Boss plays favorites – Photo credit: dailyworth.com
You can spot it a cubicle away, this cookie-dough gooey chemistry between your boss and his/her favorite. They laugh together, exchange accomplices’ glances, make each others’ copies, and share information you are generally the last to know. What happens when the boss plays favorites, and it’s obviously not you?
Favoritism in the workplace is a real thing. According to this Georgetown study, 92% of senior executives admit to witnessing favoritism at work. Wow! When it comes to distinguishing between those whose merits are rewarded at work, vs. those who just happen to be the boss favorites, how does one go about it? And most importantly, how does it get addressed effectively enough to stop the damaging behavior?
My $0.05: At work or in life, subjectivity very often rules. One part of being subjective, especially at work, is basing decisions on the inter-personal connection between people as opposed to their merits. It happens, much more often than we’d care to admit. If you suspect a serious case of favoritism hindering on your performance and career advancement, first take a step back, and make sure this is not coming from a place of unhealthy comparison. No to two careers are the same, and if jealousy is motivating the way you feel, you may need to check yourself first. However, if the boss is really playing favorites in an unhealthy manner, consider speaking to them and addressing the situation. It will be a difficult discussion, yet you can make it smoother by deflecting blame and instead pointing out actual results (or the lack thereof) of the situation, and how it has affected your work.
How have you handled favoritism at work?
The Corporate Sis.
