You've Got to Be Kidding!: How to Keep Your Job Without Losing Your Integrity

Take Care of Your Supervisor

Behind you and your company are the interests of your supervisor. Though this is a professional relationship that merits a lot of your loyalty, it should not be blind or unconditional loyalty. You share a history, and your manager probably holds considerable power over you regarding compensation, the benefits of mentoring, networking, advancement, resources, scheduling, work assignments, and the quality of your work life. However, your supervisor is also a person with warts and worries; he or she is neither angel nor devil.

Imagine that you’re facing an ethical dilemma. If your supervisor is not the problem, then, by all means, seek his or her counsel. If your supervisor is the problem, do not immediately leap to the conclusion that he or she is the enemy. After listening to literally thousands of stories about trouble with supervisors, my counsel is that it is always well worth the extra effort to try to mend and preserve this relationship.

Let me emphasize your boss deserves your loyalty, but only as long as it is earned. Again, your loyalty is neither blind nor unconditional. You must rid yourself of the tendency to “help him until it hurts you” by asking yourself the tough questions: Are you actually doing “the right thing,” or are you just looking the other way because it’s easier? Are you enabling his or her bad behavior? Who will stand by you? And the really tough one: for what could you potentially be held accountable? These personal auditing ...