After several years of working in the labor market in Saudi Arabia, particularly in Jeddah, I’ve experienced a range of environments that have shaped my understanding of effective team dynamics, leadership, and career growth.
My first role was in IT as a Help Desk specialist, where I faced challenges related to an unclear team structure and no clear career path. Being the only Saudi on the team, I found myself in an awkward position. Colleagues from abroad often viewed me as a potential threat rather than an asset, and I struggled to find proper guidance. The pressure from HR to promote Saudization also added tension, making it difficult to integrate fully with my team.
My next opportunity was with a company that had ambitious plans to establish a new IT services division. Although we worked well for a while, the pandemic led to the closure of the project, and I had to leave.
I then transitioned to the FMCG industry, where I worked with a supportive team and had ample growth opportunities. However, after six months, key members of my team left, leaving me in a situation where the new team lacked clear planning. Despite my efforts to keep things on track, there was little recognition or focus on my career development. My attempts to discuss this with my new manager were met with vague responses like, "it depends on you," which left me without proper guidance.
Later, I moved to another FMCG company, but this time, the environment was quite toxic due to internal conflicts between my manager and HR. I was wrongly perceived as a threat to my manager’s position, which made it impossible to build a harmonious team dynamic.
Having reflected on these experiences, I’ve learned some important lessons. First, being a team player and building trust with your manager is crucial. HR won’t always be able to mediate these situations. If the manager fails to foster a positive relationship with their team, it can easily lead to a toxic work environment.
As someone still growing in their career, I believe it’s essential for companies, HR teams, and managers to listen to employees and understand their experiences. Building a culture of open communication and trust can make all the difference in creating a healthy and productive workplace.
#CareerGrowth #EmployeeExperience #TeamDynamics #Leadership #CareerDevelopment #HR #WorkplaceCulture #FMCG #ITIndustry #SaudiLaborMarket #Jeddah #Saudization #Automation #DataAnalysis #BusinessIntelligence