When you are new at your workplace, does criticizing old employees

[La Lioness Priyanka]

help you become popular?

I mean i understand that a new place is a bit intimidating. That you walk in where others have solid relationships already but criticizing them before you even know them, just seems ass backwards.

[Midlodemocrat]

1. Works in other environments besides the workplace as well.

people love it when you're new and shit all over the current residents. It makes them feel all warm and fuzzy.

[NewJeffCT]

3. nice post Hitler

Sorry, couldn't resist.

[Midlodemocrat]

5. It's okay, Pol Pot.

[NewJeffCT]

2. Of course

It's the first line of the book, "How to win friends & influence people"

:P

[Shell Beau]

4. I am going to go out on a limb here and say NO!!

[MissMillie]

6. while I haven't been new somewhere in many, many years

I'd say that it would seem to be ridiculous to criticize anyone before you get to know them... regardless of the setting.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

10. good point. i think this is a bad idea regardless of setting

[tigereye]

14. who was advocating it? Must have missed that thread.

I think though, that older employees also have to be careful to be tolerant of newer folks with different ideas, since we all need to work together to benefit clients, customers and the organization as a whole. I have had to catch myself at times from being frustrated with younger workers where I work who sometimes think they "know it all."


Is this part of your studies, or are you done?

[jobycom]

7. Hamstring them early and often.

Sneak up behind them, slash the metaphorical hamstring, take their place, and move up behind the next victim. That's how you get ahead. Make no friends, take no prisoners. Other people are obstacles or they are opportunities, and learning which to destroy and which to use first then destroy is the key to success.

[petronius]

8. It seems like a strategy that can easily backfire

Any criticism (of anyone) should be based on solid factual knowledge, and should be delivered courteously and constructively - it's unlikely that a new employee would have the knowledge to do that.

However, the "solid relationships" you mention should be irrelevant if the criticism is justified and correctly delivered. And, of course, "popular" shouldn't really be a concern at work...

[crispini]

9. Sounds like a good way to destroy a department, especially if you're in charge.

BTDT, got the shirt. Dude made 8 people quit in a year, and the department wasn't that big to start with.

[av8rdave]

11. I never discuss someone I don't know

[geardaddy]

12. Agreed.

As someone who frequently goes to new work environments (I'm a contractor/consultant) I wouldn't dare cast my opinions on anything or anyone.

[tigereye]

13. no, seems like a big mistake... you can learn from those folks, and vice-

versa. So why make it hard...

[Rob H.]

15. I work with someone who did that when she started

and I can't stand her. She also says things like, "At my last job we did it this way." Yeah, well, if you're so in love with how they did things at your last job, why the hell don't you go back there?

She also started badmouthing former co-workers when her new boss started--I'm still trying to wrap my brain around exactly why she did that since the new boss doesn't have the vaguest idea who any of those people are.