Sometimes it seems that everybody at work is stepping on everybody else to get ahead. It is so commonplace in fact, that when we see this type of behavior we all say “well you know it’s a dog-eat-dog world’ out here.” Our attitude is a sad dismissal until we are personally affected by this workplace malady. Many of our TV shows depict the hero as someone who mostly plays by the rules but finds a clever way around some regulation when it’s necessary win. Even some of the business network reporting often glorifies some leader that won a hostile takeover bid. He was bigger, had more money and was slicker at finding a way around some regulation.

So is getting ahead a product of manipulating the system? Is it a function of crushing my competition? Is it a ‘no holds barred’ focus on winning no matter what or might it be something else? I would like to submit that I have met many corporate leaders who reject the notion that you must be ferociously aggressive to get ahead. While growth does take focus and determination, the methods one uses to get where they want to go are important. In the short term ‘destroying’ your competition may seem profitable and the way to go. In the long term you may garner a reputation of being an evil, cold and conniving person. The latter reputation will not stand you in good stead with business people in general. Now some of you may say, “as long as I’m getting paid who cares what people think?” You are right in believing that people’s opinions should not drive your behavior.  However, if in your drive for success you step on people and expose others weakness your career, long term, might be compromised.

I was fortunate to work for a CEO that had an understanding of true success. This leader loved the idea of Servant Leadership. I wondered how he saw it as a component of success. I mean this gentleman was a CEO of a multi-billion-dollar energy corporation and his focus was on people. He had a simple philosophy, help people around you and you move up in the organization. A bit too simple well let me explain. On a flight to Brazil I sat helping him express his philosophy in a PowerPoint presentation. He had me take a picture of a triangle and invert it. He then put himself on the bottom of the pyramid. We then layered in all the names and positions, he said Eric my job is to make sure people around me are getting everything they need for success. I am not here to be the ‘big cheese!’ I put all the people connected to me above me in my focus. If I help them become more successful, the more referent power I have with them. Once they know I care our relationship is on a whole different level. He went on to explain how he had used this approach in dealing with people he had worked with for his entire career. “If you stab people in the back” he continued, “you’ve got to always look over your shoulder for the return ‘stab’ forever! If you help people you will find your career gets help at some of the strangest times in some of the strangest ways.”

Over the years I have watched this man go from business situation to business situation and keep one of the best reputations in industry.

When confronted with the urge to destroy a competitor for a job you want please don’t do it. When you can almost taste that promotion but it seems someone else is in the running for it and you know some devastating dirty little secret that could knock them out of the running. Don’t share it. It may take longer building a cadre of people you have helped be successful but when the time comes for your promotion (and it will come!) you’ll have more people pulling for you than against you.

Remember “what you sow you will reap.” If you don’t like that one how about “For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. If you don’t like that one let’s just say “Karma is a real   _____________!”

Eric Kelly is a professional executive career and lifestyle coach with over thirty years of experience in corporate America. He has established management development systems in the US, Europe, South America, Africa and the Middle East.