This one hit home. In the corporate world, what you have done doesn’t matter. Even what you are doing doesn’t seem to matter much either. What another person thinks about what you are going to do, in the context of how it is going to effect them, is what matters most.

I recall years ago I put in for a new job at my company, something I had been working for and desiring strongly. It was my second time applying for a position in this cherished group. I had taken the lessons learned from my prior attempt and put them work in my preparation and interview. I thought I nailed the interview. I got the call a few days later that they passed me over. I asked the obligatory question of why; “group dynamics.” Heck, I didn’t even know what that meant. My MBA didn’t teach me that one.

On my third attempt a couple of years later I made it to the “crystal palace.” (The place others in the company called the department).

I loved the job and excelled, but eventually plateaued without promotion and left the company for brighter pastures. The next job was better and I excelled again, so was the next one. Now I was in charge. I found myself then making personnel decisions myself based on group dynamics, I had come full circle.

Then, after years of leading this key group, consistently delivering results for a critical client, I found myself on the outs because of what I assessed to be group dynamics. I had upset the tea cart by exposing someone’s selfish behavior affected our success. Problem was, they had ultimately control and I did not.

My episode was about 30 seconds.