottom line is they will get found out eventually. Okay? If they're jerks to you, they're jerks to other people as well. And their career will not progress as quickly because that you'll see. You'll see. But a better course of action is for you to start your own company. You know, channel that frustration. Channel that frustration so you can have the freedom to be yourself and live your life on your terms by starting your own company. And you'll never be able to get away from corporate politics, ever, until you work for yourself.
