[Ensam]

Does anybody here have any resources on how to get better at corporate politics? My strategy so far has been to play things aboveboard as much as possible and be a straight shooter. I do good work, my boss, and his boss (the CTO) love me. I also have a good relationship with my employees.

A high level manager, higher than me but lower than my boss, sent my boss a scathing email about my work performance on a project he's tangentially involved in. The basic gist was that my attitude was too relaxed and that I didn't take things seriously enough. My boss is confused because objectively the project is a huge success. The only thing I can think of is that our business unit is stepping on this guys toes and he's trying to get us off his turf. We work on similar things, he does application development and I do strict R&D.

I'm super shitty at dealing with this kind of stuff. My instinct is to just get out in front of it and confront the guy but I can see that backfiring if he's really out to get us. Do you guys have any good resources for getting better at office politics?

[WestCoast]

The person who confronts always loses. This is similar to being the idiot throwing the first punch in a fight.

Does your higher boss who likes you like this middle layer guy? If not who cares.

You will come out looking smarter by out politicing him. If the higher up boss comes to talk to you about the situation you already have the upper hand.

Basically, you just play it like "To be honest I put my best work forward and if there is anything that I should do going forward please let me know".

If the project was a success and the higher level boss likes you who cares, you win. He looks like a dick for bitching about a successful product and looks like a complete loser.

In fact these situations are the best, you look like the positive person and more mature than him. If you're a real dick (like me) you leverage that as an opportunity to outshine and then later down the line take over extra responsibility. You know who is getting laid off that next round, sure isnt you if you can replace him for a slight raise but net lower cost.

You're already good at politics, can tell by your situation. Always get the top person one layer up to like you. That's how you replace the middle guy over and over scaling up the ladder fast.

FYI the best time to swoop in is 1-1.5 years before the middle guy is getting promoted, intelligently take more work that he's getting
paid for and they will cut him and promote you.

Work game. Just like befriending everyone from the admin to the janitor to the delivery guy to he copy center.

[Parlay44]

Quote:

The basic gist was that my attitude was too relaxed and that I didn't take things seriously enough.

This struck a chord with me. I just got laid off from my job after almost 4 years. I was the top guy in my group. My skill and passion for the work was above and beyond what was the standard. I'm a likable and sociable guy. I got along with everybody.

From my experience of working many corporate jobs is that if you're not suffering and miserable then they think you're not working hard enough. I swear it's true.

The best way to deal with corporate life is to keep your head down, mouth shut and learn as much as you can. Put in about 3 years then bounce to another company for more money.

I'm really sick of the corporate bullshit and the mindless drones that work there. I'm ready to do my own thing.

[Ensam]

This guy has been difficult to work with since I started. My boss doesn't like him very much and this is cementing it. He's very pleasant in person, I never had a clue he was plotting something. We're in separate business units, in separate countries, so he's not directly in my career ladder. I'm not too worried about my immediate career, but if he's going to use it to make a play against my boss it could get nasty.

The tricky bit is I'm not sure how the CTO (the one level up from my boss) feels about this guy. The CTO and the VP of product development (the guys boss) go way back so if the VP gets in his ear with a negative opinion it might not be great for me. The CTO has a reputation for not backing his own reports when it comes to fight with VPs.

[painter]

Ensam, it sounds like your work adversary is trying to pull you into a dispute and make you look bad/get you in trouble with your superiors. He's obviously targeting you for a specific reason which is probably a bit of psychological projection on his part (i.e. he calls you lazy which means he is lazy or he calls you unqualified meaning he is unqualified). He's trying to take the target off his back and put it on you. Watch your back like a hawk whenever this guy is around or involved in anything at work.

Do not take the bait (it doesn't sound like you are). Keep in mind the old saying, give a man enough rope and he will hang himself. Treat the guy like a cockblocker standing next to the 10 you have your eye on, be pleasant and charming, even if the guy hates your guts and talks shit behind your back, it will drive him nuts.

Amuse yourself watching this clown self destruct.

[Lemmo]

(02-14-2013 06:02 AM)painter Wrote:  

Ensam, it sounds like your work adversary is trying to pull you into a dispute and make you look bad/get you in trouble with your superiors. He's obviously targeting you for a specific reason which is probably a bit of psychological projection on his part (i.e. he calls you lazy which means he is lazy or he calls you unqualified meaning he is unqualified). He's trying to take the target off his back and put it on you. Watch your back like a hawk whenever this guy is around or involved in anything at work.

Do not take the bait (it doesn't sound like you are). Keep in mind the old saying, give a man enough rope and he will hang himself. Treat the guy like a cockblocker standing next to the 10 you have your eye on, be pleasant and charming, even if the guy hates your guts and talks shit behind your back, it will drive him nuts.

Amuse yourself watching this clown self destruct.

This is so common. I've had middle-manager types I've never even worked with try to get me fired because they were under pressure for failing to perform and wanted to divert attention. Disengage and try to avoid the guy but there is no point in confronting since his complaints have no basis in reality and he cannot be brought to your side. I'm sure he is kissing the asses of everyone who is ranked above him. The only thing you can do is try to to good work and cultivate contacts with his superiors so they will provide you with political protection.

[Ensam]

Thanks guys. After reading your responses and talking it over with a few people I think my internal attitude has shifted to 'fuck him' and my external attitude is going to be, 'I'm concerned there was such a large miscommunication over expectations, let's work together to stay on top of this in the future" and then just be charming as fuck next time I'm out there.

[ElBorrachoInfamoso]

Fuck his wife

[Pacesetter20]

Rule #1: Never outshine the Master

[TheCaptainPower]

I can't stand the office bullshit. I am about to hit 4 years with the same company, we will receive our reviews/possible bonuses in the next 2 weeks, and I have absolutely no idea where I stand.

Save money while you can, at least if these assholes lay me off I am good for a while. And in the meantime, work on some side projects, books, hobbies, new careers, etc etc...

[WestCoast]

(02-14-2013 11:26 AM)Pacesetter20 Wrote:  

Rule #1: Never outshine the Master

This can be misinterpreted, don't outshine the "top" guy.

If there are 4 layers. You are on the bottom, outshine layer 2 and befriend layer 3 and 4.

That's how you scale up fast, when layer 2 gets sick or blows it in any fashion, take out that machete it's cut throat time and your bank account will thank you kindly for it.

Getting your real higher ups pissed is never going to work.

Timing is everything.

[Ensam]

I actually really like my job. I do corporate R&D and for the most part it's a sweet gig. One of the tricky things is that the hierarchy at my job is very flat. It's basically me -> (boss) -> CTO -> CEO. I technically report directly to the CTO but my boss is my manager. Status is determined mostly by the size of your scientific dick and your budget. The politicking is mostly centered around budget grabs; I have a feeling that's what's going on here.

On a more positive note I ran this by a guy who's on a totally different career track from me and knows the company well. He knew exactly who I was talking about and said the guy has a screw lose and does this stuff from time to time so I'm not too worried about it. I'll keep it in my pocket and use it to grab resources next time I have a chance.

[WestIndianArchie]

Folks got some good advice about doing something that's out of the box.

Consider the bigger picture. 10-20 years from now, if you get to the top of this organization, what exactly will your kingdom be?

WIA

[Ensam]

That's a really good point. My plan is to give the job 3-5 years and see where I am. If I'm moving up and gaining influence I'll stick around; if not I'll go find something out of the box to do. I've already got a few business ideas floating around.

I've thought a lot about what it would mean to actually be running a major part of the organization. It's a 5 billion dollar business and they do tend to promote the internal scientific staff into executive roles so it's not outside the realm of possibility. The CTO and several of the Senior VPs are all internal and started in my position. There's a group of 5 or 6 other guys who are in my class. We meet regularly and talk about what direction we think things should go in. If most of us move up rather than out I feel good about our prospects of running things in a few years.