Should You Fight Dirty to Climb The Tech Ladder?
Soft Skills • Software Development Career Advice
After being manipulated by many other programmers and managers through political games, I was tempted to fight dirty.
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Fighting Dirty in Corporate Politics: Why Programmers Should Avoid the Corporate Games
Corporate politics. Power struggles. Dirty tricks. As programmers, we often think we can avoid these toxic dynamics by keeping our heads down, writing good code, and focusing on results. But sooner or later, you’ll encounter a situation where your technical skills aren’t enough to move ahead—you’re suddenly thrust into a world of manipulation, credit-stealing, and backstabbing. It’s not just about climbing the corporate ladder; it’s about learning how to navigate the dirty games that some people play to get ahead.
In this episode, I want to talk about why programmers are tempted to play dirty to climb the corporate ladder, and more importantly, why resisting these temptations will ultimately lead to long-term success, personal peace, and professional fulfillment.
Why Are Programmers Tempted to Fight Dirty?
High-Stakes Competition
One of the primary reasons programmers are tempted to engage in unethical behavior is the high-stakes nature of the industry. Depending on where you work, a tech career can offer substantial financial rewards, career growth, and opportunities. With so much on the line, it’s no wonder people adopt a “winner-takes-all” mentality. The drive for promotions, bonuses, and recognition can push individuals to bend the rules—or break them entirely.
When the stakes are this high, it’s easy to justify unethical actions. After all, everyone else is doing it, right? But the truth is, cutting corners and playing dirty will likely do more harm to your career in the long run than any short-term gains you might get from it.
Seeking Visibility and Recognition
In the tech industry, visibility is often as important as ability. Unfortunately, this can lead to situations where people take credit for work they didn’t do. I’ve been on projects where managers took credit for the team’s efforts, or worse, where a coworker claimed my work as their own to boost their standing.
It’s incredibly frustrating when this happens, and it’s easy to feel tempted to fight fire with fire. But trust me, as satisfying as it might feel in the short term, joining the ranks of the credit thieves only serves to undermine your integrity and damage your professional reputation.
Fear of Obsolescence
The tech world evolves at a rapid pace, and one of the biggest fears programmers face is becoming obsolete. As new programming languages, frameworks, and technologies emerge, there’s always a risk that the skills you worked so hard to develop will become outdated.
In some cases, this fear can lead people to spread misinformation about new technologies or projects, or even sabotage their colleagues’ work. For example, on one of my early projects, half of the team wanted to move to a .NET framework, but instead of presenting a solid case, they started spreading misinformation about Java to discredit it. This is a classic example of how fear can drive unethical behavior in the workplace.
Toxic Corporate Culture
Sometimes, the culture of a company actively encourages dirty games. I’ve worked at companies where behind closed doors, managers talked negatively about their team members or took pride in withholding information to maintain control. In environments like this, unethical behavior becomes normalized, and employees begin to see it as the only way to survive or get ahead.
In many of these cases, managers who manipulate their teams and play dirty get rewarded with promotions or bonuses because their superiors only care about short-term results. This creates a vicious cycle where bad behavior is reinforced, and the company culture becomes increasingly toxic.
Misguided Notions of Success
Lastly, many programmers are tempted to fight dirty because of misguided notions about what it takes to be successful. In some companies, if you’re not playing the corporate politics game, you’re seen as naive. People think that in order to be successful, you have to push your own achievements and downplay others’ contributions. In these environments, showing humility or giving credit where it’s due can be seen as a sign of weakness.
But here’s the thing: real success isn’t about stepping on others to get ahead. It’s about building strong relationships, earning trust, and maintaining your integrity. If you fall into the trap of thinking that the only way to succeed is to play dirty, you’ll find yourself on a path to burnout and dissatisfaction.
Why You Should Avoid Playing Dirty
Now that we’ve looked at some of the reasons programmers are tempted to play dirty, let’s talk about why you should resist the temptation and stick to your principles. Here are five reasons to avoid fighting dirty in corporate politics.
1. Play the Long Game
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned in my career is that short-term wins aren’t worth sacrificing long-term success. Sure, someone who lies or manipulates may get a promotion or a prestigious project in the short term, but over time, these behaviors catch up with them. In almost every case I’ve seen, people who play dirty eventually get found out—and fired.
The tech industry, especially in hubs like Austin, Texas, can feel surprisingly small once you reach higher levels of leadership. Your reputation follows you from company to company. When you prioritize long-term integrity over short-term gains, you’ll build a career based on trust and respect.
2. Networking is More Powerful Than Politics
If you want to get ahead, focus on building strong relationships rather than playing political games. Networking with people inside and outside your company can open more doors than engaging in office politics ever will.
I’ve seen many situations where developers fought for a coveted project or promotion, but those who had cultivated deep professional networks had better opportunities waiting for them elsewhere. Building relationships is a more reliable—and ethical—way to advance your career than trying to outmaneuver colleagues in a toxic work environment.
3. Protect Your Personal Peace
One of the most valuable reasons to avoid playing dirty is to protect your personal peace. There’s no worse feeling than lying or manipulating your way into a project or promotion and then having to live with the guilt and anxiety that comes with it. Trust me, I’ve been there.
When you compromise your ethics, it affects not only your work but your personal life as well. That feeling of unease stays with you long after you leave the office, and it’s not worth the short-term gain.
4. Be a Positive Influence
When you choose to act with integrity, you set an example for others. I’ve been in situations where my refusal to engage in dirty games actually influenced others to follow suit. You never know who’s watching, and by sticking to your principles, you can create a ripple effect that changes the culture of your team or even your entire company.
People respect those who do the right thing, even when it’s difficult. And that respect will pay off in ways you can’t always predict.
5. Have Faith in the Process
Finally, have faith that doing the right thing will work out in the end. Whether you have spiritual faith like I do or simply believe in the power of ethical behavior, trust that living by your principles will ultimately lead to success.
It may not always be easy, and you may face setbacks along the way, but I can tell you from experience that sticking to your values will give you a sense of peace and purpose that no promotion or project could ever replace.
Conclusion
Navigating corporate politics can be a minefield, especially in the competitive world of tech. While it’s tempting to play dirty to get ahead, the long-term costs far outweigh any short-term benefits. By focusing on doing good work, building strong relationships, and maintaining your integrity, you’ll not only protect your reputation but also enjoy a more fulfilling and successful career.
About the THRIVING TECHNOLOGIST show
On YouTube and all major podcast networks, Jayme shares teamwork and leadership strategies, guidelines for healthy company culture, and stories about real projects so you can have a sustainable career in the software industry.
Jayme Edwards
A family man and veteran of nearly 40 software projects, Jayme experienced many wins and losses over his career as an architect and consultant.
Now he's coaching software developers, managers, and business owners to overcome challenges in the IT industry - so they keep growing.