Office Politics

Always play nice with others. You never know how low someone will go to get what they want until they go there and the only thing you can do is play by the ole golden rule, do on to others as you would have done to you. That way you at least know that you were the better person.

 

Stay on their good side, because you never know what can happen.

You may need them to cover your ass someday, or maybe in the future they can help you land another job.

 

This area has always been hard for me. There are politics in nearly every job, no matter what, and I don't like to play the game. This doesn't mean I go around being rude and abrasive to everybody... quite the opposite. But I'm sort of shy and don't like to be in full-on butt-kissing mode for very long. I can do it for an interview (though not really well), but it's just bs and I hate it. I'm usually nice and polite, but keep some distance and don't go out of my way to suck up. I would rather just be allowed to do my job.

It's going to be the death of me, though. Usually everybody can tell the "distance" and, while they may keep me as long as I'm useful, I don't get recognition or awards, I don't tend to move "up the ladder", I sometimes get too much asked of me, and they're not as forgiving of me if I make a mistake (as they might be of others). Because I hate bull$hit and don't want to play that game. I just want to be true to myself. Yeah, I know, I'll be telling that to the unemployment office or the welfare people pretty soon...

 

I sense a stream of Office Space quotes coming in...

I was going to start a separate topic on this, but this seems like a good thread. I'm sure everybody works with a few people that have that big bowl of candy on their desk. Is it considered rude to just walk by and pick up a couple of pieces while you're just walking by? There's this one chick that has that epic bowl of candy, not the crappy bowl full of dum-dum pops and tootsie rolls, but the good stuff like mini candy bars and kisses. It's hard to keep thinking of reasons to go to a person's desk, and I feel kind of guilty just taking some candy like a bum...

 

I don't think its rude. If they didn't want people walking by and taking candy, then they wouldn't put out a bowl full of candy. I wouldn't do it if it was someone I didn't know but if you know them in some way...then I'm sure it is fine.

I've run into many situations where abrasion occurs with a fellow employee. I have learned a lot from those experiences, such as never do anything negative in e-mail, keep it constructive if you disagree, always take the high road, and never let emotions dictate your responses. I have been involved in some pretty serious situations where I've been accused of doing something I didn't do or been accused of something in just trying to do the job. Your best bet is always to take the high road and keep it civil. You need to work out these issues rather than have the whole situation degenerate into some spat. Ultimately, the managers become involved and they will know who is fueling the spat while responding accordingly.

My motto is to, even if you can't stand someone, keep it civil and take the high road ALWAYS. Don't develop a reputation as someone who cannot work with others. People talk and that is the worst is if the grapevine is talking about you due to some spat which you participated in.

 

Bring in a bag of good candy to put in the bowl once and you will never be looked at again for partaking in goodie bowl. It's the leaches like me that get the dirty looks.

 

Sounds like someone's got a case of the Mondays...

 

the only people I don't get along with in my office are these guys:

 

10 reasons to be nice to your co-workers:

1. You may end up working with them closely
2. They may end up being your boss
3. You may need them for something
4. They may leave to another co. (if they like you, maybe they'll bring you along)
5. You might want to use them for a professional reference
6. You might actually become friends
7. They might be able to provide you with good advice about something
8. It's a friendly thing to to
9. When you get along well with a lot of people, you look better to management (team player)
10. It feels good to make others happy

NOTE (AND I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH): If you have a job, you are already playing the office politics game... the question is: are you winning or losing?

-- droxford

 

Just don't take my stapler...and I'm fine.

 

I try to be friends with everyone, as you should never burn any bridges...Having said that, its not imperative to be friends, but IMO, it just makes the environment a lot healthier...Just be professional...

 

Don't trust anyone, especially your boss, even if you think he is your "friend". When the **** comes down everyone will put taking care of their family first and you second. They absolutely will scapegoat you to keep their job. So document everything, if someone tells you to do something that might be considered 'shady', don't do it unless they put it in writing.

(bitter?...um,maybe a little)


Work is work, don't think you have to be too friendly with your co-workers. Just keep it professional and courteous. Remember you may have to scapegoat one of them someday.

 

I think you better let me handle this one big boy. I have a little more experience with office politics.

 

Haven't you heard the old saying,

"Do unto other as you would have them do unto you"?

Sometimes it's tough, but the people could turn on you and then it really could suck.

 

Whew! Thx there MasterBaiter. I needed a good chuckle.

 

One Word, Two Syllables: Demarcation.

 

What is this quote from?

I assume it's a quote because otherwise, I think you missed two syllables.

 

First episode of The Office (Brit edition).