how to relate with your manager according to the mafia
3 timeless wisdom from men of the underworld
#044
Hey 👋🏼
Welcome to issue 44 of the Workplace Newsletter. This is a weekly career newsletter where we talk about tips to help you own your career.
You can read past issues here
Before we start…
Disclaimer: This is not an endorsement of the Mafia or its activities in any way, shape, or form. With the disclaimer out of the way, I guess we can start.
As someone who has read books and watched numerous documentaries & movies about the Mafia, I am fascinated by how so many of their teachings can be applied in the corporate world.
When it comes to subordinate-manager relationships, the men & women of the underworld have a lot to teach us.
Here are 3 timeless wisdom to guide your relationship with your manager.
“When the Capo blows, you bend in that wind or break”
Managers/Supervisors/Capos or whatever you call them have authorities (it doesn’t matter how they got them or if they deserve them). They are your managers for a reason.
When the Capo gets hot, you stand there and sweat.
When the Capo laughs, you smile (at the very least)
Speak when you’re spoken to otherwise, stay quiet.
Learn your place and play accordingly.
“Never Outshine the Master”
It’s treason to take the Capo’s shine- knowingly or unknowingly. The Mafia know this and abide by it as a rule.
Do your job & give your manager the glory. Yes, you read that right.
Your primary job is to make your manager be and look good. Embedded in that is the glory you seek.
“Being defeated is hateful, and besting one’s boss is either foolish or fatal. Most people do not mind being surpassed in good fortune, character, or temperament, but no one, especially not a sovereign, likes to be surpassed in intelligence.”
— Baltasar Gracián
Always update your manager on the progress of things and give her or him full credit. I know you’re gunning for your manager’s job, but be patient.
Never Kiss Ass
Mafia bosses see through this. Corporate managers as well.
Be nice. Be polite but don’t raise your manager’s suspicion by being too polite. Mafia bosses grow easily suspicious of overly polite people. It conceals an ill will.
“Excessive ass-kissing may be the kiss of death”
To be excessively polite is the ultimate rudeness.
See you next week.
With Love,
This post was inspired by the book “The Mafia Manager” by V.
As someone who is also very fascinated with the Mafia, I found this quote, “To be excessively polite is the ultimate rudeness” very eye opening.
That doing work and letting my manager take the glory is a hard pill to swallow.
Probably why I didn’t last in Walure Capital, one of the last places I worked…hahaha