Office Politics... How do you deal with it?

[TCK!]

Things at my office have just been weird lately...

Now today I find that one of my bosses when sending me emails in an attempt to call me out to see if I dropped the ball on something has been BCC'ing the president of the company.

Seems pretty shady to me. Not sure how long it's been happening but this the first time the President has responded to the message.

Then I've got one bosses Admin trying to prove she's the top admin and trying her best to discredit everyone else to make her look good.

It's just annoying crap... How do you guys deal with it all? I'm sure I'm not the only one that just doesn't understand why this has to happen?

[jdubbs32584]

IMO, you should talk directly to your boss about the BCC thing. Ask him if you're doing something incorrectly or if he's dissatisfied with your work. Always best to confront something head on.

[Grampa]

email him this clip

http://ducatimonsterworldwide.org/index.php?topic=3927.0

[Sinister]

I out-politic those types of people, and it usually backfires on them. 

[Bick]

Strange how the Admin Assistant somehow fits into the corporate ladder one rung above COO.

There are a lot that do their job very well, and know their place.

It's the ones that always have the unsolicited comment - "You would hate to see this place with out me!"  (To which the only correct respsonse is "Get Administaff's phone number for me, will ya, toots.") - that get to me.

[c_rex]

Things at my office have just been weird lately...   
      this is why people don't like working desk jobs (i.e. 'Office Space')

Now today I find that one of my bosses when sending me emails in an attempt to call me out to see if I dropped the ball on something has been BCC'ing the president of the company. 
Seems pretty shady to me. Not sure how long it's been happening but this the first time the President has responded to the message.
     That IS lame.  Take him/her to the mat; "... I'll work with you directly to get this resolved to your full satisfaction and escalate to Mr. Big when we agree that it is necessary."
     (/hit send, double bird the monitor with fierce grimmace.  Turn around and drop trow whilst waggling your backside- again at the monitor.  Recover trow, go back to waiting game of Solitaire.  Somewhere in there you should probably check to make sure your door is closed and shades are drawn if you have them.)

Then I've got one bosses Admin trying to prove she's the top admin and trying her best to discredit everyone else to make her look good.
     Screw her.... well not like that.  Unless she really does look good.  And you aren't- you know, like... disgusted by her.  I mean ATTACHED already. Priorities man! 
     What I mean is- don't waste your time.  This often remedies itself in tears, yelling, slamming doors, thrown objects, torn (valuable) papers and/ or a promotion.  Either way you probably have little to no control over the outcome.  Spin your cycles elsewhere.

It's just annoying crap... How do you guys deal with it all? I'm sure I'm not the only one that just doesn't understand why this has to happen?
     I quit!!  No really- I did.  Then I went back as a vendor consultant making 25% more, working 25% less and no bullshevik in between.  I think of myself as a mercenary of productivity.  Get in, acquire target, vanquish objective, get out or die trying. This probably also means that nobody will claim they knew me should I fail in that last bit.

Be like a duck- paddle as fast as you can, don't let 'em see you sweat, let the rain roll off your back and if you have to... poop on them!  No- use your wings!  Life is too short to wait for Elmer Fudd to blast you from behind.

Paretto's rule dictates that we of the things we worry about only 20% are controllable, the other 80% is beyond our direct influence.  Focus on the 20.  Get the job done and the rest will fall into place whether and where you like it or not.

[corey]

Oye. Office Politics....
I work at an ad agency, where office politics seem to be about 50% worse than anywhere else. People are always backstabbing each other, passing the buck and blame, and doing everything for themselves and nothing for anyone else.

How do i deal with it?
Just that. I deal with it. I just ignore and avoid it. I refuse to let my personal morals and virtues be corrupted or put a sunder by these heartless pricks. I won't back stab, i won't lie. I tell people shit to their faces if i have an issue with them, i take responsibility for my actions, and i let people know that i disapprove of their actions when they try and blame me for things. Because of this, i will never make as much as i could, but i don't care. i can sleep at night.

Just be yourself, and do what's right by you.

[Smiling End]

How do i deal with it?
Just that. I deal with it. I just ignore and avoid it. I refuse to let my personal morals and virtues be corrupted or put a sunder by these heartless pricks. I won't back stab, i won't lie. I tell people shit to their faces if i have an issue with them, i take responsibility for my actions, and i let people know that i disapprove of their actions when they try and blame me for things. Because of this, i will never make as much as i could, but i don't care. i can sleep at night.

Just be yourself, and do what's right by you.

+1

You have to actively not get sucked into participating and make sure that whenever you get involved you take a stand and make sure whomever knows you ain't having it.  It also doesn't hurt to maintain whatever documentation you can on projects especially if you think your boss is trying to sink you. 

[Speeddog]

The prez is on your boss's back about the task, so your boss is covering his ass with *your* ass.

Happens all the time, probably 10x as much as you think.

[Statler]

The prez is on your boss's back about the task, so your boss is covering his ass with *your* ass.

Happens all the time, probably 10x as much as you think.

yup.   the blind carbon copy thing shouldn't bug you.   You have to assume anything in writing can and will be seen by anyone and everyone.      I would think that most things people think are private emails are not.


Do your job well and document the hell out of everything.   When I worked for other people (never again), I would follow up conversations with letters that said "to memorialize our telephone conversation from earlier today, you would like me to do this job X way after a discussion where I believed Y way was correct.    I am going to do it X way at your request.   If I have misunderstood please let me know immediately so we do not lose any time on the project."

Had to use those letters to save me a few times.   People lose their jobs over shit like that and it won't be me.

If it's not written down the conversation didn't happen.

[Popeye the Sailor]

What Statler said. Do your job, document everything, cover your ass. It makes it much easier to avoid politics.

[Count Desmo]

Read The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene.  You're welcome.

http://www.amazon.com/48-Laws-Power-Robert-Greene/dp/0140280197/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212714187&sr=8-1

[DRKWNG]

yup.   the blind carbon copy thing shouldn't bug you.   You have to assume anything in writing can and will be seen by anyone and everyone.      I would think that most things people think are private emails are not.


Do your job well and document the hell out of everything.   When I worked for other people (never again), I would follow up conversations with letters that said "to memorialize our telephone conversation from earlier today, you would like me to do this job X way after a discussion where I believed Y way was correct.    I am going to do it X way at your request.   If I have misunderstood please let me know immediately so we do not lose any time on the project."

Had to use those letters to save me a few times.   People lose their jobs over shit like that and it won't be me.

If it's not written down the conversation didn't happen.

Take what Statler said to heart!  I work in a joint military environment where there are members from each branch of service as well as MANY government civilians as well.  You have never seen office politics at work until you have dealt with the inner workings of the government.  It is a very dog eat dog world, and you have to make sure that you cover yourself, because it is a sure bet that no one else will be.  There are many times when our mission gets sidetracked simply because the gov civilians don't want to step on the toes of someone else that might be senior to them some time in the distant future.  It's amazing that anything every gets accomplished.

[vaclav]

Organize (union style). It is amazing how much of that stuff goes away in union workplaces. I have worked both sides for many years (union and non-union) and it is definitely better for the worker at union jobs. There will always be some kiss-a## trying to bro up to the bosses no matter where you go but unions keep that stuff in check. Union people just feel more secure in their job and don't feel obligated to bend over for the bosses just to keep feeding their families. The negotiated contract clearly spells out what is and isn't part of your job and what you will be paid. On the other hand there always seems to be a couple lazy-a##es who abuse the system and try to use the contract to get out of doing anything. They give unions a bad name. I see that mostly with the old guys who have been in for decades or young guys who come in straight out of high school. Basically its the people who haven't worked the non-union side for a while. However, most of us try to work with the contractor/management to get the job done, but still follow the negotiated contract. All in all it is really a better way of life. You are more productive, you go home happier at the end of the day and your family benefits from it. The big unions have people whose whole job is to help you unionize your workplace. They will help you even if you are not in there specific trade. Ssomething to think about.   

[Nitewaif]

My experience has been the opposite with unions.  I am talking about healthcare, though, and so it's probably a different working environment.  The staff at union hospitals usually have a better deal, but they are so afraid they are going to get the short end of the stick or do a little more than the next person, so they are lazy and backstabbing.  Non union hospital staff tend to realize the job isn't going to get done unless everyone pitches in and works hard.  There is always a lazy, manipulative brown-noser in every bunch, but you have to just identify that person and be polite but keep your distance from all his/her drama.  That, and document, document, document.