Frik’s life

Frik is not currently the happiest chap in the world. Due to the fact that he does not believe in (or accept) back-stabbing and the playing of power games with colleagues and so-called friends, his life has (according to him) spiralled downwards into a professional box where he will ultimately exist until the day that he either dies or get fired.

Here’s Frik’s story. And please feel free to make up your own mind of whether he is entitled to his current emotional opinion or not.

Reader, please note the disclaimer at the end of this post.

Frik, a white, middle-age guy, grew up in a typical English family. He passed all his grades and then successfully applied for a job at a local second-hand car dealer. His employee soon sent him for specialised training, in which he succeeded with flying colours.

Frik worked for this company for a while, and then realised that, in order to achieve something noteworthy in his life, he had to leave the little town where he was stagnating in his comfort zone and go to the big city of Egoli for new opportunities and the potential of career-growth. He applied for the position as a salesman at one of their bigger branches, and was ecstatic when he received his appointment letter just days later.

Frik left his whole life behind when he drove away from his home town. His fiancé, family, friends and comfort zone, all now a part of his past. But he had all confidence in his own ambition to make a success of his new life in the real big world.

Life in the big city was good and Frik was soon accepted in new communities, both from a personal and work perspective. He made friends and excelled in his job.

But Frik soon realised that he needed more from life and from his career. Due to the poor economic climate at the time, he had way too many hours on hand to sit and think and dream about future growth and his own professional ambitions. So he started reading and studying in his free time on the subject of aviation, and more specifically, Air Traffic Control, for which he had a passion as long as he could remember. Frik spent hours on his newly-discovered hobby. He read a lot, bought simulation software and engaged all his free time in the exciting world of aircraft and the controlling thereof.

And then, a huge breakthrough in his life happened. Through a friend, Frik came to hear of a newly created position at Egoli’s main International airport as a Junior Ground Controller. He immediately applied for the position and was successful. This change in career was a huge decision for him. After all, he grew up in a world where you should remain loyal to a single organisation for life. You don’t job-hunt. You don’t maintain your marketability and you don’t even have a C.V. You slowly ascend the corporate ladder, one small step at a time. But, since Frik knew that his all-life passion for aviation could now become his new life, he saw it through.

His first years at the Egoli Control Centre were earmarked by lots of studies, burning the midnight oil during countless late-night hours stuck behind his books. But Frik’s main ambition in life was to become the best controller ever. He was soon recognised for his efforts. Feedback from pilots under his command and control were always positive and his record impeccably clean. His direct reporting line always had excellent feedback during performance review sessions. And Frik started to climb the ATC-ladder. From Ground controller to Tower. And from Tower to Approach and then to the big leather seat and the impressive radar screens of Egoli Regional Area controller.

Frik was always of the impression that his career-success was based on ongoing hard work, his eagerness to please, his sense of camaraderie and his incredibly high expectations of both himself and his subordinates. He remained fair to all. He thought that his own indulgement in his career and the long hours spent in front of his radar monitors would guarantee him ongoing career success and general satisfaction in life.

Then there came a turning point in his career, which unfortunately happened when Frik was on a month-long course abroad. Two of his direct reports, whom Frik always regarded as colleagues and friends, blatantly undermined him during the planning phases of an organisational restructure, where the objective was for the company to be split up between two separate regional Control centres in the country. These two individuals were in the process of building their own little empire, with absolute no regard for ethics, feelings or human emotions. During these dark days, one of Frik’s loyal friends phoned him with the warning that he had to get back to Egoli very quickly. “There are people here whom are trying to work you out of your position for their own personal gain… You better get back to the office, and get back soon …”

Frik returned to Egoli and although a lot of damage was already done, he retained his original position as Area controller, whilst his ‘friends’ were appointed to head up another regional Control centre.

Frik carried on with his life and career, until another major incident happened. His direct report went on pension and Frik naturally applied for the vacant position. But, regrettably, he did not get it. His age, skin colour and sex were all against him and a politically correct BEE appointment was made.

Not much said about the new person, except that he did not last more than a few months, despite his politically correct approach of lots of words and very little output or disregard for aviation safety. He was asked to resign within months and one of his favourites in the team was appointed in his position. And Frik was moved back into his old Tower-position of so many years ago. With his colleagues not knowing what to say and asking unspoken questions about what the hell was happening…

Frik, although still part of the same group of regional controllers, retracted into his own small, secluded world of total introversion and complete submersion into his job. No communication with colleagues except when asked a direct question. No fun, no jokes, no social engagement. No camaraderie. During subsequent performance appraisal sessions, a professional, nearly sterile atmosphere reigned. No-one could bring anything negative to the table in terms of his work performance. He never had a single near-miss incident filed against him. His work was constantly of higher-than expected quality, but his interaction with those around him was at right at ground-zero levels.

In time, Frik realised that he was in the process of killing himself. The severe lack of hype and satisfaction that he previously obtained from interactions with those around him was creating a bottled-up void inside him, which eventually caused him to be admitted to the sick-bay for stress-related reasons.

Frik then decided to try and turn his life around. In time, he made friends at work once again and was soon re-accepted as part of their close-knit regional group of controllers. Still in his position of Tower-controller.

Years passed, and the team grew from strength to strength. Things were just about like they were before, and Frik accepted the fact that someone else now occupied the Egoli-Radar frequencies and that he was destined to be Tower-for-life.

And then, in typical large organisation fashion, another change on the horizon. Yet another merge and lo and behold, it was with the same team that split from the Egoli-centre some years ago. And the rivals of those days, who since did their own thing and played their own games, were joining forces with the Egoli controller crew once again.

Frik had difficulty accepting this decision and his first instinct was to pack his bags and leave. But where to? Again the issues of colour, race and sex jeopardised any hope in hell of him starting a career elsewhere.

The rivals came back in force. They implemented new structures. Brought people with them. Headed up the Egoli-team. And eventually, without saying anything, got their own back with Frik. Their unsuccessful opportunity to bury Frik away years ago now once again became a potential reality.

The rest of the Egoli Control-centre embraced the new, stronger team. People were promoted left, right and centre. New Tower, Approach and Radar appointments were made. People were impressed with their unexpected career growth and the bright future promised to them.

And Frik? He was left behind manning the Tower frequencies. Again reading the unspoken questions in the eyes of colleagues wondering why he was not even considered for any of the available Approach positions. And they were waiting in anticipation to see what Frik was about to do…

People once again are realising that Frik has changed. Frik has so many questions but no-one to seek answers from. Does he still have a career? Does Egoli Control centre still need him or want him or are they waiting with baited breath for him to leave? Where to? Is this the final result of all the long hours of all the months and years and the life that he spent at the Control centre?

Is this all worth it? Is there life after this? Or should he merely go with the flow and adopt his perceived perception of lack of ethics, honesty and professionalism in the new Control centre management structure? Or should he just go away and silently die?

Frik has no clue whatsoever. Maybe you have?

Disclaimer: The above situation is based on pure fiction. Any perceived relevance to companies, people, places or situations is purely coincidental.

Until next time…