Comments on: Office politics is not optional: Five tips for doing it better http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/08/02/office-politics-is-not-optional-five-tips-for-doing-it-better/ Advice at the intersection of work and life Fri, 29 Aug 2008 22:59:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Eric O http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/08/02/office-politics-is-not-optional-five-tips-for-doing-it-better/#comment-139960 Eric O Wed, 02 Apr 2008 18:01:11 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/08/02/office-politics-is-not-optional-five-tips-for-doing-it-better/#comment-139960 penelope is too awesome for words. so... nuff said. :) penelope is too awesome for words. so… nuff said. :)

]]> By: Anonymous http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/08/02/office-politics-is-not-optional-five-tips-for-doing-it-better/#comment-106727 Anonymous Fri, 24 Aug 2007 15:42:15 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/08/02/office-politics-is-not-optional-five-tips-for-doing-it-better/#comment-106727 I just want to give Jeremy KUDOS!! Great response, I admire you for going after the goals that were more important to you. I am really beginning to think the corporate ladder climbing, office politics, "I feel like I'm back in high school sometimes" cliques I have experienced in my past jobs have pushed me to my limit. I CAN'T TAKE IT..I DESPISE OFFICE POLITICS!! I just want to give Jeremy KUDOS!! Great response, I admire you for going after the goals that were more important to you. I am really beginning to think the corporate ladder climbing, office politics, "I feel like I'm back in high school sometimes" cliques I have experienced in my past jobs have pushed me to my limit. I CAN'T TAKE IT..I DESPISE OFFICE POLITICS!!

]]> By: Mel http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/08/02/office-politics-is-not-optional-five-tips-for-doing-it-better/#comment-105168 Mel Mon, 30 Jul 2007 20:46:53 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/08/02/office-politics-is-not-optional-five-tips-for-doing-it-better/#comment-105168 Penelope, I just came across this article. Don't you think that office politics can be used against someone to create a perception of someone that ISN'T reality? My boss attempted to penalize me because a subordinate (not using this pejoratively, but someone lower in rank in the department) "thought" that I didn't speak to him one day when I was all of the way across the room from him, engaged in conversation with someone else. Then, I was told that even though these people--who are just as human as I--may not speak to me on a repeated in the hallways (which I think is quite rude), etc., I should ALWAYS speak to them, because I am seen as the "professional person." Through this, people viewed me as a mean, unlikable person, but I say that whatever your rank, if you don't talk to me, I'm only going to continue to suffer from the indignation of NOT getting a response from you when you are right in my face or when I pass you by in the hallway for so long. I think it's rude and I think it's also an ABUSE of office politics when subordinates with self-esteem problems create incidents to make superiors (but not managers) look as though the superiors are the ones who are the bad ones. I think it's bull shyt, and I just wanted to point out how people can ABUSE you through office politics, just because they don't like you. Penelope, I just came across this article. Don't you think that office politics can be used against someone to create a perception of someone that ISN'T reality? My boss attempted to penalize me because a subordinate (not using this pejoratively, but someone lower in rank in the department) "thought" that I didn't speak to him one day when I was all of the way across the room from him, engaged in conversation with someone else. Then, I was told that even though these people–who are just as human as I–may not speak to me on a repeated in the hallways (which I think is quite rude), etc., I should ALWAYS speak to them, because I am seen as the "professional person." Through this, people viewed me as a mean, unlikable person, but I say that whatever your rank, if you don't talk to me, I'm only going to continue to suffer from the indignation of NOT getting a response from you when you are right in my face or when I pass you by in the hallway for so long. I think it's rude and I think it's also an ABUSE of office politics when subordinates with self-esteem problems create incidents to make superiors (but not managers) look as though the superiors are the ones who are the bad ones. I think it's bull shyt, and I just wanted to point out how people can ABUSE you through office politics, just because they don't like you.

]]> By: Prashant http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/08/02/office-politics-is-not-optional-five-tips-for-doing-it-better/#comment-46672 Prashant Thu, 22 Mar 2007 06:18:21 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/08/02/office-politics-is-not-optional-five-tips-for-doing-it-better/#comment-46672 My current boss set a KRA for my forthcoming appraisal - do I spend enough time with my peers/subordinates? (Even those who are currently not on my team). This requires that I move around the cubes, meeting people and chatting with them, at least once a day. I've devised 2 methods for increasing the effectiveness: 1. I take a different route to the bathroom/water cooler every time 2. I keep an open box of candies on my desk, so that people are tempted to stop by and pick one. If I'm busy, I just smile. Otherwise, I chat with them for a couple of minutes. Cheers, Prashant My current boss set a KRA for my forthcoming appraisal - do I spend enough time with my peers/subordinates? (Even those who are currently not on my team). This requires that I move around the cubes, meeting people and chatting with them, at least once a day. I've devised 2 methods for increasing the effectiveness:

1. I take a different route to the bathroom/water cooler every time
2. I keep an open box of candies on my desk, so that people are tempted to stop by and pick one. If I'm busy, I just smile. Otherwise, I chat with them for a couple of minutes.

Cheers,

Prashant

]]> By: Jasmine http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/08/02/office-politics-is-not-optional-five-tips-for-doing-it-better/#comment-871 Jasmine Fri, 11 Aug 2006 04:00:57 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/08/02/office-politics-is-not-optional-five-tips-for-doing-it-better/#comment-871 Frankly I think there are more similarities than differences. The 5 points suggested by Janson could most likily work here as well, especially the last one which is "to network before you need to network". In Chinese there is a saying "One never go to a Buddhist temple for nothing" and it's often used as a scarsism for people who "network" only when needed. Frankly I think there are more similarities than differences. The 5 points suggested by Janson could most likily work here as well, especially the last one which is "to network before you need to network". In Chinese there is a saying "One never go to a Buddhist temple for nothing" and it's often used as a scarsism for people who "network" only when needed.

]]> By: Penelope Trunk http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/08/02/office-politics-is-not-optional-five-tips-for-doing-it-better/#comment-870 Penelope Trunk Thu, 10 Aug 2006 18:30:19 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/08/02/office-politics-is-not-optional-five-tips-for-doing-it-better/#comment-870 Jasmine, thanks for writing in from China. I'd love to hear how office politics are different for you there. I think the differences would shed light on how to succeed in both places. Jasmine, thanks for writing in from China. I'd love to hear how office politics are different for you there. I think the differences would shed light on how to succeed in both places.

]]> By: Jasmine http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/08/02/office-politics-is-not-optional-five-tips-for-doing-it-better/#comment-869 Jasmine Thu, 10 Aug 2006 05:16:49 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/08/02/office-politics-is-not-optional-five-tips-for-doing-it-better/#comment-869 Hi there, just want to say hi from a remote country called China. I very much like your blog and now reads it quite regularly.. please do keep up! now on the office politics thing, I think both you and Jeremy made valid points and in the end it's what we put as priority in our life that counts. I was in the States for 6 years up until last year and came back to my home country to work. It turned out that politics is an internaltional thing and I am yet to sort out my own strategy in this arena. Hi there, just want to say hi from a remote country called China. I very much like your blog and now reads it quite regularly.. please do keep up!

now on the office politics thing, I think both you and Jeremy made valid points and in the end it's what we put as priority in our life that counts. I was in the States for 6 years up until last year and came back to my home country to work. It turned out that politics is an internaltional thing and I am yet to sort out my own strategy in this arena.

]]> By: Diana http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/08/02/office-politics-is-not-optional-five-tips-for-doing-it-better/#comment-868 Diana Fri, 04 Aug 2006 05:01:33 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/08/02/office-politics-is-not-optional-five-tips-for-doing-it-better/#comment-868 Penelope, don't be so hard on yourself. One of the most admirable (and terrifying!) things about putting your words out there for public consumption is that not everyone will agree with you all the time. You can't expect a 100% sucess rate for all your posts. The important thing (as I see it) is that you continue to raise important issues that challenge the reader to re-evaluate. The best posts are sometimes the most controversial, because it gets people talking/thinking/debating things that may not be on their minds otherwise. Penelope, don't be so hard on yourself. One of the most admirable (and terrifying!) things about putting your words out there for public consumption is that not everyone will agree with you all the time. You can't expect a 100% sucess rate for all your posts.

The important thing (as I see it) is that you continue to raise important issues that challenge the reader to re-evaluate. The best posts are sometimes the most controversial, because it gets people talking/thinking/debating things that may not be on their minds otherwise.

]]> By: Penelope Trunk http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/08/02/office-politics-is-not-optional-five-tips-for-doing-it-better/#comment-867 Penelope Trunk Fri, 04 Aug 2006 04:09:12 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/08/02/office-politics-is-not-optional-five-tips-for-doing-it-better/#comment-867 Okay, okay. I hear you. All three. I think this post is a little off. It's too conservative. The people I interviewed are all a little conservative and they assume a very conservative audience. When I did these interviews, though, I picked people who would come down hard on those who think they're above office politics. Everyone needs to make an effort to understand and accommodate the people they work with. If nothing else, there is virtue in teamwork and each team requires a little conformity in order to function. I wish I had struck a more happy/medium, but actually, the post and comments together sort of get to that middle ground. Jeremy, BTW I love the set of choices you list in your post. I love them because you are so clearly trying to blaze a new path for yourself that blends personal fulfillment without having to settle for a meaningless job: Three cheers. Careers like yours are the most interesting to watch. Okay, okay. I hear you. All three. I think this post is a little off. It's too conservative. The people I interviewed are all a little conservative and they assume a very conservative audience.

When I did these interviews, though, I picked people who would come down hard on those who think they're above office politics. Everyone needs to make an effort to understand and accommodate the people they work with. If nothing else, there is virtue in teamwork and each team requires a little conformity in order to function.

I wish I had struck a more happy/medium, but actually, the post and comments together sort of get to that middle ground.

Jeremy, BTW I love the set of choices you list in your post. I love them because you are so clearly trying to blaze a new path for yourself that blends personal fulfillment without having to settle for a meaningless job: Three cheers. Careers like yours are the most interesting to watch.

]]> By: Timothy Johnson http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/08/02/office-politics-is-not-optional-five-tips-for-doing-it-better/#comment-866 Timothy Johnson Thu, 03 Aug 2006 19:01:04 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/08/02/office-politics-is-not-optional-five-tips-for-doing-it-better/#comment-866 Penelope - Great post but Jansen was not totally on target with all of his advice. For example, his advice to conform and not buck the system is a dangerous mindset to have in our business society that is now "worshipping" at the altar of Seth Godin's Purple Cow. One can be different without being divisive. Also, his networking advice is only half there... one needs to be careful about choosing networking partners. Politics make strange bedfellows, and cozying up to the wrong people (proactively or reactively) can be fatal. Choose your allies wisely would be better advice. Over all, though, some good points to think about. Penelope - Great post but Jansen was not totally on target with all of his advice. For example, his advice to conform and not buck the system is a dangerous mindset to have in our business society that is now "worshipping" at the altar of Seth Godin's Purple Cow. One can be different without being divisive. Also, his networking advice is only half there… one needs to be careful about choosing networking partners. Politics make strange bedfellows, and cozying up to the wrong people (proactively or reactively) can be fatal. Choose your allies wisely would be better advice. Over all, though, some good points to think about.

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