10 ways to survive office politics

TechRepublic author, Calvin Sun, writes: "Office politics will never go away. It’s a fact of company life. However, destructive office politics can demoralize an organization, hamper productivity, and increase turnover. Here are some tips, applicable for both staff and management, on dealing with office politics..."

The article then goes on to list ten suggestions. Here's a summary:

1. Live at peace with others
2. Don’t talk out of school
3. Be helpful
4. Stay away from gossip
5. Stay out of those talk-down-the-boss sessions
6. Be a straight arrow
7. Address the “politics” issue openly when appropriate
8. Document things
9. Set incentives to foster teamwork
10. Set an example for your staff

Read the list in full detail...

Trouble at the Office?

Business Week launches special "Business @ Work" report. This is a insightful collection of articles covering topics such as:

• Toxic Bosses: How to Live with the S.O.B.
• Rigid Bureaucracy: Breaking Out of the Box
• Count Results, Not Hours
• Staying Creative: Success on a Shoestring
• Are You Being a Jerk? Again?
• And other great topics
  

Best Way to Annoy Your Co-Workers? E-mail

"ALL CAPS, Passive-Aggressive Copying Top Etiquette Experts' Electronic Don'ts List:

• Netiquette No-No #1: The Passive-Aggressive Copy
• Netiquette No-No #2: Reply All
• Netiquette No-No #3: SHOUTING AT YOUR COWORKERS"

Read the full article...

Tech's top 10 workspaces

"What makes for an appealing workspace? The envelopes they leave in your mailbox every two weeks. But after that, it comes down to design and amenities..."

Valleywag presents the ten best-looking offices

How Well Does Your IT Shop Welcome New Hires? Ask Them

cio.com: "Want to find out what new employees think of your IT department? Just ask them, says Direct Energy CIO Kumud Kalia... This kind of information has a short shelf life; employees forget their early experiences once they're settled. New employees obviously won't want to be too harsh, "but it is possible to get at the truth without overt criticism of coworkers [or] the company..."

Ongoing, unbiased, requested feedback - now that's something we certainly 'get'.

Inc.com: "Are You a Bad Boss?"

From inc.com: "Seven signs that your employees detest you. (By you, of course, we mean some other boss.)"



"There's a reason Dilbert, The Office, and their ilk are so popular. Satire gets old fast, but the appeal of realism endures. And the real world, sadly, is full of lousy bosses. Someone ought to do a study on where these louts come from. Were they abused by their own bosses? Did they toss overboard the ballast of human kindness to hasten the ascent of their career balloons? Or is this an example of absolute power corrupting absolutely? Such research might also demonstrate how ubiquitous miserable managers are. The proliferation of boss-bashing screeds with titles like When You Work for a Bully, Nasty Bosses, and How To Work for an Idiot suggests a plague..."

The article outlines "seven signs that you are a bad boss". Here's our favorite excerpt:

"Sign # 4: Your 360-degree evaluations come back short and full of generically positive comments, with one very mild criticism ("Sometimes she works too damn hard for her own good") thrown in for credibility's sake..."

This is exactly why Coworkers.com Reviews are a more effective solution to providing and receiving unbiased feedback!

Understanding Office Politics

dumblittleman.com: "Many people say they hate their job because they don't like office politics. Not all office politics are bad and my assumption is that they don't like is negative office politics, such as gossip or sabotage... once you understand that politics within an office is unavoidable, instead of wasting your time "hating office politics," why not, instead, learn the rules that will make it work for you?"

Here's a summary of the key suggestions this article has for "gaming" office politics:

• Cozy Up to Detractors
• Don't Gossip
• Always Be Positive About Others
• Play Dumb and Busy to Keep Out of Toxic Conversations
• If You Want People to Help You, Understand Their Needs First
• Before Engaging in Political Battle, Know How Much Power You Have
• Grow Your Power Base Strategically Over Time
• Work Hard, But Look for Ways to Partner with Others
• Don't Look for Immediate Reciprocation
• Integrity: Be Positive, Be Kind, Be Honest, Be Realistic, Be Professional
  

Microsoft seeks patent for office 'spy' software

timesonline: "Microsoft is developing Big Brother-style software capable of remotely monitoring a worker’s productivity, physical wellbeing and competence...

The system could also “automatically detect frustration or stress in the user” and “offer and provide assistance accordingly”. Physical changes to an employee would be matched to an individual psychological profile based on a worker’s weight, age and health. If the system picked up an increase in heart rate or facial expressions suggestive of stress or frustration, it would tell management that he needed help."

All your biometric are belong to us!

(article found thanks to techcrunch.com)

Happy Halloween (*subject to certain terms and conditions)

CareerJournal | Beware of Workplace Horrors: Office Halloween Do's and Don'ts: "While some people can't resist the prospect of wearing a costume while performing daily work tasks, others would rather dress for business as usual. And even though the young-at-heart employee might see it as the perfect time to express creativity through an elaborate get-up, it's best to fully consider whether the witty garb is innocuous enough to make every co-worker smile or if some might deem it offensive...

If the office party-planning committee encourages employees to get into the Halloween spirit with a costume, the choice is up to the individual. Just remember this: Scheduled fun at the office is 'professional fun, which is different than when you're out of the office,'..."

So, is Halloween full of fun or stress at your workplace? Know any ghouls who could benefit from a bit of feedback?

Photo credit: Dane Kantner

Holy $#%&! Researchers Say It's Good to Swear at Work!

A new study finds that profanity in the workplace can actually help boost office morale.

"Swearing can help develop and maintain solidarity among workers, as well as relieve stress, according to the study conducted by researchers at the University of East Anglia, based in Norwich, England."

Hmmm, well it seems to work for Gordon Ramsay, but we'll guess it's still a context sensitive issue.

7 Tips for Resolving Conflicts Quickly and Peacefully

"Everyone has to deal with difficult people, whether they are argumentative, abusive, stubborn, or combative. The question is, how can you assert your own rights without creating an unnecessary incident?

In most cases, angry people are screaming to be heard. They want to be valued, loved, and listened to. They want to feel important but aren’t able to express themselves constructively. With the right attitude, it’s possible to get past these insecurities and reach an understanding. These 7 strategies will help you setting disputes quickly and peacefully for the benefit of everyone involved..."

See the list at PickTheBrain.com

Showing Bad Customers the Door

Inc. - Women in Business: "Conventional wisdom says 'the customer is always right'; entrepreneurial need often compels you to take any client that pays. Living by these beliefs can cause you to overlook or excuse a customer's bad behavior, but when your business begins to suffer, it's time to take a page from Trump's playbook.

Following is a guide to firing those who pay you, including the types of clients to watch out for and some subtle (or not-so-subtle) tactics for letting them go:"

The article goes on to categorize axe-worthy customers into the following categories: The Bad Seed; The Toddler; The Narcissist; The Felon. An interesting read for consultants and other soloists. Don't forget to review your clients and customers as well. You can also look up a prospect on Coworkers.com to see if they might already have been identified as fitting any of the categories above.

A#*h^le driven development

"The software industry might be the world’s greatest breeding ground for new systems of management. From Agile, to Extreme Programming , to Test Driven Development (TDD), the acronyms and frameworks keep piling up. Why?

Some say it’s immaturity: that software is still a young industry and all the change is the path to some true fundamentals. Others say it’s because software people like making things up and can’t help themselves. Well I say this: if we’re going to have dozens of models we may as well have some that are honest, however cynical, to what’s really going on much of the time..."

With terms like "Get Me Promoted Methodology (GMPM)" and "Development By Denial (DBD)" this makes for a funny read.

Don't forget to check out some great additions in the comments...

New must have desk accessory?

Everyone who has worked in an office environment knows that different people have different temperature preferences. You may have thought that the guy next to you was born psychotic, but perhaps he's just a bit hot under the collar - literally. Well, this looks like a promising idea: Herman Miller is unveiling a personal heating/cooling unit that goes right on your desk. So rather than coming to work in a parka, you can just turn on the C2 and be snug as a bug. As an added bonus, it's environmentally friendly. As with other Herman Miller products, though, this little luxury won't come cheap though... the price tag is $300.