These little monsters are the things you can’t unsee once you have seen them. We’ve all experienced it at one time or another. We’ve all worked with those people who arrive with the smiles on their faces and offering kindness and help while they hide behind the mask.
Years ago, I remember watching a movie in which a man was being pursued by the devil in disguise, and Satan tried to seduce the man and his wife with all the fine and beautiful things. However, the wife began to suspect something was wrong, and one day, when she was in the company of what seemed to be two beautiful women, the wife looked at them both and could see them for the demons they were. Gone were the perfectly made-up faces, and in their places were terrifying visages of what the women really were. That’s an extreme example, but it immediately came to mind as an example of how we discover office monsters.
Some time back as I was beginning my career transition, I went to work in a new office, and I was the new kid on the block. Everyone else in the office had been there a while, and they had a long history together. While most of the employees were very nice at the beginning, there was definitely one who didn’t really wear her mask that much. She was just an open office monster when it struck her. At least I knew that she was unpredictable, but it was exhausting going in every day wondering what mood she would be in that day.
During my time in that office, there was an unexpected change in management, and that’s when I really saw the pretty masks come off to be replaced by the faces of the office monsters. One day, I saw the smiling friendly faces, and the next day, I didn’t know who to trust. It was a discouraging couple of months watching the true selves of people emerge, and it forever altered how I look at the entire operation. I will probably never trust the people there again because I saw the masks come off, and it was pretty ugly underneath.
What bothers me most is that I don’t think any of them realize how ugly they seemed. They were in the company of other office monsters so they didn’t even realize their masks had slipped. I haven’t had to return to the place, but I don’t think I would trust any of them as far as I could throw them (which wouldn’t be far since I have terrible arm strength).
I learned a couple of lessons from that experience. First, things are not always what they seem so I try to look past the smiles and see what’s really going on when I go to new places now. Second, it’s easy to carry bitterness with you when you leave an experience like that so give yourself time to process the good and the bad. One of these days, I’ll look back and be able to laugh at the sheer ridiculousness of the people there because they won’t matter much in the grand scheme of life, but I’m not quite there yet.
When you are in the midst of a career transition, it can be difficult to spot the office monsters when you are entering a new office. It might even be a good idea during the interview to ask about the office “climate” and how employees get along. If you are leaving a bad experience, this will stay fresh on your mind. Consider what kind of job you’re taking and how that might affect the “temperature” of the office. No one could have known how my experience would go because unexpected things happened, and I believe they happened for a reason like making me a better fellow employee.
Don’t let the office monsters damage your experience. Just ask yourself what you can learn from working with the little gremlins so that you don’t do the same thing to anyone else.
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Inspirational Verses for the Day:
“Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:17-21 (ESV)
All Things Subject to Change 