How to deal with office politics?

Legacy_user

I really enjoy my work, I take pride in it and would like to think I'm good at it, the one part of my job I hate is the office politics that goes on, In previous jobs I never really experienced it, Everyone got on well and friendships where formed both in and out of work, with my current employer everything is fake, people will be nice but they have a motive, there is no friendships everyone appears to be out for themselves, you have to be constantly on your toes or someone is going to sink you. I don't know if there is a link, but my boss is one of these eccentric Christian types, preaches the bible, never misses Church etc, gives the impression he is holier than thou yet as soon as your backs turned your stabbed in the back, there are quite a few of these Christian eccentric types in our office and its them who cause this bad feeling oddly enough. They will sink you then hide behind the bible.

As I say I do enjoy the work side of things and haven't been able to find another job doing similar, so I'd like to know how to make do with what I have and how to play the game so to speak as that appears to be what it is.

Oldernotwiser

nirelandguy wrote: »

I really enjoy my work,

That's the first we've heard of it - you're always complaining about it!

System

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

That's the first we've heard of it - you're always complaining about it!

Well I worked out, if I was doing this job for myself would I enjoy it? Yes I would, so then why do I not enjoy it at the min?

I've done it pretty much since I left school and with previous employers sure I had bad days like we all do, but on the whole enjoyed it and made some good friends from it. But as you know I have done some serious complaining about it so its certainly not the case with this employer, and I suppose this is the reason why I haven't left, I do like the work.

ceridwen

It is perfectly possible to like the work - but...errr....NOT like the people involved.

It is not surprising if the boss has surrounded himself with a group of likeminded people - that often happens. Its just - in this case - the people concerned are whatever-type-of-Christian he is or similar.

That being the case - then there IS only one way to "fit in" into a firm like this - and thats the "If you cant beat 'em - join 'em" way of thinking. That is - have a sudden "miracle conversion" to that particular type of Christianity. Errr....no I'm not being serious there. But - that would be the only way you are ever likely to fit in with them in fact.

I presume this isnt one of the more "liberal" types of Christian church that they are in then? If it was - then you wouldnt have a problem - as they would be going "live and let live" about their ideas in that respect. I presume its one of the "We are saved - and you must be too" types?

If that is the case - then realistically...all you can do is "keep yourself to yourself"/don't get involved socially at all with any of your colleagues/just keep your head down and get on with your job. If they are in a "We are all saved - and you must be too" type of church you would be totally wasting your breath to even try and talk about anything along those lines with them.

System

ceridwen wrote: »

It is perfectly possible to like the work - but...errr....NOT like the people involved.

It is not surprising if the boss has surrounded himself with a group of likeminded people - that often happens. Its just - in this case - the people concerned are whatever-type-of-Christian he is or similar.

That being the case - then there IS only one way to "fit in" into a firm like this - and thats the "If you cant beat 'em - join 'em" way of thinking. That is - have a sudden "miracle conversion" to that particular type of Christianity. Errr....no I'm not being serious there. But - that would be the only way you are ever likely to fit in with them in fact.

I presume this isnt one of the more "liberal" types of Christian church that they are in then? If it was - then you wouldnt have a problem - as they would be going "live and let live" about their ideas in that respect. I presume its one of the "We are saved - and you must be too" types?

If that is the case - then realistically...all you can do is "keep yourself to yourself"/don't get involved socially at all with any of your colleagues/just keep your head down and get on with your job. If they are in a "We are all saved - and you must be too" type of church you would be totally wasting your breath to even try and talk about anything along those lines with them.

Oh yes they are from the We Are Saved gang, I assume you over the water have heard of our MP Iris Robinson? and her antics. All cast from the same free presbyterian mould. The Christianity is used as smoke screen so to speak.

So I suppose all I can do, is keep my head down and avoid.

ceridwen

nirelandguy wrote: »

Oh yes they are from the We Are Saved gang, I assume you over the water have heard of our MP Iris Robinson? and her antics. All cast from the same free presbyterian mould. The Christianity is used as smoke screen so to speak.

So I suppose all I can do, is keep my head down and avoid.

OOH....OH DEAR:eek:

I had a feeling they might be......

Never heard of the Free Presbyterians actually - just had a quick google and thought "Yikes........"

Definitely head WELL down time and about the only thing you could safely discuss with them is football (presumably........).

EDIT: Headed for the more "objective" site - ie not their own..but Wikipedia....Ian Paisley...now I HAVE heard of him...................******* .....,

System

ceridwen wrote: »

OOH....OH DEAR:eek:

I had a feeling they might be......

Never heard of the Free Presbyterians actually - just had a quick google and thought "Yikes........"

Definitely head WELL down time and about the only thing you could safely discuss with them is football (presumably........).

EDIT: Headed for the more "objective" site - ie not their own..but Wikipedia....Ian Paisley...now I HAVE heard of him...................******* .....,

Oh yes Football is safe, not much else:beer:

Zazen999

Watch your back, don't assume anything, preempt the possible problems; keep an eye on what's going on, make some good friends; even pretend to BE 'one of them' if you could stomach it. And make sure you don't break any rules and keep good auditable records of what you've done and why you've done it.

DKLS

As Zazen said, watch your back and dont !!!!! about colleagues, peace can often be found with the aid of doughnuts, its always worked for me.

Amazing what cheap doughnuts from Greggs can do to the most hardened office politic loving idiot, if for some reason that doesnt work bring out the big guns..... Krispy Cremes.

Owain_Moneysaver

I know I'm being ostracised when people refuse to eat my cakes.

bendix

nirelandguy wrote: »

I really enjoy my work, I take pride in it and would like to think I'm good at it, the one part of my job I hate is the office politics that goes on, In previous jobs I never really experienced it, Everyone got on well and friendships where formed both in and out of work, with my current employer everything is fake, people will be nice but they have a motive, there is no friendships everyone appears to be out for themselves, you have to be constantly on your toes or someone is going to sink you. I don't know if there is a link, but my boss is one of these eccentric Christian types, preaches the bible, never misses Church etc, gives the impression he is holier than thou yet as soon as your backs turned your stabbed in the back, there are quite a few of these Christian eccentric types in our office and its them who cause this bad feeling oddly enough. They will sink you then hide behind the bible.

As I say I do enjoy the work side of things and haven't been able to find another job doing similar, so I'd like to know how to make do with what I have and how to play the game so to speak as that appears to be what it is.

In my experience, it is only those who are deeply involved in office politics that complain of office politics.

Usually the ones who just focus on doing their work don't even know there are any politics.

Given your propensity to complain about your working conditions at every single opportunity, supplemented now by your badmouthing your employers here, I wonder which group you belong to?