How do you deal with favoritism?

2015-10-12T21:37:40-04:00

One of the worst issues I have seen in the military is favoritism. I understand the mentorship and empowering subordinates but there comes a point to where it can be disastrous to a unit.

It is all good when you are you are the one favored. If you are always at the top of you unit I can understand why you may get offered more than others. I have seen some that were just about worthless get promoted and accolades. It blew my mind. Even when there was issues with that person to have there ignored really discredits leaderships.

I had my methods of dealing with it. What have you seen and what are the best practices with dealing with it?

Response by SGT Jerrold Pesz made Oct 12 at 2015 9:56 PM

2015-10-12T21:56:37-04:00

I am sure that it existed but I was never a victim of favoritism so I guess that I didn't pay much attention.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Oct 12 at 2015 10:08 PM

2015-10-12T22:08:38-04:00

I work harder than everyone to ensure that at least my part of the mission was accomplished

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2015 11:44 PM

2015-10-12T23:44:34-04:00

I did not notice favoritism during my four years active duty. During my civilian career, I noticed plenty of cases of favoritism. My response was to stay focused and continue to do an outstanding job on every task. Staying extremely busy leaves little time to ponder injustices.

Response by SrA Matthew Knight made Oct 13 at 2015 1:55 AM

2015-10-13T01:55:25-04:00

As someone who is in no position to actually make changes when favoritism becomes a factor I have found that my way of dealing with it is to ignore it. If I know (which I do) that I will never be a favorite in any unit and won't be recognized for achievements as a result then I will just stick to doing my job and nothing else. I would rather leave at the end of my service commitment with a relatively boring and uninteresting career behind me than start get recognized for negative reasons just because I am not as good as Senior Airman Blueblood. That's not the life and career I feel like wasting my time on.

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Oct 13 at 2015 6:20 AM

2015-10-13T06:20:11-04:00

I didn't see it during my time in the Marine Corps although I am sure it existed. I think it might be more prevalent these days based upon what I read.

It exists in the civilian world too. They are normally younger employees (22-30 years old) that are called things like "early identified" or "future leaders". What you normally end up learning is that they are someone up the food chains cousin, niece/nephew, friend of family etc. Some are form the right school that has affiliations with senior execs since they went to the same school and they get sponsored into the company.

Most of these folks never last. There is something destructive to work ethic and sense of self worth when things are handed to you (or at least a clear path is created). I have seen them come and go for almost 3 decades now in fortune 100 size companies. Very few of them actually make it to senior levels in the organization. My experience puts the absolute number at close to zero (for the candidates I have observed)

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 13 at 2015 8:47 AM

2015-10-13T08:47:11-04:00

all I know ... whoever favored before me is better than me. So ... never experienced favoritism ... yet.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 13 at 2015 1:23 PM

2015-10-13T13:23:10-04:00

Favoritism was one of the reasons I left the unit I was with.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 14 at 2015 11:06 PM

2015-10-14T23:06:25-04:00

Always makes me wonder who the favorite son has pictures of with a sheep.

Response by SP5 Laurie Mixter made May 28 at 2023 11:33 AM

2023-05-28T11:33:15-04:00

In the time I was in the Army which was extensive, I have seen many people rise and fall because of favoritism! I think you need to remember the people helping them will not always be their to cover there A88es! Then they are on their own! Go through your chain of command and if that does not work, stand your ground believe in yourself things will change when you least expect them!