View Full Version : POLITICS at work.....HELP
WAeyes
05-03-2001, 02:29 PM
I know this is not fishing related but I hope Scott will let this stay for awhile. To make a long story short, I have been snubbed twice in the last year for a promotion at my current employer, a local municipality parks dept. in the Seattle area. Although having more experience and seriously doing a better job than these other guys, I continue to get bypassed for this promotion. Growing up in the midwest, I have alot of instilled values of high morals and a degree of fairness to all people. It seems that because I won't play the political games that cause harm to other people, it is being held against me when a position opens up. Why can't people just come to work and do their job? Why does there have to be all these immature games taking place? Is it time for me to get out? Seven years and still at the same position. What bothers me is that another future employer is going to see that I was never promoted, won't look good. I can't think of a better group of people to get some honest answers. Please HELP!!!
Juls_WI
05-03-2001, 03:03 PM
I think that the fact that your asking yourself these questions is a sign that you already have your answer.
I have to agree with you on the workplace politics scene. Sure does stink. Been living through it for over 10 years now. I'm in the same mind set as yourself right now. Asking myself the same questions.
Change it for yourself if you want to, but do it for you and not because someone on this board tells you that you should. Only you know what's right for you.
Just my opinion...
Juls
Tick Tock
05-03-2001, 03:07 PM
Follow your instincts. It may seem like you are jumping off a cliff, however, you will land on your feet! I believe you already know the answer or you would not be seeking confirmation. However,I would caution you about not playing the politics thing. If you truly want to get ahead, you have to play the game. Take it from one who has steadfastly refused. Here that may the only way to a Golden opportunity. I speak from experience...Just recently was demoted again for expressing opinions contrary to managements enlightened position.
I would suggest not looking in South Dakota, they are fast gaining the reputation among some of lacking vision in your field of endeavor.
What's with the S.D. bashing
05-03-2001, 04:42 PM
Man, true colors are shining through. I've been a life long resident of S.D. and the people here are very hard working honest and dependable. Just because a overzealous C.O. made a decision that many witnessed and felt was unfair you needent bash the remainder of the population. I've always tried to help put nonresidents on fish (unless their fishing against me in a tourney :) ) I truly do hope that this stereotyping of South Dakotan's as @##holes stops, there's alot of good people here, if you don't believe me come on over and find out for yourself... Dutchman, Jeff Den Herder... denherderj@hotmail.com
cisco
05-03-2001, 05:58 PM
I'll never regret having voted for George McGovern. Opps, that's "politics," isn't it? Sorry about that.
Tick Tock
05-04-2001, 03:19 AM
You need to read my post more comprehensively, my friend. I did not bash the people. I will admit to being critical of the SD GF & P, or at least one neferious representative of the Department.
She is looking for employment possibilities with a Parks Department as I read her post. Heck this guy could end up being her boss, who knows.
I really did not believe that the GF & P employed the entire State of SD. It doesn't does it? :-)
Juls_WI
05-04-2001, 03:31 AM
I believe WAeyes is a "he", and he already is working for the Parks dept.. He's wondering if he should be thinking of changing jobs.
This has nothing to do with SD at all. Some people just try to be funny. Unfortunately, it doesn't always come across that way. Especially when it's at someone else's expense.
Juls
Backwater Eddy
05-04-2001, 03:51 AM
LAST EDITED ON May-04-01 AT 05:53AM (CST)[p]
Call me crazy, and I am sure you may already have at least once WAlleyes, but why not just ask them why you have been passed up point blank. Go with the in there face Wuuuzzzzzup with this crap approach.
What may appear to be political jockeying may be nothing like it at all? Hay even if it is put them on the spot and get there attention that you are suspicious of your place in the future of this organization.
You sound as if your mind is set to look elsewhere already so nothing ventured nothing gained but a piece of mind.
WooF-Woof!
:)
Backwater Eddy.........><>
Not sure what you mean by "politics" -- I don't play that game -- but there is a single-sentence solution to success in any workplace.
"Do what it takes to make your boss look good to his boss, and make sure your boss knows you're the one doing it."
Hans
bob oh
05-04-2001, 04:26 AM
LAST EDITED ON May-04-01 AT 06:26AM (CST)[p]You're right Hans, but some people call that "playing politics or kissing a...." I call it working smart and understanding the real world.
Bob
WAeyes
05-04-2001, 04:42 AM
That "should" be a true statement Hans, but I have been doing just that, not to the point of kissing hiney but constantly making my boss look good. It has got me nowhere. Maybe if I would have spent more time in the office slamming everyone in the department? It doesn't matter what you know, it's who you............
>That "should" be a true statement Hans....
I've been "making my own way in life" (very successfully) since I was 14 (46 years ago) and I have never seen a >single< exception. Don't mean to be a smart-a$$, but every failure I have seen in life is based on attitude.... EVERY one.
Hans
WAeyes
05-04-2001, 05:47 AM
You are right. I do have a bad attitude. Not about the work I do or the work that is expected of me, but about gathering around and bashing people that aren't there to stick up for themselves. Because I won't do this, I am told I'm lacking "communication skills" and won't socialize. My attitude towards my job, or my work, is great.
TICK , TOCK
05-04-2001, 06:02 AM
I think you also need to read more carfully what was posted. I may have missed the gender, however, I am not certain that is evident. Even so, gender makes no difference.
And just whose expense do you think it was "at"? Certainly not WAeyes, which was not intended. I understand that he/she is seeking a job change which has nothing necessarily to do with SD at large and potentially everything to do with the SD GF & PARKS. I do think you may have herein captured the suspected attitude accurately though. :-)
Sorry, but I didn't say you had a bad attitude.
I said that failures in the workplace were (in my experience) 100% the result of bad attitude.
I recommend that Scott delete this whole thread.
Hans
spoken like true conservative. The head cheese is always right. Right?
I find in the companies I have work for most execs are spineless, un-moral beings. And those are the people that get promoted, people just like them. Most of the time they dont want to do things differently or hear anything that doesnt agree with them. Dont worry about not getting promoted. If you can go home and hold your head high and still call yourself a man, then you are doing it right. People that have to walk around acting phony and kiss-a$$y are weak. Work to live, not live to work. NO one will ever remember you by what you did in your job and your job will be there long after your gone.
LAST EDITED ON May-04-01 AT 08:53AM (CST)[p]> NO one will ever remember you by what you did in your
> job and your job will be there long after your gone.
I expect you're right; in fact I count on it.
Prominently displayed in my office for all to see is a sign which says:
"Don't forget until too late that the business of life is not business, but living."
Next to it is a sign which says:
"Under-promise, Over-deliver."
It's all in attitude, absolutely 100%.
Hans
If its 100% all the time what are you doing surfing during work hours for (lol)
Have you seen my job description? ;-)