Workplace Politics

Projekt

Registered
I'd like to pick your brains about your workplace politics. Let me paint a picture for you first.

About two weeks ago, I started a job at a cable manufacturing firm as a manufacturing engineer primarily but have been given a jack of all trades set of responsibilities to include improvement of communications between production floor staff and engineering, efficiency improvements, standardization, BS and tantrum tolerater and terminated personnel escorter.

The organization is my first strictly civilian workplace and is full of interdepartmental hostility and clique behavior. There are a few supposedly secret alliances trying to tip the balance of power in their direction without taking into account the best interests of the company's mission while reducing their workload.

The first week I was there was spent talking to and learning from key personnel on the production floor. I was tasked with routine patrols of the production floor and interaction with the workers. The workers very quickly picked up the pace and created the appearance of being too busy to talk. This was a very strategically played move by my supervisor and what followed was the termination of two individuals who were hampering the productivity of the organization and directly impeding work completion of two worker leaders. The terminations took place on Monday and since then, it seems like the rest of the staff is somewhat reluctant to engage in conversation with me. There is lot's of whispering going on and our goal is to unify the team into supporting the mission of the company, thus shedding the infighting. I am fully aware that my role was intelligence gathering and the workers know this too.

The upside to this is a comment made by the company president to my supervisor that went like this "I'm hearing good things about your section". He was speaking about output numbers increasing by the end of the week.

So, how does this compare to your organization? Is this lack of cohesion common?

By the way... I know I spelled the title wrong.
 
Do as little as you can to get by, step on whoever you need to get where you're going, and always and only look out for number one. Doing all this in a sea of educated fools where common sense is a super power. It's the American way!
Sad but true.
Enjoy.
 
I could write you a book on office politics. The best thing I can say is "if people are talking behind your back it is because they are behind you!!!) Rarely will they want you to succeed, more people would like to see you fail. Good luck (as I can affirm civilian jobs are nothing like the military)
 
Sounds like with your job is to be the guy that everyone is talking about behind your back. From what you described you are the guy hired to be the "bad guy". Often times this is necessary in the politics of a company. You shoulder the blame and it keeps the inter department relationships of the others stronger. The fall guy so to speak. Not an easy gig but it sounds like it is working.

In my experience production guys on the floor are in need of someone like you. I play that role in my small company. A heck of a lot more work gets done when I am there. Lunches and breaks are shorter. Non work related conversations are less, and way more works gets done. Something about having the boss there motivates guys to stay on task and get stuff done.

Now the good news is there are many ways to do this role, some of which will earn you the respect of both the production guys, the engineers, and the brass. However, I have found that it is best to keep personal, friendly relationships out of the work place entirely in this type of position.

In a created position like yours I would assume your "value" to the company and what you will be evaluated on is increase in production first and then smooth communication between departments 2nd from what you describe. I would think this could be very rewarding for you in many ways.

There are a ton of books on management strategy. I would recommend doing a search and reading some reviews online and see what you can find. Many people have been in our positions and have not only made huge improvements in their companies, but have made huge advancements in their personal careers as well. Learning from their many years of experience and what not to do would help you. The Rules Of Management by Richard Templar is one I am reading now and it is a worthwhile read.

Handled correctly you will not have to be the "bad guy". Wish I could offer more advice but every situation is different. Good luck with your new position!
 
Being a company man and good to all the people is rather easy to do...talk to as many people as you can...hear what they want and try to make it happen...once the floor guys / girls see you do what you say they will develop respect for you and return the favor when you ask for something a little above and beyond their normal duties. The generic three types of power...expert / authority / reverent... developing the reverent power will go along way...and the sad truth is some people simply will not like you or be anti corporate...just saying hello to them will sound useless but at least the know you are trying to talk.
 
silence and consistent work behavior are powerful weapons. i rarely partake in "workplace politics" for obvious reasons.
 
No work place politics here. That's why I'm a failure, well and the fact that I don't azz suck :laugh:
 
Sounds like with your job is to be the guy that everyone is talking about behind your back. From what you described you are the guy hired to be the "bad guy". Often times this is necessary in the politics of a company. You shoulder the blame and it keeps the inter department relationships of the others stronger. The fall guy so to speak. Not an easy gig but it sounds like it is working.

In my experience production guys on the floor are in need of someone like you. I play that role in my small company. A heck of a lot more work gets done when I am there. Lunches and breaks are shorter. Non work related conversations are less, and way more works gets done. Something about having the boss there motivates guys to stay on task and get stuff done.

Now the good news is there are many ways to do this role, some of which will earn you the respect of both the production guys, the engineers, and the brass. However, I have found that it is best to keep personal, friendly relationships out of the work place entirely in this type of position.

In a created position like yours I would assume your "value" to the company and what you will be evaluated on is increase in production first and then smooth communication between departments 2nd from what you describe. I would think this could be very rewarding for you in many ways.

There are a ton of books on management strategy. I would recommend doing a search and reading some reviews online and see what you can find. Many people have been in our positions and have not only made huge improvements in their companies, but have made huge advancements in their personal careers as well. Learning from their many years of experience and what not to do would help you. The Rules Of Management by Richard Templar is one I am reading now and it is a worthwhile read.

Handled correctly you will not have to be the "bad guy". Wish I could offer more advice but every situation is different. Good luck with your new position!

Exactly!

Thanks for the reading suggestions. For now, I am following some fundamental management strategies. It is all about The Art Of War by Sun Tzu for the moment but I will research others to include the one you mentioned for future obstacles. I totally see the tactics being used and the ones I need to counter. I'm loving it.
 
Not sure how to handle this particular situation, but my policy was to always listen, and tell them I would look into any situation they ad. Then I made sure to follow up with whatever action I took and why I took that action.

It gave me the respect of most of the workers on the floor, no matter where I worked
 
Welcome to the real world. Unfortunately not as 'clean' as the military world....it can be frustrating at times. I've always had a hard time keeping the two separated.

All you can do is be firm but fair. Things are going to go both ways (sometimes the floor is going to have legit grips about the way mgmt is doing something, and your job may be to be their 'champion' and bring those to mgmts attention (who may then either act or not act upon them); regardless, if you are seen as being firm but fair you will gain their respect. Stay out of the 'reindeer games' as much as possible.
 
You're in the exact position a fellow coworker in another department where I work was put in over a year ago, after watching that department flounder and not produce and give every excuse under the sun, we finally hired someone that knew the job and could actually fill the necessary gaps. Long story short - he was the bad guy, and while it took many months, every single person in his department except for ONE was eventually fired. The only reason that one stayed is because he saw that being a part of the clique that protected an incredibly non-functional existence to get a paycheck was finally collapsing, and all of those others never thought it would. Productivity is through the roof, amazing work is finally being done and it took that one "bad guy" to step up to the plate and do the dirty work of firing that, sadly, no other higher-ups would do, but that so desperately needed to be done...

I don't envy that role, however, if you have the personality and tenacity to fill it, then do it and don't look back. A company or department is only as strong as their weakest link, and unfortunately that's why so many things fail. The "cliques" are what allow failure for so long. What it shows me is that those at the top are far too often far too weak to do the exact job they were hired to do, and that includes making those tough decisions, but hey, I guess that opens the doors for guys and gals that have a spine :thumbsup: Just do us a favor and when you're that guy at the top Projekt, don't become complacent and be like those you weeded out...I know you wouldn't, but you know, I think that's what goes south far too often...
 
Thanks for correcting the spelling VA... I can only do my best there, focus on continued progress and try not to let paranoia get the better of me.
 
Back
Top