I had an interesting discussion last Friday with some local business people and artists about irritating things that happen in corporate culture - the kinds of things that make you feel as if you're a Dilbert character. One of them astutely pointed out that small businesses come with their own share of idiosyncrasies. I have been there too and will verify that. I think that many of us in the corporate world fantasize about "giving up the rat race and doing something that matters". While that's important and perhaps even noble, it's also important to remember that human nature is at play in whatever work environment you are. I have been on some volunteer endeavors that were worthy of psychoanalysis. There can be just as much cattiness, sniping, incompetence, etc. than anywhere else.
Rosetta Thurman has some great related advice for those seeking positions in the non-profit arena. The grass is not always greener.
A friend of mine just decided to quit her nonprofit job. It was making her so miserable that it would sometimes bring her to tears. As I spoke with her, I was reminded that many people think just because you work for a good cause, your workplace will always be hunky-dory. You’ll come into the office or program site in the morning and everyone will be smiling and jumping up and down with excitement about saving the world. And your boss and board members will be just swell people of the highest character. While these are all nice sentiments about nonprofit work culture, they’re just not always true. Nonprofit workplaces can be plagued with the same irritations as for-profit companies: office politics, incompetent bosses, lying, stealing, lazy co-workers, etc. But if you don’t go into it with rose-colored glasses, you can avoid hating your nonprofit job.
Read the rest at www.rosettathurman.com