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You Can Show Integrity Even When Boss Doesn't

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By LILY GARCIA

The Washington Post

Published: February 1, 2009

The Problem

"The leadership in my department at work has an 'us versus them' approach when working with other departments. ... Efforts by others to address this with the head of our department, as well as with HR human resources, have failed.

"I'm sick of being in the department everyone hates to work with, and not being able to provide the best customer service to our clients. What can I do (I'm a lower-level employee)?"

The Solution

Regardless of the tone set by the leadership of your department, you still have a choice about how you interact with others at work.

It is important that you not compromise your integrity by adopting the attitude of the people in charge. However, be warned. Being helpful when the leadership of your department has established through word and deed that it is best to be oppositional is a bold act of defiance. When people seek to assert control and inflate their importance by hoarding information and resources, it is formidable to see just how threatening the simple act of doing one's job can be.

Do not be surprised if your managers start to scrutinize your work more closely or if you get blamed for the communication difficulties with other departments. As bizarre as it sounds, it is quite possible under the perverse rules of a dysfunctional team.

If the head of your department and human resources will not address the issue, then your only recourse might ultimately be to change jobs. In the meantime, keep doing your work as well as you can under the circumstances. Other departments will surely notice and appreciate your efforts to be responsive and, with any luck, they might even invite you to join them.

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