Boston Rob is one of the most popular Survivor contestants of all time. In this week's episode, he is seen discussing alliances. After four seasons of Survivor, he seems to have learned all the tricks and strategies to take him through the treacherous days ahead. The lesson he discussed can easily be applied in the workplace also. What can Boston Rob teach you about how you are perceived in your work environment and whom you can trust as part of your work alliances?
Rob describes that alliances are uncovered based on who is sleeping with whom when the day is over. He also admits that he has 'been guilty' of it even when he was aware of the issue. If your workplace takes this literally, you probably have more problems than alliances. In most cases, however, you can use this lesson to describe lunchtime. Look around your workplace at lunch: Who is eating together? Who is leaving the office? Who is working at their desk? The answers to these questions may help you determine who truly has your back.
As in Survivor, alliances in the workplace can be a help or a hindrance. The most important part of an alliance is knowing where you stand, even if you're on the outside looking in. As you manage your career, consider the company you keep. It's great to have friends at work but consider setting one day aside each week at lunch to reach out beyond your traditional lunch bunch. Building additional alliances outside of your core friends and colleagues is a great way to increase your influence in the workplace.
Work is not a game and, hopefully, your workplace does not feel like Survivor. Nonetheless, Boston Rob and the Survivor Heroes vs Villains' teams are sharing great lessons each week about interpersonal communication, trust, perseverance and teamwork. These skills are crucial to success in career advancement and can be applied to help you get ahead in your organization.
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