Climbing the corporate ladder; the more practical way

This one of the countless experiences that I have witnessed during my 12+ year tenure trying to trudge along the corporate ladder. However big my efforts in this direction, Iam sorry to say that I have not been able to make any great impact in my own company leave alone the corporate jungle.

But here is a true case study of a strategy that they will definitely not teach you at any of the B schools anywhere in the world but which, has succeeded nevertheless and the gentleman in question has taken the corporate escalator instead of the ladder. Both of us (Let us name the hero of the story)

Mr. Romeo and I joined the organization at about the same time. Mr. Romeo having come in a senior management position even though he has much less education qualification and much less experience than poor ole me. He came in through as the close buddy of one of the blue eyed boys of the closed circle and hence needless to say got marketed by the pal even before he set his foot in the organization for an interview

Soon as his interviews and salary negotiations were over, Mr. Romeo expressed his desire to join and since he was not assigned any particular seat in the organization, he befriended some young girls in the department, who where thrilled to see the Senior man paying a lot of attention to him. Needless to say the girls began showing him off wherever they could get attention; which was the organizations pantry which ensured that Mr. Romeo got noticed three times a day by the office crowd and needless to say Mr. Romeo played up his part to perfection ensuring that he got noticed by the crowd. The girls were also liberal in showcasing their priced possession and soon the exercise started giving results.

(In the meanwhile the work that was assigned to Mr. Romeo saw a lot progress not because of any efforts put in by him but due to a communication problem, as a result of which a ghost worker of the adjoining department was making tremendous progress and by the time the official communication to segregate the work had come, the work had made a lot of progress and Mr. Romeo scored full marks for the same, which got him accolades from the seat of power, who was impressed so to say. Mr. Romeo, in the meanwhile was having a jolly good time, being offered the undying attention of the tier one girls who rushed to satisfy his every whim and fancy and browsing shadi.com and zeroing in on his future bride. Of course one needs to appreciate the fact that he was able to find his future bride.)

Mr. Romeo soon got noticed by the second tier girls, who had better position in the organization than the tier one girls. Incidentally by now, Mr. Romeo’s constant follow up with the admin department of the organization yielded him a Chamber where he could position his system properly away from the looks and stares of the passers bye which ensured that he got enough time chatting browsing and looking up shadi.com for prospective bridal candidate for his friends too.

As in everycase, exception is the rule and exceptions are there in this case. When I mentioned that the entire womanhood of the organization was tantalized by Romeo’s charms, our Ms. Naxalite was one amoung the few dissidents. Ms. Naxalite Openly rebelled against Romeo and made her mark. She was not enamoured by his charms. Despite Mr. Romeos repeated attempts to charm the lady failed, Romeo tried his hand at being humble but, sad to say he failed miserably.

By now Mr. Romeo’s new red Hyundai Accent car had also come and he was hot property. And the car ensured that he got noticed by the all powerful Ms. Juliet very close to the seat of power in the organization noticed him and his future was made. Getting noticed by Ms. Juliet ensured that he was part of every delegation which participated in road shows and exhibitions on behalf of the company, which ensured close interactions with the seat of power who needless to say was bowled over by his skills, which reinforced the feedback he received from the blue eyed boy and Ms. Juliet. ……..and finally the mother of all success……… a plum foreign assignment