User: tom_h_anderson

Would you rather be respected or be yourself?

On: Does Age Really Matter?

If you want to learn what the rules of the game are, ask your manager to recommend some management books. The rules are in there. If your manager has no recommendations, find a new manager.

Your personal situation is not difficult to fix if you are willing to change your personality to conform to the ideal promoted within your organization. I have known people that changed themselves to become respected, and others that have clung to their own style.

I recommend keeping your own style and not worrying about being respected until either:

1. You really want the extra money from a promotion or a raise.
2. You just can't stand the bad decisions any more and need to become a manager to keep your own sanity.
3. You become respected for who you really are, in spite of the fact that you're not willing to conform. This is the slowest path, and may never bear fruit.