So, you just got in good with the CEO? The owner knows your name? The big boss gave you a nod in the hallway?
Congratulations, you’ve won absolutely nothing.
Because guess what? If the lower-level guys—the ones actually running the day-to-day grind—aren’t on your side, your work is about to get sabotaged in ways you won’t even see coming.
Step 1: The Myth of “Knowing the Right People”
We all think life is like a cheat code—just know the highest authority, and everything will be smooth.
- Got a direct line to the MD?
- The chairman follows you on LinkedIn?
- The boss’s cousin is your childhood friend?
Nice. But here’s the problem—who is actually doing the work? It’s not the CEO processing your papers, fixing your IT issues, or handling your operations. That’s the lower-level guys. And if they don’t like you? RIP your efficiency.
Step 2: The “Invisible Resistance” Game
Here’s where the real fun begins. If you ignore the people actually running the machine, expect things like:
- Mysterious delays. “Oh, your approval? Must’ve gotten lost in the system.”
- Selective forgetfulness. “Sorry sir, I thought you already received that email.”
- Bureaucratic hell. “Actually, as per policy, this needs three more signatures.”
- IT Issues™. “Your account got locked? Hmm, weird. Let me look into it… next week.”
- The Tea Break Delay. You need something urgent, but chai time is sacred.
If you’re lucky, the sabotage will be subtle. If you’re not? Well, ever seen a document magically disappear? A project suddenly get derailed? That’s what happens when you piss off the foundation while shaking hands with the top floor.
Step 3: The Real Secret to Making Life Easy
Want things to actually move fast? Here’s what you do:
✔ Respect the doers. The ones sitting at the reception, the admin guys, the accountants, the IT team, the support staff—these people can make or break your work.
✔ Acknowledge effort. A simple “Thank you” can be the difference between an email sent now or “I’ll get to it later.”
✔ Don’t act entitled. Just because you know the boss doesn’t mean you can skip the queue.
✔ Build relationships both ways. Knowing the CEO is great, but knowing the office assistant who actually schedules his meetings? That’s a power move.
✔ Be decent. It costs ₹0 to treat people well.
Step 4: The Ultimate Reality Check
Let’s be honest: The big boss is busy. He won’t remember to help you every single time. The lower-level employees? They run the show every day. They know the loopholes, the shortcuts, the actual decision-makers behind the decision-makers. If you’re on their bad side? No amount of high-level connections will save you from the slow, painful death of “office technical difficulties.”
Final Thoughts: The High Table vs. The Real Table
Knowing the higher-ups gives you access. But earning the trust of the ground-level workers gives you power. Because while the big guys are making strategic decisions, the lower guys are deciding how fast (or slow) those decisions turn into reality.
So, next time you walk into an office, don’t just focus on impressing the high table. Respect the ones actually holding the keys. Otherwise, good luck watching your work get mysteriously “stuck in processing.”
Disclaimer:
This essay contains 100% reality, served with a side of sarcasm. Any resemblance to your office situation is purely intentional. If you’ve ever wondered why your work moves slower than government paperwork, now you know.No senior executives were offended in the making of this piece. But if you’re a CEO reading this—go check if your office staff actually likes you.
