Walking Zombie (Part 2)



I was having a happy, free-wheeling conversation with a friend last week who had recently retired.

Inevitably we started talking about work.

He was lucky enough to stay at one employer for his entire career.

That is quite an accomplishment!

In the context of work, he mentioned that he was a “follower” as opposed to say being a manager.

At the time, I weakly said that he was probably a little bit of a follower and a leader rolled up in one.

The verb “follow” sounds OK to me.

You can follow your passions. You can follow a company on LinkedIn. You can follow your instincts. You can follow instructions. You can follow protocol.

But to be a “follower” at work just doesn’t sit well with me.

It sounds like blind obedience.

I have a “rebellious” streak and like to change things up. 

For example if I were to drive to work, I’d park as far away from the entrance as possible just so that I could get some exercise.

Or if there was a recurring meeting with the same people in the same meeting room, I would intentionally sit in a different spot than I sat in the last time.

If I see something that needs to be done at work, I just do it, I don’t need someone to ask me. 

When I was at Combined Insurance, I noticed one day that the anti-slip carpet in the main lobby was furled up. I thought to myself that I didn’t want anyone to trip on the carpet, so I straightened it up.

I think of myself as an “independent thinker” rather than “follower.” I really don’t want anyone to tell me how to think. I am a transparent person and I value a company that is transparent as well.

It’s interesting how words can be perceived.

I suppose being in HR, I thought a millisecond longer and I was careful in the words that I used.

This trait of thinking about the words I use before saying it didn’t serve me well in improv class when you were encouraged to say whatever pops into your head! 

“Follower” to me connotes blind obedience like sheep.

I prefer “fan” or “supporter.”

But if you call me a “follower”, I won’t get mad.

I’d just let that word float past me.

Sometimes you just have to pick your battles.  


Also Published on LinkedIn on April 2, 2017
Image Credit: Pixabay

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