If any of you have watched the popular CBS series, Survivor, you know what these words signify.  It’s represents far more the physical reaction of “bringing someone an object.”  It is the verbal equivalent of a shot to the head.  It signifies that everyone you trusted, everyone you suffered with for the last however many days, has violated your trust, turned against you, and that they have probably done so behind your back.  It means that you have been voted off the island…

Perhaps the only words that elicit a similar response are, “John, can I see you in my office?”  But only when the phrase comes at 4:45 on a Friday afternoon.  Everyone knows the hidden meaning behind those ominous words.  Everyone understands that when you walk out of that office at 4:59 pm, it will be the last time that you walk out of that office.  The words, “Can I see you in my office?” have become the yuppie equivalent, “Bring me your torch.”

Tribal council, last days at the office… they are the same.  And this is just one reason why we like the show Survivor so very much.  Somehow we always knew, deep in the far recesses of our mind, that there was no justice in the world.  We always suspected that if any of our friends were offered a million dollars, they would betray us so fast it would make our head spin, and we have been taught from birth that if we turned our backs even for a moment, someone would stick a knife in it.  The show Survivor proves this primal theory to us each week.

For those of you unfamiliar with the show Survivor, eighteen people begin their journey of forty days on an isolated island with people they have never met before, have little in common with, and in real life would probably never want to know.  They are split up into two “tribes” at the beginning of the game, knowing that although they will be forced to compete against the other “tribe” for now, they will eventually be joining these enemies later in the game, thereby becoming allies.  Any “alliances” they form now, could keep them from reaching the end of the game, and may very well need to be broken in order to continue forward at a later point in the game.  In addition to this psychological and emotional stress, they are forced to eat together, live together, and to work as a coherent group, knowing that their very survival depends on a fragile system of alliances that can be broken as easily as writing someone’s name down on a piece of paper.  Each individual knows that eventually, regardless of the outcome, they will be required to betray the very people who helped them reach success, and that they must do so in such a way as to make those they have betrayed maintain respect for them, as those people who were betrayed will ultimately be responsible in helping them reach the pinnacle of success. 

Now examine the office environment.  In a typical office setting, the same situation occurs. Diverse groups of people are forced to work together, very nearly to live together, for at least 10-12 hours per day.  Each group consists of people from very different backgrounds, with very different views on life.  Each person in each group has different strengths; but there is always an exception to the rule as some have no strengths at all and are content to coast on the skills of others.  Some of these people are natural leaders, and some must be led.  Some begin to form resentments right away, some begin to play the social game, as they have no real ability to “build fire” (a.k.a., do their jobs), and oftentimes, by playing the social game, end up controlling the office. The office game functions in much the same way as the television series, Survivor.

In business, the “tribes” are called “departments,” and they vary according to the type of company you are dealing with. In some companies, you may have the writers vs. the editors.  In others, you could find finance vs. accounting or sales vs. marketing.  The most common conflict exists between management vs. production.  Nobody in the corporation calls them “tribes”, and everyone will deny that there is a rivalry, but that’s what they are and everyone in the company knows it.  Regardless of the tribal name, each team has their own agenda, their own strengths and weaknesses, and each are fighting to obtain immunity. In business, immunity is known as “the budget.” The goal is to obtain the largest piece of the budget, and in doing so, you will have obtained “immunity,” while the other team is sent to “tribal council”, otherwise referred to as a “business meeting”, where someone will probably be fired, or at the very least, be written up for some trivial thing that was out of his or her control. The winning team goes to reward, which in business is known as ”lunch or happy hour,” and they celebrate by discussing additional strategies to win the next challenge, thereby controlling even more of the budget. 

The theory is that the more people you can knock off the other team, the bigger part of the budget you control. When an immunity challenge is lost, heads begin to roll.  Blame is passed down the line, and it’s usually not passed to the laziest person or the one who is actually to blame for the loss.  No – it’s generally passed to the one who plays the worst “social game”.  Is that fair?  Absolutely not.  Does it happen?  Constantly. 

Now, many of you are going to think I am bitter, that perhaps I have recently been fired from a job.  Not true .  In fact, I am one of the better “players” around, hence, I have never been fired.  I am also very good at my job, and I pride myself on that fact.  The fact of the matter is, I have been an observer of the business environment for quite some time, and have found it to be fascinating.  I learned to play the game quite a while ago, simply because I don’t like to be broke.  However, I have also managed to balance the game with personal integrity, and to be honest, it has cost me. As a general rule, integrity and business do not make great bed partners.

The cost comes on several levels, but primarily through the pocketbook.  In order to play an honest game, one must be willing to make a few sacrifices.  Just ask Terry Dietz, the most recent survivor to be voted off Survivor Panama: Exile Island.  Dietz played the most honest, hardworking game in Survivor history.  And he was voted off at number 3.  The only thing he walked away with was his personal integrity and a new truck that he won on a challenge (which is similar to a sales bonus).  Oh, and the respect of millions of viewers.

Personally, I will take that kind of win any day of the week. 

Instead, the winner was Aras, the typically arrogant, immature, undeserving person who always wins these games.  Why do I still watch it?  Because I see the game as a metaphor, not only for business, but for life as well.  The show serves as a reminder for me that nice guys do finish last, but you know what? It’s often better to finish last than to finish dishonestly.  I would rather be broke than a crook.  I would prefer to work hard and win honestly, than steal someone’s ideas and win with their creativity.  And I watch because there is a part of me that holds out some tiny shard of hope that one day, particularly in a case like Terry’s, the jury will simply abstain from voting in protest of an unfair game. Or better yet, will vote for a person like Terry to take home that million in spite of the rules, because they know that he is the only one who truly deserves the honor.

It hasn’t happened yet, but I believe that there has got to be some justice in this world, and if we work hard enough, stand up for what we believe in, and live the best life we know how to live, then things just might come back around and we will win the end game, whether it’s in the game of Survivor, business, or life in general.  And with any luck, we’ll be able to vote all the dishonest, undeserving ones off the island…

 
About the Author

Stacy Mantle is a freelance writer who currently resides in the southwestern deserts of Arizona with a number of cats, a coyote/wolf hybrid, and a very understanding husband. Her writing has appeared in publications such as The Arabian Horse Times, Today’s AZ Woman, and Pets Illustrated. She now has monthly columns in Jackson Parents magazine and online at www.PetsWeekly.com. Many of her stories and articles have been translated into several languages, and now reach an international audience. Quickly becoming known as "…the Erma Bombeck of animals", her writing has skyrocketed to new heights as she records the stories of those she loves, inspiring the reader to learn why we have all come to love the animals we share our lives with. She is the author of Conquering the Food Chain: Living Amongst Animals (Without Becoming One), which is available in Barnes & Noble bookstores nationwide, as well as online at www.bn.com or www.amazon.com.