Rantfest!

I work for a large world wide non profit and honestly love my job. Love the work I do for them and am payed very well to do it. The freaking office politics drive me nuts though.

Constantly walking on egg shells dodging nepotism, who in the "executive level" is sleeping with who in the "office" level and being sure not to step on there toes. Pecking order completely off kilter.

Prodded for opinions but crucified when they don't line up with their thought perfectly. Molded to be a yes man.... Cool aid drinkers we (at my level) call them. Lol

Constantly creating six figure salaried jobs to help improve some new venture we will do for six months and then abandon.

Please tell me this is government funded non profit crap and doesn't really happen in the real world!

End rant.

Add the stress of having to manage the company and make a profit and it sounds about the same.

I don't call it "politics".  I call it "gossip", which I strongly avoid.

 

How?  It's pretty straight forward.

 

When somebody starts to comment about who's doing what to whom, I just say, "I don't want to hear it".  And tell them I simply don't care about it.  And mean it.  Honestly, I really don't give a rats about that garbage, so why let it pull me in and cloud my day with meaningless office gossip?

 

After awhile, you'll be left "out of the loop" by your co-workers, and life will surprisingly become much easier.  Even more surprising, nothing will change insofar as the work you do, how much you enjoy it, and how you do your work.  Even better, YOU won't be the subject of their gossip either.

 

You'll just be free from the daily negative chatter that's cluttering your day at work, and following you home each day.

I call what glenn described "3rd wheeling" and thats the #1 time being a third wheel or backround non-involved person is benifitial.

I don't call it "politics". I call it "gossip", which I strongly avoid.

How? It's pretty straight forward.

When somebody starts to comment about who's doing what to whom, I just say, "I don't want to hear it". And tell them I simply don't care about it. And mean it. Honestly, I really don't give a rats about that garbage, so why let it pull me in and cloud my day with meaningless office gossip?

After awhile, you'll be left "out of the loop" by your co-workers, and life will surprisingly become much easier. Even more surprising, nothing will change insofar as the work you do, how much you enjoy it, and how you do your work. Even better, YOU won't be the subject of their gossip either.

You'll just be free from the daily negative chatter that's cluttering your day at work, and following you home each day.

Specifically what stirred this up was a small combination of things. I have 1 direct boss and 4 indirect. I report to ALL of them, but they are all on the same level.

The company brought in a "specialist" to help with a software issue, that is all, and that is it. This specialist decided to take a "I'm the boss approach" to the department I oversee. We had a large head butting match on something that would have cost us thousands and thousands worth of trashed inventory, but I stayed professional through out the argument.

A few days later my 1 direct boss of which I have a great relationship with wanted to have a closed door talk to find out what happened. (Closed door talks with him didn't mean you were in trouble, he would do that in the open. He simply did close door so we could use our colorful language and paint the full picture.)

It was just me and him, so I told him exactly what I thought of her "specialist" skills and just how special they were. I was not polite at this point. He joined in just letting her have it, almost better than I did. Feeling way better I was done with it and was over it... Or so I thought.

Here comes the ironic satire....

Since then I've noticed the specialist has tried to throw me under the bus every chance she gets, rips into me at any given moment, and constantly ignores the chain of command and tries to take things to the top!

Come to find out... Mr. Direct boss and Ms. Specialist have quite the romantic lifestyle outside of work...(now I know how this specialist position was created) and I was the subject matter of the "pillow talk" in which all was revealed and my fate was decided to be a living hell!

The Only Road to salvation in that situation is The High Road.

 

Be true to yourself, stand up for what you believe in & what is right.

 

Because as this plays out, there's bound to be fall out and it could be you.

 

Right or Wrong when it's all said & done, the decisions you make, the things you say & do will be with you for the rest of your life.

 

Here's the important part - The only one you have to answer to is YOU.

 

When you make you happy - that smile lasts a Life Time.

 

Good Luck.

 

A-Jay

The Only Road to salvation in that situation is The High Road.

Be true to yourself, stand up for what you believe in & what is right.

Because as this plays out, there's bound to be fall out and it could be you.

Right or Wrong when it's all said & done, the decisions you make, the things you say & do will be with you for the rest of your life.

Here's the important part - The only one you have to answer to is YOU.

When you make you happy - that smile lasts a Life Time.

Good Luck.

A-Jay

Great post!

Come to find out... Mr. Direct boss and Ms. Specialist have quite the romantic lifestyle outside of work...(now I know how this specialist position was created) and I was the subject matter of the "pillow talk" in which all was revealed and my fate was decided to be a living hell!

ouch. you'll only make that mistake once. if it makes you feel better i'm no stranger to the taste of my own foot.

if it hits the fan feel free to use my favorite line:  

"Pssh please I've been fired from much better jobs than this one".

I would add this...

That Romance could & Lilkely will implode at some point, I have seen this happen first hand on a few occasions.. It's like a Chess game, move, counter move, laced with patience.

Best wishes..

Yup, most in-office romances implode and turn very toxic, very quick. 

 

For you, document, document, document.  Even record conversations if you have to (hidden or not).  There are phone apps for this.

 

The evidence you acquire will be useful if you need to go to HR or an attorney.

 

Either way, steer clear of the romantic couple, so you don't get hit by fragments when it blows up.

Over the years I have found that the best way to deal with yes men, and people that get promoted through socializing is to keep your head down and keep your mouth shut.  Sooner or later there will be a top level management change.  When that happens the butt kissers of the old regime may find themselves out on a limb.  I have been working in the same job for 28 years and I have seen this happen many times.

I learned quick the corporate world wasn't for me. if i'm going to work hard i like to have purpose behind it..and enjoy it.  i always felt like i worked 1/2 of the time and played politics the other 1/2. when I finally left it behind l took a page from a woman i admired in upper management. she was butting heads with another guy and flat out said "I'll tell you to right your face, I don't play chess. I play poker. And you don't know what's in my hand". It was awesome. She must have had a killer hand.  Take Glenn's advice and document everything to build a good hand in case you ever need it. you never know when you'll need to throw it down. i especially liked that woman's style b/c i don't like chess either. it's too slow and drawn out and actually stresses me out. too many small moves w/ constant thinking. I'm a poker man and like to build a hand and drop the bomb. realizing that helped me fit my personality into the business world and ignore all the chatter while i build a hand

Great posts guys. 

 

Her contract is ending (was not renewed) this Friday 1/16. I'm not in any danger of losing my job or anything, and have never felt that I was. I'm actually interviewing for a promotion tomorrow  . It just made things pretty interesting around the offices and corporate building. I've never been death glared, screamed at in an elevator, or cussed out in a parking garage so much in my life! My personality makes it worse, because I usually just smile and take it. I've realized sometimes people want to get a rise out of you, and if you don't show them that, it really ticks them off!   

Great posts guys. 

 

Her contract is ending (was not renewed) this Friday 1/16. I'm not in any danger of losing my job or anything, and have never felt that I was. I'm actually interviewing for a promotion tomorrow  . It just made things pretty interesting around the offices and corporate building. I've never been death glared, screamed at in an elevator, or cussed out in a parking garage so much in my life! My personality makes it worse, because I usually just smile and take it. I've realized sometimes people want to get a rise out of you, and if you don't show them that, it really ticks them off!   

 

 This  ~  "death glared, screamed at in an elevator, or cussed out in a parking garage"

 

 

 Might Explain This ~ "Her contract is ending (was not renewed)"

 

  None of the underlined above can be regarded as effective communication or leadership methods.

 

A-Jay

I don't call it "politics".  I call it "gossip", which I strongly avoid.

 

How?  It's pretty straight forward.

 

When somebody starts to comment about who's doing what to whom, I just say, "I don't want to hear it".  And tell them I simply don't care about it.  And mean it.  Honestly, I really don't give a rats about that garbage, so why let it pull me in and cloud my day with meaningless office gossip?

 

After awhile, you'll be left "out of the loop" by your co-workers, and life will surprisingly become much easier.  Even more surprising, nothing will change insofar as the work you do, how much you enjoy it, and how you do your work.  Even better, YOU won't be the subject of their gossip either.

 

You'll just be free from the daily negative chatter that's cluttering your day at work, and following you home each day

 

Great advice right there^ That's just how I approach the gossip and backbiting where I work. Just don't buy into it or feed it. I've had to tell co-workers "I Don't want to hear a bunch of crap that I don't care about and is none of my business anyway." 

 

Tom

Rantfest!

I work for a large world wide non profit and honestly love my job. Love the work I do for them and am payed very well to do it. The freaking office politics drive me nuts though.

Constantly walking on egg shells dodging nepotism, who in the "executive level" is sleeping with who in the "office" level and being sure not to step on there toes. Pecking order completely off kilter.

Prodded for opinions but crucified when they don't line up with their thought perfectly. Molded to be a yes man.... Cool aid drinkers we (at my level) call them. Lol

Constantly creating six figure salaried jobs to help improve some new venture we will do for six months and then abandon.

Please tell me this is government funded non profit crap and doesn't really happen in the real world!

End rant.

 

Look into the theory of "Groupthink", no I didn't forget a space. It's pretty much when a group/person is scared to voice opinions, views, or ideas due to criticism from fellow employees or superiors. It is a toxic event and needs to be eliminated ASAP in order to ensure success of a company or business.

This might sound horrible because I grew up on a farm as a kid and played every sport and always gave 100 percent but you just can't do this anymore. The key to climbing the corporate ladder is is being the best B plus employee. You want to make yourself so valuable to the company that they have to keep you and keep you happy but not so good that you are a threat.

A book I recommend everyone read is 48 laws of power. There is a bunch of BS in it but it does raise some good points.

Glenn gave you great advise.

I actually started keeping a journal. Just like fishing patterns will arise and you will be able to go back and read and see how situations played out.

People are creatures of habit. Watch how they react to good and bad news record it and if you study it, it will give you insight on how to be proactive and stay ahead of the curve.

For anyone that has ever been married they will attest to the fact that their are very few battles that you will win. At best you tie. Corporate is that way as well. Make sure you win the right ones and you are safe.

My grandfather was a politician and he flourished on being the greatest loser I have ever seen. He was a councilman and when he knew something was going to lose he would vote for the losing side. The people loved him for it because he always was on the side of the little guy.

For a poor preacher from West Virginia my grandfather was able to meet and talk with every president from JFK to Clinton.

It is sad to say that if you have a good job just survive and adapt. Remember if you don't like it there is no better time to look for a new job then when you have one.

Sorry for the rant