Comments on: Office politics are not optional http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2005/07/15/office-politics-are-not-optional/ Advice at the intersection of work and life Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:17:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: m http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2005/07/15/office-politics-are-not-optional/comment-page-1/#comment-266560 m Wed, 21 Dec 2011 12:54:55 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2005/07/15/office-politics-are-not-optional/#comment-266560 About this statement: "...[A]nyone who is being their best self — kind, considerate, expressive, interested in others — will do fine in office politics." Unfortunately, this sentiment would be great if it were true, but it's not true, not at all. In fact, I think it's harmful to tell impressionable young people and clueless older people that it's true. Maybe in a very few special workplaces this is how it works, but in the majority of workplaces, politics is underhanded, slimy, power-grabbing, etc. In most places, if you behave the way that statement suggests, you will be eaten for breakfast. This is not to recommend being nasty or manipulative, but to guard yourself to the utmost around other people, because a few other people (and it's hard to tell which ones they are, sometimes) in your life/work WILL be trying to grab what you've got, screw you over, make you look bad so they can look good: guaranteed. About this statement: "…[A]nyone who is being their best self — kind, considerate, expressive, interested in others — will do fine in office politics."

Unfortunately, this sentiment would be great if it were true, but it's not true, not at all.

In fact, I think it's harmful to tell impressionable young people and clueless older people that it's true.

Maybe in a very few special workplaces this is how it works, but in the majority of workplaces, politics is underhanded, slimy, power-grabbing, etc.

In most places, if you behave the way that statement suggests, you will be eaten for breakfast.

This is not to recommend being nasty or manipulative, but to guard yourself to the utmost around other people, because a few other people (and it's hard to tell which ones they are, sometimes) in your life/work WILL be trying to grab what you've got, screw you over, make you look bad so they can look good: guaranteed.

]]> By: Corporate and Startup Culture Differences- Perspective of an Employee | Erin L McCarthy http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2005/07/15/office-politics-are-not-optional/comment-page-1/#comment-248000 Corporate and Startup Culture Differences- Perspective of an Employee | Erin L McCarthy Thu, 07 Apr 2011 14:44:10 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2005/07/15/office-politics-are-not-optional/#comment-248000 [...] won’t go into a diatribe on politics in the workplace – there are plenty of other great sources out there that talk about that, and if you’ve ever experienced working in an environment that has them, you know it.  In a [...] [...] won't go into a diatribe on politics in the workplace – there are plenty of other great sources out there that talk about that, and if you've ever experienced working in an environment that has them, you know it.  In a [...]

]]> By: Proteas http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2005/07/15/office-politics-are-not-optional/comment-page-1/#comment-186656 Proteas Tue, 02 Jun 2009 22:21:26 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2005/07/15/office-politics-are-not-optional/#comment-186656 "Really, though, anyone who is being their best self — kind, considerate, expressive, interested in others — will do fine in office politics." I was all these but guess what;these were the traits my office rivals tried to take advantage on as they badmouthed me behind my back.However the manager of the company was also a lousy guy who abused verbally his employees and tried to play it "my way or the highway".. So unfair office politics reflect the inadequate management of the one who is in charge.I wouldn't recommend to be kind is such circumstances-although it's better to dump the company and go someplace else. Proteas Athens!!!! Greece!!! "Really, though, anyone who is being their best self — kind, considerate, expressive, interested in others — will do fine in office politics."

I was all these but guess what;these were the traits my office rivals tried to take advantage on as they badmouthed me behind my back.However the manager of the company was also a lousy guy who abused verbally his employees and tried to play it "my way or the highway"..

So unfair office politics reflect the inadequate management of the one who is in charge.I wouldn't recommend to be kind is such circumstances-although it's better to dump the company and go someplace else.

Proteas

Athens!!!!

Greece!!!

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