Great article.

I've been this toxic person. At my current company, actually.

3 years or so ago, a new divisional manager took over my department. Apparently some of the upper management had read things about 'User Experience' and how important it was, and said, 'Ok! Let's get us a UX designer!'

Unfortunately, they didn't actually have much of a clue what a UX Designer does, or why. And so, of course, this wasn't communicated to anyone else in the department.

So in I come, all bouncy and shiny from years of working with people who actually know and welcome what I do. And no one in my new company knows. Most view me as some silly faddish creature imposed on them by the powers that be.

The first 1.5 years were utter Hell.

But they were also 1.5 years of very painful learning. Trying to communicate over and over again, in method after method, and failing. Doing my job the best I knew how, KNOWING that nothing I did, and nothing I specced stood a whelk's chance in a supernova of being implemented.

But at around year 1.5, things started to change. Slowly but surely. After soooooo many methods and so many tries, I found a method that finally communicated why I should be listened to. I proved that I wasn't just a talking head, that I could create and deliver UI assets. I bribed people with a crapton of home-made food. ._.

I won almost every single damn person in the department, ONE AT A TIME. There are still a few hold-outs, but I don't need them all. I just need a critical mass.

2.5 years later, my opinions are valued. The artefacts I produce are viewed as integral. What I spec tends to get done, and if it can't or shouldn't be done, people do me the courtesy of telling me early - then we work out a better solution from there.

2.5 years later, I can finally do my job. It's been really quite lovely, being able to effectively do my job since 2.5 years ago.

The toxic person CAN win. It's just that it usually isn't worth their while.

Why did I stay?

Permanent Residency Visa.

Do I feel any loyalty to the organisation? I'll leave that one for you to guess. ;)