People are often criticized no matter what they do at work. If you work overtime, you're a workaholic. If you leave on time, you don't care about your job. If you come to work late, you set a bad example. If you come early, you have no life outside of work. Whether you talk to someone privately or not, you can be seen as creating divisions or impersonal. If you succeed, it's due to luck. If you fail, everyone will tell you why. If you consult with others, you lack confidence. If you don't, you're stubborn. If you bring new ideas, you're a troublemaker. But if you don't, you're not contributing.