Who is having a laugh at you right now?
They say something, do something, that makes you mad.
Do they do it on purpose? Surely not, they are just ignorant.
Either way, you have a problem. Read More
Getting Started Seriously
While walking with a new friend, she shared with me her dream to be a writer.
I asked her, “What have you published?” Read More
Certainty is Created by the Certain
Imagine a horse race where all the runners and riders are raring to go, itching to get started but uncertain which way to go. In this race, there is no clear winning post, nor even a rail to guide them round the course. Nobody is certain in which direction to race.
Then suddenly, one rider makes a strong and visible move in one direction, riding hard, with certainty. The others still can’t see which way to go, but worried about losing out, they start chasing the certain one, believing they must know where the finishing line is.
Read MoreEscalate and Suffer
It is vital to have escalation procedures in place.
Natural to hit a problem and refer it to your boss.
Easy to throw the issue to someone else to deal with.
Yet whenever you escalate, you pass responsibility and control to others. Read More
In Pursuit of Self-Reliance
Free yourself from the influence of external events, people and things.
Free yourself from those with hidden agendas and obscure pitches, those who play your emotions and your past.
Once you free your mind and heart, even from your past, then you can decide and be strong and independent - you can call the shots, in your life. Read More
The Secret to Making the Politics Easy
To make handling the politics easy, the very best thing you can do is get curious.
Why?
Because you have a lot of work to do.
Only when you have done that work will it become easy.
That work involves building relationships, understanding agendas, considering scenarios, dealing with Machiavellian characters, creating goodwill, doing favours, helping people in trouble, and much more besides.
None of which you have time for, because you have a proper job to do. Read More
Turn the Tables To Your Opposition
Before you make your move, make sure you really understand how the world looks from their side of the table.
No, you don’t need to agree with them, you have to understand your opposition.
Imagine sitting in their seat for a moment. Pretend to hold their values, have their experiences,
Most importantly, consider what it is like to be driving forward their agenda (professional and personal). Read More
When the Heat is On
When all eyes turn towards you, and the heat is on, make sure you don’t take it personally.
I totally applaud those who step up and take responsibility.
Those are the people who will go far.
Provided that in so doing, they don’t take things too personally.
For anyone doing great things, it is inevitable that the disturbance will create ripples, and some of those may not be very pleasant. Read More
How to Avoid Playing it Dirty
Avoiding playing it dirty is not only possible, it is easy - when you know how.
Most people naively believe that if you want to get on, you have to play the politics, and beat others at their own game.
It certainly looks that way doesn’t it!
The way many senior teams fight, intimidate, bully. Doing whatever it takes to win. Read More
Engaging in the Dark Arts
If you don’t do politics...
...you are either naive, stupid or negligent.
Well, I suppose you might also be lacking in ambition or simply can’t be bothered.
Whatever, attempting to deny the reality that workplace politics surrounds everything you do, or avoiding engaging in politics is madness.
And, destined to failure.
Why? Read More