What Is Driving The Corporate Beasts?

What Is Driving The Corporate Beasts?

by Bas de Baar

Why does the chicken cross the road? To get to the
other side. But why does the chicken want to be on the
other side? Perhaps there is more food. Better
sunlight. Who knows.

Sit behind your desk in your office, or stand wherever
you normally do your work, and look around. Look at
all those people that are walking by. Some may look
like chickens, but they are all corporate beasts. They
also have a goal, a reason for why they cross the
road. It's the thing that drives them, the stuff that
makes them do what they do.

If you can guess what it is, you have an advantage
over them. If you can appeal to their drives, they are
more likely to agree with you, go with you or just
behave nicer. The problem is, they will probably not
tell you. You have to develop some skill in guessing
it. You don't have to be correct all the time; just a
generic hint should be sufficient.

I compiled a short list for you with some
possibilities. Just read the list, look at your
target, e.g. your boss, and see if it applies to him
or her. Believe me, if you practice enough, you will
succeed; and compile your own list.



Personal

- Work vs. Family oriented
- Being happy with current job
- Being happy with current organization
- Wish to be more skilled/knowledgeble in a certain area
- Appreciated enough
- Reduction /expension of workload
- Reduction /expension of responsibilty

Relatedness

- Recognition of knowledge among peers (e.g. collegues)
- Recognition of being good in his job within the own
organization (hierarchy)
- Covering up own incompetence (don’t rock the boat)
- Boosting another ones reputation (sponsor)
- Undermining another ones reputation
- Trying to move within the organization towards another function
- Trying to build an empire within the organization
- Trying to maintain an empire within the organization
- Needs more room to operate within organization

Existence (material interests)

- Wants more money?
- Wants more tools?
- Wants a bigger office?

About the Author

Bas de Baar is editor of Trouble @ Work, a weekly e-zine about trouble at the workplace.