I once taught at this school where the politics are as dirty as a cheap prostitute's ass. What helped me was staying as far away as possible from the other teachers. I was new and the youngest one there and old b****es like to hate. Even the boss spread rumors about me. I had only 1 friend there and didn't really mingle with other teachers in the teachers room. They always ask about my personal life, but like someone said, I don't tell them jack or I just lie and not make a big deal out of it. Also if you have a problem with someone I suggest you go straight to them instead of asking around or just holding it in. Not really a success story, cus I eventually quit. They didn't like me, I didn't like them. I guess it was a mutual separation.
* Dont S**** Where You Eat * - Show up on time - Work reasonably hard - Keep your mouth shut - Constructively critique if you have to say something. Never bash. - Clock out You only get out of bed everyday to go perform random duties for other people. Then they compensate you with pay, no matter what industry you're in. They're really not there to give you hugs and girlfriends and drinking buddies. If you get that, AWESOME. But its never a prerequisite for THEM to give you that. Tread carefully when trying to get those extras. Its especially bad when its the MANAGERS doing that. A manager going with the mob mentality instead of being objective makes for an unpleasant workplace.... In MY opinion younger female workers really dont CARE to assess someone's character fairly. Even if they're all catty and hating each other, if there's something "juicy" about someone else especially a guy, they'll all of a sudden get in a little gossip clique and be complicit in going along with the talk. Cuz they still seem to want to be LIKED by others, I dont get it.
I think it was a survey post in CF a while back, about how when it comes down to it people's opinion about their job is affected the most by how much the people like each other. Which is a shame that a good position can be ruined by bad personality fit, but understandable really... In my experience, if I talked to the group and 1 woman out of 5 doesnt agree, it almost means none of the women will agree because they'll somehow come together and have some "contingency" disagreement with me. Or if I talked to the group (a whole department for example) about an issue, its ALWAYS power by numbers. 1 person will grandstand in front of everyone else and look to get the support of the group so they can override you. So I've done the direct single person contact more, and its worked out better (success story). They still get all pissy, but I tell them do you want ME telling you in private, or looking bad in the open in front of the manager? You just cant win with sensitive, emotionally jumpy people but just have patience and look like you're on their side.
My two cents.. 1. All managers love to have their asses kissed more than anything else in the world. You could be the most talented, hardest & most productive worker in your office, but if you are not prepared to go dirty sanchez on your manager's ego, you will never get anywhere. 2. If you are a man, don't have a woman as your manager. Women have a built-in inferiority complex in the workplace, and it tends to come out at the worst times. 3. Don't work in public sector. The politics in public sector jobs is much worse than anything you will encounter in the private sector.
