We love talking about exceptional leaders and their teams working efficiently together towards the greatness of the company. Yes, that’s a situation that every organization wants, and should do its best to get as close as possible to it. Nevertheless, the reality is not that pretty. What we see is a lot of conflict in companies, especially between bosses and employees.

Now, what will you do when you’re not satisfied with the company or your boss? It doesn’t matter who is right or wrong, the fact is that you can try to change things as long as you keep helping the company. The moment you begin acting against the organization, you immediately lose any reason you could have in the conflict.

In my career I have seen some cases in which, in adversity, the professional reacts against his own career and future in the company and this is what I call Professional Stupidity.

These are the main stupid mistakes I have seen:

1. Pretend you’re working: your boss may not notice immediately that the moment he turns his back, you switch back to the latest sport news in your computer. The problem is that your results will eventually show up, and even worse, your colleagues will not accept working harder because of you, and word will be out about how you’re acting. And it will get to your boss.

2. Forget that the organization has systems and security: what you do on your PC is probably being logged, and there are probably security cameras that recorded you forever in the cafeteria. Be sure that if you boss really wants to get you, he will use all of the company’s resources to do so.

3. Excessive trust on your colleagues: they may be your friends, but also have their own priorities. Don’t say all you want to say to your boss to your colleagues, because you never know when one of them will use that to their benefit (which is also wrong, but that’s another story).

4. Screw up when you leave the company: if you leave the company or are fired in friendly terms, watch you reaction. I once had to fire an employee for cost reduction (had nothing to do with his performance) and offered to help him with referrals and his job back if the situation got better. Unfortunately he chose to question this decision harshly and aggressively. That gave me a very negative final impression of him. Even if he didn’t plan to come back, the world is really small nowadays, and you never know when a got reference will be useful.

5. In general, believe your boss and the company won’t find out (about anything): trust me, they probably will.

So you don’t like things the way they are? OK, express your opinions, go talk to your boss, suggest changes, quit! But never turn yourself against the organization.

To make it clear: it’s not about being false and against your principles… it’s about being in the best possible situation as long as you’re in the company, and making sure that your networking doesn’t go down the drain.