Office Politics - Christians’ Friend or Foe ? Sherman Lam Dec 2002.
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Transcript of Office Politics - Christians’ Friend or Foe ? Sherman Lam Dec 2002.
Office Politics - Christians’ Friend or Foe ?
Sherman Lam Dec 2002
Slide 2Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
What is office politics ?Lessons from real casesThe clues for survivalThe key to successThe humility of serviceThe road to sanctityAppendices
The clues for the cluelessThe 48 laws of powerReferences
Outline
Slide 3Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
PurposeTo explore some Christian ways to survive, succeed and serve in the marketplace / workplaceTo learn from each other’s experience, struggles & insightsTo stimulate practitioners to further explore faith-work integration
Slide 4Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Your active participation, please
Pls suspend judgmentPls share your experience & insightsPls provide some real cases for discussionPls ask questions & help answer as well Pls give feedback
Slide 5Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
What is office politics ?
Your views, please…
Slide 6Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
“ I wish it (The Ring) need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo.
- The Lord of the Rings : The Fellowship of the Rings -
Slide 7Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Myths about office politics
Myth 1 :
There is no politics in my office or company.
Slide 8Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Myth 2 :Politics is game playing. It is an undignified,
self-serving waste of productive work time.
Slide 9Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Myth 3 :
If I play fair, others will play by the same rules and be fair to me.
Slide 10Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Myth 4 :If you are a good employee, you don’t need
to worry about office politics. Your performance will speak for itself.
Slide 11Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Myth 5 :I don’t need to campaign for my own
career interests. I can depend on others higher in the organisation to recognise & reward my talent & contributions.
Slide 12Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Myth 6 :Chinese and non-Chinese play the same.
Slide 13Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Myth 7 :Good Christians should not play politics.
Slide 14Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
When you talk about office politics, you mean…
Corporate culture / sub-cultureOrganizational ambiguityManagement fadsTribal strife, role conflictsRelationship problemsPerformance vs reward Ethical issues
Slide 15Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Politics is… From the Greek word, politikos, which means
Of a citizenPrimary meaning is having practical wisdom, being prudent, shrewd, diplomaticSecondary meaning is being crafty or unscrupulous
- Webster’s New Word Dictionary -
Slide 16Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Office politics is… A fact of organizational life
If you’re in the office, you’re in the game
The way we get things done at work It is individuals & teams competing resources, responsibility, power, position, & privilegesBecause our success is defined by those things, getting them will determine whether or not we are doing a good jobBuilding relationship, being diplomatic, collaborating with others & being an effective team player
Slide 17Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Politics could be… Positive Dirty
Win-win for greater good
Win-lose for self interests
Empowering Power-hungry
Collaborative, productive
Manipulative, destructive
Build, recognise Beat, backstab, trap, flatter
Create credibility Create resentment
Giver Taker
Slide 18Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
“ I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo.
“ So do I,” said Gandalf “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
- The Lord of the Rings : The Fellowship of the Rings -
Slide 19Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
What is office politics ?Lessons from real casesThe clues for survivalThe key to successThe humility of serviceThe road to sanctityAppendices
The clues for the cluelessThe 48 laws of powerReferences
Outline
Slide 20Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Lessons from real cases Source of wisdom
Slide 21Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Remember, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves; so be clever as serpents and yet as simple as doves.
- Matthew 10:16 -
The tension of being clever vs being simple
Slide 22Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Case 1Imagine you are charged to cut 1,000 staff.
Having made a few vain attempts to persuade the top dogs otherwise, you are finally asked to do what you are told or leave the company.
What would you do ?
Slide 23Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Case 2 When your boss tries to make you an
accomplice against company’s tendering procedure, you know if you reject it he will make your life hell & ruin your career.
What would you do ?
Slide 24Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Case 3 When you’ve done a great job but the credit
goes to your rival who got the promotion you’re angling for.
What would you do ?
Slide 25Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Case 4 When an important project fails, everybody
is passing the buck and making you a scapegoat.
What would you do ?
Slide 26Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Case 5 Imagine you’re a HR Manager directly
reporting to MD of a subsidiary with dotted line to Group HR Director in the HQ. In a meeting, you’re caught in the middle & urged to take side.
What would you do ?
Slide 27Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Case 6 Imagine you’re trapped by somebody who
has promised to support your proposal in the meeting and turns out to do otherwise.
What would you do ?
Slide 28Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Case 7Imagine you’re planning to emigrate. Your
boss tapped the grapevine and checked with you.
What would you do ?
Slide 29Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Case 8 When a big shot forces you to endorse an
investment which you think is a dog,
what would you do ?
Slide 30Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Case 9When you’re muscled by an office shark, what would you do ?
Slide 31Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Case 10 When you’re designated to succeed a top
dog, you worry about your ability to survive the power play.
What would you do ?
Slide 32Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
To fight or not to fight, you may calculate…
Standard
Self Situation
What are the biblical & ethical norms ?
Do you get the power you need ? Are your guts up ?
After all,be accountable
for your decision ! What’s on stage ? What’s behind the scene ?
Slide 33Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
What is office politics ?Lessons from real casesThe clues for survivalThe key to successThe humility of serviceThe road to sanctityAppendices
The clues for the cluelessThe 48 laws of powerReferences
Outline
Slide 34Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
The clues for survival :Master the art of
invisibility
Slide 35Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Strategies for survival
I. Be in the crowd, but not of the crowdII. Make your boss look goodIII. Detach from blame & creditIV. Keep your P/E low
Slide 36Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Strategy I :Be in the crowd but not of the
crowd
Slide 37Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
At these words the whole audience was filled with indignation.
They rose up and expelled him from the town, leading to the brow of the hill and intending to hurl him over the edge.
But he went away through their midst and walked away.
- Luke 4:28-30 -
The mob
Slide 38Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Pilate said to the Jews, “Behold, your King !“They therefore cried out, “Away with Him,
away with Him, crucify Him !”Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your
King ?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king
but Caesar.”So he then delivered Him to them to be
crucified.
- John 19:14-16 -
The idol, the victim and the mob
Slide 39Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Strategy I :Be in the crowd but not of the
crowd Be corporate chameleon – blend into the mob but closely observe its movementDwell in the shadow of others Beware of insult by omissionAvoid attaching to celebrity or becoming a group’s idol / a scapegoatRemember, all scapegoats start by being different
Slide 40Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Strategy II : Make your boss look good
Slide 41Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
I don’t want any yes-men around me. I want everyone to tell me the truth even if it costs them their jobs.
- Samuel Goldwyn -
The boss
Slide 42Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Rule # 1 : The boss is always right.
Rule # 2 : If the boss is wrong, please refer to rule # 1.
The golden rules
Slide 43Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Strategy II : Make your boss look good
Never go around your bossTell him what he wants to hear, even when he claims that he wants dissenting viewsIf he wants something dropped, drop itBe sensitive to his wishes so that you anticipate what he wantsDon’t report something that he doesn’t want reported, but cover it up. Do what your job requires, and keep your mouth shut
- Robert Jackall, Moral Mazes : The World of Corporate Managers -
Slide 44Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Strategy III : Detach from blame & credit
Slide 45Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
God asked, “Have you been eating of the tree I forbade you to eat ?”
Adam replied, “It was the woman you put with me; she gave me the fruit, and I ate it.”
Then God asked the woman, “What is this you have done ?”
The woman replied, “The serpent tempted me and I ate.”
- Gen 3:11-13 -
The blame
Slide 46Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
"There are two kinds of people, those who do the work and those who take the credit. Try to be in the first group; there is less competition there."
- Indira Gandhi -
The credit
Slide 47Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
The blame and the credit The seven phases of a project
1. Enthusiasm2. Illusion of progress3. Panic 4. Disillusionment5. Search for the guilty 6. Punishment of the innocent7. Praise / honors for the non-participants
Slide 48Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Strategy III : Detach from blame & credit Accept blame (for others) in small ways; it tends to inspire loyaltyPractice creative incompetenceAvoid winning battles but losing the warDon’t get caught in the clash of TitansShare credit & win yourselves friendsRemember, blame follows credit
Slide 49Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Strategy IV :Keep your P/E low
Slide 50Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Political price-earnings ratio
Politician(~IPO w/ no earnings)
CEO (~expensive growth stocks)
Bureaucrat(~widow & orphan stocks)
Worker(~value stocks)
Visibility
High
Low
UtilityLow High
Slide 51Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Buy a stock with a boring nameBuy a stock that does something boringBuy a stock that is boring and disagreeable at the same time
Peter Lynch’s Rules
Slide 52Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
In a hierarchy every employee tends to rise to his or her level of incompetence.
The Peter Principle
Slide 53Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Strategy IV :Keep your P/E low
Be “the worker” – low visibility, high utilityTrade higher security for lower pay Peter Lynch’s Rules – “boring” can be a hidden assetAvoid the Peter PrincipleRemember, low risk low return
Slide 54Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
The ethics of survival Work is a curse, filled with conflict of interests; therefore, our obsession is with security
Should security be our ultimate value ?Should low P/E compromise ROI (Return on Investment) (God’s given talents, resources, opportunities…) ?
Possible conflict between obedience to our boss and obedience to our values
How far are we willing to stretch our integrity in order to survive ? Without our integrity, who is it that survives ?
Slide 55Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
The master praised the dishonest steward for his astuteness. For the children of this world are more astute in dealing with their own kind than are the children of the light.
Use Money, tainted as it is, to win yourselves friends, and thus make sure that when it fails you, they will welcome you into the tents of eternity.
- Luke 16:8, 9 -
The parable of dishonest steward
Slide 56Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
What is office politics ?Lessons from real casesThe clues for survivalThe key to successThe humility of serviceThe road to sanctityAppendices
The clues for the cluelessThe 48 laws of powerReferences
Outline
Slide 57Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
The key to success :Focus on your goal
Slide 58Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Strategies for success
I. Bank on your competencyII. Play positiveIII. Confront the darknessIV. Detach from your enemies
Slide 59Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful slave; you were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things, enter into the joy of your master.”
- Matthew 25:21, 23 -
The parable of talents
Slide 60Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
What is success ?
What do I want ?The true measure of success is achieving your own goal, not someone else’s
Slide 61Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Strategy I :Bank on your competency
Know what you’re good atDo what you’re passionate & you’ll do it wellSet your goal and focus on itDon’t borrow other peoples’ desires and goalsMake things happenDeliver what you advertiseBe “the CEO” and yield high ROIRemember, high risk high return
Slide 62Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Strategy II :Play positive
1. Know the big picture2. Volunteer for special tasks3. Dare to be different 4. Ally with right people5. Collaborate with peers6. Tell the truth7. Be professional8. Choose your battles 9. Have fun
Slide 63Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Strategy III :Confront the darkness
Aware & beware of the 48 laws of power (Appendix 2)
Political problems are primary and technical problems are secondaryWhen it isn’t broke, don’t fix itWhen in Rome do as the RomansBe in the office, but not of the officeKnow when to hold and when to foldRemember, be as formless as possible
Slide 64Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Don’t chase what your competitors have; focus on your ownLove yourself as your neighbors – you become what you hate so as to succeedBefriend your enemies & convert themThere are no real enemies, only paranoid projectionsRemember, the only real competitor is your own ego
Strategy IV : Detach from your enemies
Slide 65Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
The ethics of success Work is creative, playful self-expression and self-actualisation
Is self-actualisation our ultimate value ?
Our obsession is with winningFor whom & for what are we fighting ?
Possible conflict between defeating our rivals and protecting our values
Have your competitors disappeared ? If not, you have not achieved success
Slide 66Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
What is office politics ?Lessons from real casesThe clues for survivalThe key to successThe humility of serviceThe road to sanctityAppendices
The clues for the cluelessThe 48 laws of powerReferences
Outline
Slide 67Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
The humility of service :Respond to the call
Slide 68Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
And the King will answer and say to them, , “Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to me.”
- Matthew 25:40, 45 -
The parable of goats and sheep
Slide 69Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
The call Be yourselvesDo what you areOurs for others
Slide 70Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Be yourselves Focus on who you areAccept who you are notBe honest about your personal strengths & weaknessesWho you want to be > what you want to do
Slide 71Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Don’t make false promisesDon’t pretend to be able to deliver what you can’t You can’t please all “customers” – and they know thisBut you can please some – figure out what you are good at and do it
Do what you are
Slide 72Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Ours for othersAuthorship
Help others to do something they love doing, to use their chosen skills, or to express something important about their deeper selvesUnlock the creative freedom of others’ talent
Slide 73Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Ours for others
PowerEmpower others to make a difference and influence the world around themLook for “the workers” – help them to produce the greatest return, but respect their lack of desire for the limelight
Slide 74Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Ours for othersLove
Take the risk of showing others genuine appreciation, caring and affectionTake the blame for a subordinate strategically (not blindly)
Lessen the amount of the mob violenceGain a powerful ally
Give others psychic support & personal fellowship
Slide 75Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Ours for others
TrustBuild healthy teams and respect their autonomyBuild trust by being loyal to those absent, then you retain trust of those present
SignificanceHelp others feel that they matter & their works makes the world a richer place
Slide 76Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
The ethics of service Work is a blessing, therapy, and service
What is your call ?Who you are and who you are not ?What you are good at and what you are not ?
Possible conflict between meeting the needs of our “customers” and preserving our values
Who are our customers and who are not ?What are their needs ? Can you fulfill ?Are you willing to promote others not for return ?How about mixed motive ?
Slide 77Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
What is office politics ?Lessons from real casesThe clues for survivalThe key to successThe humility of serviceThe road to sanctityAppendices
The clues for the cluelessThe 48 laws of powerReferences
Outline
Slide 78Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
The road to sanctityGet your hands dirty*
* ‘Dirty’ here means engagement
Slide 79Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
In your context, work is… Co-creation,
Actualization ?
Curse,Punishment ?
Blessing,Therapy ?
Gen 1:27-29; 9:1
Gen 3:17-19 Gen 2:8,15
WorkAs
Slide 80Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
… your choice could be
Actualization =>Success
Curse => Survival
Blessing =>Service
WorkContext
v. Office Politics
Slide 81Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
After all, we’ll grow w/ life struggles
Success
Survival Service
Office Politics
Contradictory ?Exclusive ?
Sequential ?
Rationalization ?Mixed motives ?
Slide 82Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
We are not human beings struggling to be holy, but holy people struggling to be human
- Source unknown -
Slide 83Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Office Politics - Christians’ Friend or
Foe ?
Slide 84Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Office Politics - Christians’ Friend or
Foe ? and !
Your feedback / questions, please
Appendix 1 The clues for the clueless
Slide 87Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Outline “Cluelessness Trap”“Escape Map”Escape cluelessness I to X
Slide 88Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
“Cluelessness Trap”Personal
Not knowing enough about ourselves, our actions, and our impact on other people
SituationalBaffled by structures & systems, mystified by culture & symbols, terrified by political games of power & self-interest, etc.
SpiritualNot sure about our beliefs, our values or our life path to follow
Slide 89Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
“Escape Map”STOP 1 : The murky underworld of politics
To learn how to map political playing field & get enough power to get things done
STOP 2 : The emotional world of people at work
To find ways to improve relationships with others & make a bad job better
STOP 3 : The red-tape land of bureaucracyTo study feudalism – a guided tour of monarchs & serfsTo learn tricks for shaping structure to work for you
Slide 90Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
“Escape Map”STOP 4 : The depths of tribal life at work
To learn how to decode cultural puzzlesTo pick up some ways to give the workplace a little more excitement & fun
STOP 5 : Change & leadershipTo grasp ways to survive the endless changes that keep sweeping over youTo learn nudging things in more +ve directions
STOP 6 : A silent companion at workTo tell yourself what life path you really want to follow
Slide 91Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Escape cluelessness I :Face the problem
Work is often confusing & chaoticWe need to understand why we’re clueless & what we can do about itWe’re at risk of 3 forms of cluelessness :
Don’t understand ourselvesDon’t understand what’s going on
Don’t understand where we’re going
Slide 92Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Escape cluelessness II : Map the political terrain
Accept the political realityAssess interest & clout of key players Seek ways to rally allies, lure fence-sitters, & neutralise opponentsKnow when to hold & when to fold
Slide 93Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Map the playing field Who are the key players ?
Who the players are (personality) Where they are (position)Who their friends are (group membership)What are their interests ?
High
Power
Low
Allies Fence-sitters Opponents
Slide 94Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Escape cluelessness III : Get a bigger slice of the pie
Understand 3 forms of power & get the one you needUnderstand 4 approaches to workplace politics and opt one of them Set your agenda & move aheadEmbrace your friends & befriend your enemiesMake win-win deals
Slide 95Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Get the power you need Who you are (personal power)
Characteristics – charm, energyCompetence – knowledge, skill
Credibility - track record, reputation Where you are (positional power)
Job, position, department, organisation, etc
What you have got (resources power)Friends, allies, resources, information, etc
Slide 96Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Choose your stance
(Good for company; bad for you)
Good Soldier
(Best long-term bet)
Pro
(Option for losers)
Victim
(Hit it big, or take on a big hit)
Pol
OrganisationalCommitment
High
Low
Political SavvyLow High
Slide 97Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Make win-win deals Separate people from the problemFocus on interests, not stancesInvent options for mutual gain
Slide 98Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Escape cluelessness IV : Know ourselves
We all suffer from the gaps what we do & what we’re doingBetter relationship begin with knowing ourselvesDecide whether to muddle, exploit or learnWe learn & help others learn through interpersonal feedback
Slide 99Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
“Why do you see the speck on your neighbor’s eye, but not notice the log in your own ?”
- Matthew 7:3 -
Slide 100Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Johari Window
Public Self Hidden Self
Blind Self Uncharted Self
Known to
Self
Others
Unknown toSelf Others
Slide 101Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
“Everyone sees what you seem, but few know what you are”
- Machiavelli, The Prince -
Slide 102Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Receive or give feedback… Ask and you shall receiveSay thank youAsk before givingWhen asked, give your bestTell the truth
Slide 103Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Escape cluelessness V : Make or find a better job
Work doesn’t have to be miserableGood workplaces
Hire and retain the right peopleInvest and empower their workforce
Fix your job – or get a new oneFix at yourselfForm a coalitionFight backFind a better job
Slide 104Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Escape cluelessness VI : Understand hierachy
Position shapes behaviorHierachy creates monarchs, lords and serfs in organisationsTo escape feudalism :
Study the systemStop blamingSwim upstream Or step out of the flow
Slide 105Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Escape cluelessness VI : Understand hierarchy
We all want clarity & predictability but hate red tape; effective structure balance efficiency & flexibilityDesign system around customer and reduce cost of bureaucracy
Slide 106Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Escape cluelessness VII : Shape structure to circumstance
Bad structures harm both people & productivityStructure depends on circumstances :
Top-down, vertical control works best for simple tasks in stable environmentsTurbulent, fast-changing situations call for flatter, more fluid structures
Slide 107Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Escape cluelessness VII : Shape structure to circumstance Improve structures by:
Setting clear goals Aligning structure to situationPutting people in the right jobRewarding performanceClarifying relationships
Slide 108Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Escape cluelessness VIII : Crack the cultural code
Every group & organisation creates cultural ways to make sense and give meaning to life & workCultural ways & traditions dictate what people wear, how they speak & what they doUnderstanding culture reduces surprise & stress, increases understanding & confidence
Slide 109Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Escape cluelessness VIII: Crack the cultural code
Study cultural clues :Enlist guidesConnect to the grapevineWatch for spiesForm cabals
Understanding the existential underbelly lets you shape as well as be shaped by culture
Slide 110Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Sometimes we choose change; often someone else choose it for usChange efforts run into 4 universal barriers :
Individual’s resistance to anxiety & feeling incompetentDisruption of established patternsConflict between winners & losersLoss
Escape cluelessness IX : Cope with change and learn to lead
Slide 111Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Change takes leadershipYou can lead from anywhere if :
You know your goalEnlist othersPart the watersMake sure people know their jobDeal with conflictCelebrateLead with focus, passion, wisdom, and courage
Escape cluelessness IX : Cope with change and learn to lead
Slide 112Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
Which path are you following ?Fog – you are not sure where you’re headedBog – you are too mired in the muck to get where you want to goPiracy – you’re seeking adventure or treasure, via plunder if necessaryService – in search of a better life or better world
If you’re going no where, or in a wrong direction, find a better path
Escape cluelessness X : Choose a life path
Appendix 2 The 48 laws of power
Slide 114Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
The 48 laws of power 1. Never outshine the master 9. Win through your actions, never
through arguments
2. Never put too much trust in friends, learn how to use enemies
10. Infection. Avoid the unhappy & the unlucky
3. Conceal your intentions 11. Learn to keep people dependent on you
4. Always say less than necessary 12. Use selective honesty & generosity to disarm your victim
5. So much depends on reputation, guard it with your life
13. When asking for help, appeal to people’s self-interest, never their mercy
6. Court attention at all cost 14. Pose as a friend, work as a spy
7. Get others to do the work, but always take the credit
15. Crush your enemy totally
8. Make other people come to you – use bait if necessary
16. Use absence to increase respect and honor
Slide 115Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
The 48 laws of power 17. Keep others in suspended terror. Cultivate an air of unpredictability
25. Re-create yourself
18. Do not build fortresses to protect yourself – isolation is dangerous
26. Keep your hands clean
19. Know who you’re dealing with – do not offend the wrong person
27. Play on people’s need to believe to create a cultlike following
20. Do not commit to anyone 28. Enter actions with boldness
21. Play a sucker to catch a sucker – seem dumber than your mark
29. Plan all the way to the end
22. Use surrender tactic : Transform weakness into power
30. Make your accomplishments seem effortless
23. Concentrate your forces 31. Control the options : Get others to play the cards you deal
24. Play the perfect courtier 32. Play to people’s fantasies
Slide 116Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
The 48 laws of power 33. Discover each man’s thumbscrew
41. Avoid stepping into a great man’s shoes
34. Be royal in your own fashion : Act like a king to be treated like one
42. Strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter
35. Master the art of timing 43. Work on the hearts and minds of the others
36. Disdain things you cannot have : Ignoring them is the best revenge
44. Disarm and infuriate with the mirror effect
37. Create compelling spectacles 45. Preach the need for change, but never reform too much at once
38. Think as you like but behave like others
46. Never appear too perfect
39. Stir up waters to catch fish 47. Do not go past the mark you aimed for; in victory, learn when to stop
40. Despise the free lunch 48. Assume formlessness
Appendix 3 References
Slide 118Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
ReferencesBooks
Clever as serpents : Business ethics & office politics By Jim Grote and John McGreeneyA Michael Glacier book published by The Liturgical Press @ 1997Comment : A must-read classic for Christians to lead a corporate life; cynical though, its repeated ‘wake-up’ calls for ascetic detachment may echo in veterans’ heartsRating : *****
Escape from cluelessness : A guide for the organisationally challenged
By Lee G. Bolman and Terrence E. DealNew York, NY : AMACOM Books, 2000Comment : A simple, easy-to-read handbook for the rookiesRating : ***
Slide 119Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
ReferencesBooks
The 48 laws of powerBy Robert Greene and Joost ElffersViking Penguin @ 1998Comment : A must-read classic for power games Rating : *****
Cubicle warfare : Self-defense strategies for today’s hyper-competitive workplace
By Blaine L. PardoePrima Publishing @ 1997Comment : A practical guide to craft strategies for different cases; already translated into Chinese Rating : ****
Slide 120Office Politics – Christians’ Friend or Foe ?April 2002
ReferencesMovies
DisclosureComment : A must-watch classic for the boss to trap the subordinate & the latter to fight back Rating : *****
Wall StreetComment : A classic for the boss to manipulate the mob / the marketRating : *****
Journals (www.gcf.org.hk)
“Office politics”, GCF Journal 2001, Vol. 8“Compromise”, GCF Journal 2001, Vol. 7