About PeopleJam | Ad Network | Newsroom | Interested in joining PeopleJam as a Business Partner?
Copyright 2008 PeopleJam, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of use | Feedback | Newsletter
Are You the Victim of Office Politics?
The rat race. It's inescapable. It's a jungle out there and the big cats are forever sharpening their claws. Even if you make a conscious effort to stay out of the fray, it's almost impossible not to be sucked in.
There are lots of reasons why office politics exist. Re-creating family of origin roles (sorry for the shrink-ese). Feeling undermined at home and compensating at work. Adult bullies in the grown-up playground. Power hunger. It doesn't matter what the reasons are; it just plain sucks.
I used to work at a methadone clinic with a dozen, embittered, bitchy, middle-aged social workers and nurses. It was HELL. It was such a crazy system, I devised creative ways to stay sane in the midst of the collective lunacy (see How I drove my former boss crazy and rightly so).
Here are the basic office politics archetypes I've noticed through my work experiences. If you can think of any I'm missing, I'd love to read about them as comments:
The Ego Monster: They're right. They're always right. They have to be the smartest person in the room. Their ideas are the best and therefore the only ones that count. These are also the folks that pay the most lip service to "teamwork."
The Bully: They use verbal and intellectual (if they're capable of it) intimidation. They openly belittle others' ideas, work, dress, speech, etc., (with the exception of their immediate supervisor(s) and/or boss). The only way they can feel good about themselves is by putting others down.
The Climber: They have to be on top. It doesn't even really matter if the top position is a glory-less one. If there's a rung above them, they're going to climb it. They usually ascend by using the daggers they plunge in people's backsides as rappelling instruments.
Mr./Ms. Good Intentions: They're a variation of the Climber, but they disguise their agenda with "the best of intentions," smiling whilst they sharpen their oyster knives.
The Pilot Fish: They are the shameless suck-ups who hope that by suckling on the power teat, they'll be spared the attacks of the Bully and the Climber and curry favor with the Ego Monster.
The Innocent Bystander: This is the archetype to which I relate. I hate politics. Hate them. Basically, I just want to do the best job possible and leave me out of it, thank you. You can never stay out of it, not really. The system always finds a way to suck you in. Even working from home as a freelance whatever doesn't make you immune. Believe me, I tried this angle.
The crazy thing is, 20 years from now- when you're in a different job or retired- none of the things we rage, plot and scheme over at the office matters. Well, maybe if you're Albert Schweitzer or Madame Curie it does, but ultimately who gives a rat's a$$ how many widgets are sold or insurance policies opened? I don't.
So what can you do to survive? First, realize it's them, not you. Do you feel like you're going crazy at work? Up is down? Left is right? Day is night? Chances are you're in a crazy system. I've been there, calling my friends at night and incredulousy describing my day, hoping they'll give me a reality check. Never a good sign.
Second, buy, borrow, download or steal this book by Robert I. Sutton, Ph.D.: The No Asshole Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace or Surviving One That Isn't. I'd hoped Dr. Sutton would become a PeopleJam expert (hint, hint), but don't know what happened to that request.
What's your worst office politics story? My theory is there are more of us who just want to stay out of the fray? What do you think?
Add To:
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to our newsletter and we'll keep you updated with fresh new content.
You have it down cold, T-Byrde. I remember the daily afternoon mercy calls back and forth at SlaveCove- and who could forget the Big Bad B and "SS."
"You're making your co-workers feel bad because you don't stress out and fall behind on your clinical notes while they struggle." In all my years of career counseling, I'd never heard of anyone being reprimanded for doing their job well and in a timely manner. Onward and upward, T...
The office is child's play. You don't have a clue as to the bloodbath that happens on a golf course.
You're right. If I had a club in my hands, I'd want to strike a helluva lot more than a little ball. Fore!
I've owned my own business for the last 30 years. It doesn't matter what you do or how good a manager you are, employees always bring their personal stuff to work with them.
Over the years I had to let some of my best sales people go because they were jerks and lowered company morale. I don't understand why some bosses don't intervene when an employee attacks another or creates a hostile workplace. That's how high turnover happens, lower productivity overall and an adversarial workplace.
Seems like basic common sense, but then I suppose common sense isn't all that common. Of course, some managers encourage these kinds of behavior because it makes them feel power to pit people against each other. Hope their businesses are successful because theyre definitely not successful human beings.
Thank you for adding evidence to one of my primary life tenets: Most people are crazy, incompetent and/or stupid- no matter how high a station they rise to in life. Props to you, by the way.
"Employees always bring their personal stuff to work with them"
Gawd! I've never heard a more appropriate or correct line!
I think many bosses are so self-unaware that they can't begin to figure out what everybody else is doing! And man, have I worked for too many of those.
Luckily, my current boss is pretty good. I don't agree with everything he does or says, but he certainly has a way about him that makes you accept that a) he is the boss and b) he has the team's best interests at heart. That's not to say that he doesn't get to do a lot of stuff that he personally wants to do -- quite the contrary! But sheesh if I can figure out how he does it. He manages to be one of 'us' while still being the boss.
I certainly can't complain.
You're fortunate Leanne. Before I owned my own business, I had some bad work experiences too. However, you don't really understand what the guy in charge is going through until you've been the guy (or gal) calling the shots. It's a lot of pressure and responsibility.
I decided what kind of boss I didn't want to be based on former bosses whose management style I didn't respect. I'm sure they were great guys at heart, but their leadership skills left something to be desired. You have to understand as the boss your attitude and the way you deal with people affects the whole company.
Don't forget the interns. Every office has a few. They deserve their own category. They spend their days kicking ass and taking names.
So, you work in an office? And everyone in the office knows you posted this, right? "Most people are crazy, incompetent and/or stupid" and "it's them not you" makes you a combination of The Ego Monster and The Bully, not The Innocent Bystander.
Was referring to people in general who engage in the behaviors described above. If you put people down, pit them against each other or oppress them and then wonder why morale and productivity tanks- then yes, you are crazy and stupid.
And how would you identify yourself? She left out some personalities. The blamer, the de-fense, the drone, for example.
Tara,
Please see me in my office tomorrow morning at 8 AM sharp. We have to discuss the corporate team-building initiative. We'd like you to be one of the team leaders for the morale session.
Just kidding, LOL. Love your wicked sense of humor!
RT
Am gratified to see most people get the joke. Methinks the people who take the most offense are the biggest culprits. I like what I see in the personal accountability mirror every morning. I wonder if they do?
Man, I hate politics.
a) find a good attorney
b) log everything / record certain events at work
c) sue
d) ???
e) PROFIT
What if sometimes you need to look in the mirror and realize it is you and not them? It seems if you are writing a post on office politics, presuming you work in an office, you are playing office politics - which would disqualify you as an innocent bystander.
Everything depends on managers or leader of that company/office
County jobs are the worst:
The payroll person gets a divorce and reinvents herself as a realtor, with alimony check buys a home and takes job at nearby branch WITHOUT INTERVIEW or any knowledge whatsoever of the job, going over all hardworking and knowledgeable temporary workers slogging away to get their foots in the door, who then have to train her. Or:
BOHICA: Bend Over, Here It Comes Again.
A wonderful post! .I seemed to always be the "innocent bystander," and yes, I always managed to get sucked into the sewer!
I would like to have read some advice about how to deal with some of these people. These types can really turn a job into an ulcer-inducing nightmare.
Loved it! It sounds like you've got most of my co-workers in your article, described to a tee. The book you recommended sounds helpful for trying to deal with some of the crazies I've got around my office building. I'm going to check it out. Maybe it can point me towards a way of staying sane with all the politics going on at work.
I definitely belong to the last category, and do not like office politics. But it's true that no matter how hard you try, they always mange to suck you in. If you are too friendly, you are accused of being a suck up. If you stay aloof, then you are not a team player.
You just can't win.
Actually, while I agree with your statements, I enjoy watching the politicking that goes on in my work place. It's so entertaining.
Nothing like watching our Bully butt heads with the Brown-noser, while Ms. Good Intentions laments how she is above all of this "drama".
It's better than watching a soap opera sometimes.
Oh my god! I have worked with pretty much ALL of these examples and died laughing while reading this. Thanks so much for posting this! Its great! I am totally the innocent bystander too. I do all I can to stay out of the fray; however, you are right. It is nearly impossible to stay out of it. Too many manipulators!
Great Blog! Very informative. I am glad you said all the things I know others are thinking. lol
The "no asshole rule"!!! I just love it! As always, Tara has it down. Looking forward to the next one!
I'll say it again.
My old office had one of each of the types you described!
The reason I read your article is not because I am part of or a victim of office politics; I read it because I have never actually witnessed it in my life, since I've never really worked in an office. However, I'm sure it happens and it's quite sad. I guess as human beings, we can never get away from "politics".
Right! this happens even in the smallest of offices. My last office had only 7 people (all women-including myself!) and we were not immune from this "syndrome". It's lovely when your boss talks to everybody else about what you need to improve upon, instead of to you! Thank god for working at home!
I think the main reason people are affected by office politics or any social politics for that matter, is the simple fact that they care what the other person(s) think or feel about them.
Understanding this seems to me to be the best defense against any bully, or any person trying to offend you for that matter.
BTW, I loved your characters! They were vivid, and depicted the problems in the office life very well.
I’m so glad I came across this! I’d recommend that anyone working with others give this a close read. It’s amazing how toxic a work environment can become.
I was laid off several months ago as a result of office politics and unethical behavior on my boss' part. I can’t stop fixating on it and going over things in my mind again and again. I’d been there five years and, mistakenly, considered these people my family. It was the hardest thing to realize that they weren’t and never were my family...no matter how many times they claimed to be.
"First, realize it's them, not you." I’m still struggling with that but definitely needed it repeated. Thank you. =)
33 Comments