How do the wise, successful career people on Fchat handle these types? I do my job right, but these evil people don't seem to care. They create problems/drama that don't exist. It wears me down to try & cover myself for every possible scenario. Most of this morning was wasted trying to verify/deflect a fabricated problem that a backstabber created about me. What a waste of my time, and health!!!
Agreed. They are the slime of the earth. I got out of management into sales to remove myself from that scenario.
+1 I left that environment in 2001 to start my own business, largely because I was so sick of petty office politics/power-grabbing/gossip and all that crap. Jedi
My experience last year http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=252110&highlight=WORKPLACE The problem with many of these people is that they count on you to be the bigger person, and then take advantage of that. Another thing is all to often is in any disagreement you canot "show weakness" in their eyes by accepting responsibility if mistakes were made or heaven forbid ever apologizing for anything even if it wasn't your fault. This empowers them. Basically they are a poison to any organization.
I learned to deal with it. I got real angry once and had to apologize to upper management and my whole team. It was hard for me, because someone in the team was messing up my work but there was nothing anyone but the "backstabber" could do.
I thought sales was a cut-throat business? Or does that depend on the industry? My dad has told me many stories when he first got into sales way back in the day. Some people grow out of drama after high school/college, others thrive on it and that's their goal each day. They enjoy creating problems.
I actually think a little tension or competitiveness is a good thing as it keeps everyone on their toes and attempting to do their best. But like anything there has to be a balance, and too much is just as destructive as a laid-back WGAF attitude by employees. One thing I recognize about myself is that I to a certain extent thrive in a competitive environment, but also I am very careful not to attempt to "win" by sabotaging someone else within the organiztion. Completely counter-productive in the big scheme. I would rather raise my game and put a little pressure on others to do the same in ways which helps the company succeed. In hindsight this is probably what drove my former co-worker crazy in the thread I posted above. He was TOP DOG until I arrived, and while I didn't set out to intentionally displace him in that role (I am actually more of the only dog now, no claim to top status), I showed that you could get more done by being honest and nice to others. Building others up rather than trying to put them in their place. A collaborator rather than instigator. When he turned 62, he was out of here.
Unfortunately, there are a many of them out there in the corporate world.Basicly they are usually insecure in their own life at home and or the office and take out their frustrations and jealousies on whomever they can, they feel empowered. If you go to HR and raise a red flag you are on the radar as well and it just gets worse. Sometimes by no fault of your own you just have to walk away ( resign ) from your current position, no matter what you do it's a no win situation. Idiots like this always get caught up in their own crap eventually but it usually takes awhile before they get their a$$ fired.
I've built successful products, teams, business units, start-ups and public companies and have yet to develop the political savvy or tolerance for such shenanigans. Twice in my career I've run into parasites that join the corporation ($400M and $2B sales) and decide that they need to hijack the business I built. Much like a tic, they hop from host to host sucking the blood from those who are truly productive. My wife and I now have our own consulting company, and while not as gratifying as "building things", we're very happy to be insulated from the politics.
I rip 'em a new one. If they try again, I rip 'em another one. In either case, I remind 'em I never use all my ammo.
Wax has it down. You need a little bit of eat or be eaten attitude without being the evil one yourself. I hated the office politics, but information is crucial. You need to know what not to worry about and what you need to address. The best source of information was the admins. I was happy hour friends with all the Director and VP admins. 90% of things you think would bother you dont when you understand the full story.
Yup. Let small minds stew in their own juices, then feed 'em same. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noupHDxmUTE
I love that movie.. But i think it should of been made like this... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atHWASn_ygo
My experience is that in sales, you're making your own way. It is the lifeblood of most businesses so salespeople are king. What you say, goes. In management you're in the rat race where people jockey for position. That's where the politics comes in. In my business, which is a highly competitive and mature industry, it is cutthroat. There are many competitors but most don't negative sell. We are all promoting the merits of doing business with our company. It is difficult but you don't have what should be an ally undermining you at every turn. If I ever own a business office politics will not be tolerated, in my opinion they are almost a hostile work environment.
It is hard to know where the root cause is coming from, my experience the innocent looking little old ladies were the worst. The admins were bad, actually now I think about it the highest % were females although they were the lowest % in the office.
No doubt about it, the girls will talk. Admins have access to highly sensitive information. Our business was an admin mill but when we found some good ones we kept them. The two worst offender's I've seen were men. First was a late 50's to early 60's male, former Marine. He had a temper and even worse a habit of dropping confidential information about his subordinates during conversation. We terminated him at one point and were hit with a huge lawsuit. Negotiations were unsuccessful so we actually rehired him and put him in a job where he had no subordinates. We shut a division down about 9 months later and he was the first one out the door. Second guy was actually in sales. We hired him as an experienced rep and he claimed he was going to save us. Within 2 weeks he had alienated his peer group. Stealing people's contacts, interjecting himself into deals, meddling with sold work and most of all patting his own back were some of his hallmarks. Again he had a habit of dropping confidential information both about coworkers and company business. We applied some pressure to him because he was pretty far off his numbers and he cracked. It was a monumental meltdown, we were wondering what we were going to do with him. Somebody scared up some dirt on him revealing he was a convicted felon and days later he was gone. In both cases, without a doubt, morale and productivity improved when both of these guys were terminated. Malaise is a terrible thing to have floating around an office.
I'm having an issue w moronic back stabbers right now. They are so stupid they dont know who is their friend or enemy. Just remember what Kahn said in Star Trek: Wrath of Khan Revenge is a dish best served cold
Depends on the Supervisor's "relationship" with the 2 parties, as well as the Witches Coven. If the Supervisor is the High Priestess of the Coven, and the one who gets even isn't . . . then that person's days in Hell are cold. Brrrrrr! If the High Priestess/Supervisor leaves, the Coven will split, and most will kiss the didn't-get-mad-got-even guy's ass. Woohoo!
