Do not Demonize Others
You can’t elevate yourself by demonizing others. Lead by example not by criticizing. Do not tear down others in the start of your career. This will follow you forever. A Person of Influence sees life as a game of addition not subtraction.
As a young lobbyist, I worked on a team with other lobbyists on an issue affecting payment for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) services. Staff in the legislative process has a high level of knowledge. Politicians come and go but staff is the only constant left in a term-limited world. The staff director of the Banking and Insurance Committee did not agree with the position the team advocated for on behalf of the client. There was a team member with little lobbying experience who took the matter personally. They embarked on a series of unproductive meetings depicting staff as obstructionists.
The other team members distanced themselves from the lobbyist but did nothing to address his lobbying style. Because I was not close to the lobbyist, I avoided them and went about my business. I did not see the humanity in helping them. Looking back, I should have tried to correct their behavior as their actions created failure for my client. The chairwoman of the committee was a friend and wanted to help. I had a great relationship with her and staff.
I was called to a subsequent meeting with the chairwoman and her staff. I was the only team lobbyist there. She was disappointed by our lobbying tactics and was going to file the original amendment language which we were working to fix. They refused to make any concessions. Ultimately, the amendment was adopted by the committee and passed the legislature. I would have to wait until the following session to change it. I met with the staff director a few months after the session and apologized for our team’s behavior.
The lobbyist who demonized staff had a short career and is no longer in the legislative process.
The challenges you face in work life should not become personal. Keeping a level head is hard to do early in your career. People tend to engage those who can open avenues and conversations with others. People avoid those who seek to alienate. I am sure you distance yourself from friends who bring nothing but drama and chaos.
When asking people for their help, do not say bad things about the people challenging you. Never demonize someone who has created a challenge you seek to conquer. Instead, focus on the benefit of what you are asking them to do. Describe how your proposed solution will benefit others and positively contribute to society. Your solution may not be the ultimate solution. Embrace solutions crafted by others to help you.
This practice is proven to enhance careers. You will build without alienating opportunities. You can only move up if others recognize your value, not your abrasiveness. Engage in relationship building and your growth will be exponential.
