Being "Aggressive"?

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I'm trying to figure out what this means in the business world. Does it mean go hard after what you want and don't stop until you get it? Or does it mean f**k everyone over in your path until you win?

Aggressive: first.

Unscrupulous: second.

The second method gets you situations like the Enron collapse.

YEah, NT world doing it's annoying word play thing again. Currently, when they mean "aggressive salesman" for example, they mean someone who will work hard.

I've seen both. I worked at a place where "aggressive" was a code word for engaging in scorched-earth style office politics. If someone gets in your way or you don't like them, throw them under the bus. This is the definition of "aggressive" that I fear the most. Because I can't be that. I'm hardwired as an aspie to be ethical. If that's required of me then either I have to take a government job or resign myself that the best I can do in my career are low-ranking junior-level postions.

The other meaning of aggressive works for me. That uses my aspie powers of hyperfocus and obsessiveness to attack the problem that stands in my way.

That's actually an advantage. It's like the early Quakers in Pennsylvania who "Did well by doing good." Or like the owner of an auto repair place. Yeah, the unethical individual will make more, for a while. But in the long run, you'll make more money as a straight shooter. Plus, your employees will respect you more.

Do you think ethics and morality are traits associated with AS?

probably... I think lying, deception, mind games, etc are things that baffle us when others do them to us, because we are so straight up and blunt. I say what I mean and mean what I say... most people don't do that.

Now you look like one agro aspie. That you?

I've been doing some reading about managing office politics. While a few mention warfare tactics, most books advise against anti-social behaviors because they are not sustainable. Which was surprising since I thought the conventional wisdom regarding office politics was "get nasty" and "take no prisoners".

Assertive, yes, aggressive, no.

There's a difference between standing up for what you think is right, and 'take-no-prisoners' and 'get-even' sort of behavior.

Basically, you have to deal with these people; some will try to @#$ you, some will be someon you'll need some day. It's hard for people like us to tell the difference, but I just wind up being nice to everyone, and it worked for quite a while...