One of my favorite sites in the world is BNET.com – they feature articles, run podcasts, create videos and tutorials on management issues hounding the work place. Tons of information, articles from popular business writers/book authors, and the fact that it’s free (well not entirely free, you should have an account with them..) makes it my go-to-site whenever confronted with problems at the office (and boy, do I have a lot…)

Anyway after that wonderful plug, I was doing my regular reading today and browsed their article “Why BSers Get Ahead” and haha, was I laughing my ass off at the office. Take a look:

 

BSers get ahead. It’s a fact of business life. Here’s how it works, the downside of being a BSer, and 10 common characteristices for you to recognize them.

When I was a young engineer at Texas Instruments, I quickly learned that accepting responsibility is the way up the corporate ladder.

If you boldly say, “Yes sir, I can do that, no problem,” then scramble like crazy to figure out what to do, your responsibility increases.

But if you whine, “Well, I can try, but I don’t really have any experience with [fill in the blank], so I’ll have to take some time to learn …,” you might as well say, “No thanks, boss” and save everyone the trouble. 

So I learned to BS. Of course, I got the job done in the end. That’s because I’m a relatively intelligent and resourceful BSer. If you can’t deliver, on the other hand, the house of cards comes crashing down. I guess that’s what happened to the likes of WorldCom’s Bernie Ebbers, the poster boy for dysfunctional CEOs.

BSers have certain common qualities, which I’ll list here to help you identify them (as if you really need help):

• Nearly limitless charm and charisma
• Ability to sell ice cubes to an Eskimo
• Will stop at nothing to get attention
• Climb the corporate ladder like jungle monkeys
• As dysfunctional as the Pope is catholic
• Remarkably skewed self image
• Attention span of a flea
• Grandiose visions 
• Deep-seated inferiority complex
• Sees life as a zero-sum-game they must win

Somehow I can identify with a few qualities, so I’m not so sure about myself being BSer. However, now that I think about it, who isn’t one? We all make moves in the office to get ahead, and in the corporate world (actually, even in a start up company), you’ll encounter a few people who BS their way to the top – somehow they manage, while some get their heads chopped. I mean, just look at our government officials? Aren’t they a bunch of BSers? (save for a few good men) and somehow they survive. In fact, if you BS enough, you get elected President (now why is this turning into a political rant)!

Also, to be truly honest with myself, would I rather be the one giving out the BS? or on the receiving end? Think about it.