From "Office Pet" to Office "Threat": Navigating Trust in the Workplace and Beyond"

In the early days of my career, as a young renaissance businessman, I wore many, many hats. Growing up, I worked in my family's business, where I would go from being the cashier to stocking shelves. In fact, I even helped my sister write a grant proposal as a youngster, swept the floors, and on occasion, mowed the grass. As a youngster, a strong work ethic was not just appreciated, it was but expected.

This work ethic followed me into college, where I often completed assignments weeks before their due dates. I thrived on challenges and was always ready to lend a helping hand. In one of my previous jobs (I was new to the scenes, a month or so) after consistently meeting my own deadlines and completing assignments, I began offering assistance to my former colleagues. Initially, they gladly accepted my help, appreciating the extra support.?

However, a turning point came when a manager noticed my willingness to assist others. Suddenly, when I finished my tasks ahead of deadlines/schedules and offered help once more, I was met with a surprising response: “No, I don't need your help.” It was perplexing, to say the least. It wasn't until a former colleague noticed me assisting the janitor. My colleague pulled me to the side and had "a talk.'" I won't be sharing the details of the conversation, but the bottom line was that people thought I wanted their jobs. I was actually surprised, considering many of my colleagues had way more experience than me at the time.?

Contrary to the misconceptions, I genuinely wanted to help and learn new things, and learn from my colleagues. However, this incident made me realize that I needed to work on building trust in the workplace. Unlike my family's business, where trust was already established, this was a different environment where I had to "build it."

Building trust in business or, in a professional setting, especially as a newcomer, can be a delicate balance. It involves demonstrating competence without overstepping boundaries. In response to this realization, I adjusted my approach. Rather than immediately offering assistance, I began engaging more in "conversations and cornbread," asking about my colleagues' work, their personal well-being, and showing genuine interest in their expertise, experiences, and beyond. This approach helped me better understand their perspectives and even their "pain points."

I also started sharing more about my own work and asking for feedback. This openness not only helped to 'bring light unto my real intentions' but also fostered a collaborative work environment and built a sense of camaraderie with my colleagues. Their feedback was invaluable, helping me to grow as a professional. Gradually, I noticed a change in the dynamics of my workplace. Colleagues began to see me not as a threat, but as a team player eager to contribute, learn, and grow.

Business is all about relationships. This experience taught me an invaluable lesson about workplace relationship dynamics. Building trust in the workplace isn't just about working hard and getting the job done well; it's about understanding human relationships and the importance of communication. It involves showing respect for others' roles and acknowledging that everyone has something valuable to contribute. As I moved forward in my career, these lessons stayed with me. I learned that being an effective team member isn't just about what you do, but how you do it, and also how you make others feel. Whether it’s in business, the workplace, or beyond, trust is the foundation of any successful relationship. It's built through consistent actions, empathy, and understanding, creating an environment where everyone feels valued and supported.

Update: As a lyricist/artist, I'm always exploring rhymes, puns, similes, metaphors, and wordplays and beyond, especially with seemingly unrelated concepts/topics to incorporate into my writing. However, I recently discovered that "pet to threat" is a concept that is a part of broader research detailing the experiences women of color face in the workplace. This research is thoroughly presented in "The Psychological Health of Women of Color: Intersections, Challenges, and Opportunities," specifically on pages 275-286. Published by Guilford Press in New York, NY