Don’t steal my idea!
November 17, 2009 – 3:25 pm10 tips to help you grow (& get credit for) your next brainchild
Stealing Ideas cartoon
Imagine what your office would be like if everyone walked around with big signs saying, “Don’t steal my idea!”
It would be laughable, pathetic — and of course it wouldn’t work. That ridiculous image came to mind when Globe and Mail reporter Dave McGinn, called me up for a story about co-workers ripping off ideas. Companies would grind to a halt if no one was willing to share their thoughts. So what can we do to create an environment where people will see that sharing their ideas is actually their greatest source of power? More…
Be Strategic to Achieve Your Dreams
Book review by Franke James:
Being Strategic: Plan for Success; Out-Think Your Competitors; Stay Ahead of Change
Author: Erika Andersen Being Strategic: Plan for Success; Out-Think Your Competitors; Stay Ahead of Change
Most reviewers have focused on Being Strategic for its value in business planning. But I’d like to talk to you about reading it to help you achieve your life’s dreams — and to build your Castle-on-the-Hill.
Two Gossipy Queen Bees Rule
Dear Office-Politics,
I have been in my job for a little over a year. I am approximately 15 years older than most of my colleagues. I am younger than my supervisor and her supervisor. They are both very happy with my performance and I love what I do.
The problem is that the group I work with (8 people) is made up of early to mid-twenties (except for one my age) who are gossipy and attached at the hip. They eat lunch together nearly every day. They discuss those not at lunch. When confronted with an issue at work they discuss it as a group and fear voicing their opinions in meetings (two queen bees rule the roost). I can handle most of this just fine. I stay out of gossip and focus on performing well. The issue for me is that they have the mentality that there needs to be group socialization outside of work. I have never felt pressured in my nearly 20 years as a working professional to socialize with an entire group outside of work. I’ll respect you and work with you at work but don’t want to sacrifice time to be with people who I would never socialize with in the “real world.”
Our employee is a friend (but she is turning into a monster!)
Dear Office-Politics,
Help! My husband and I founded our business together over 25 years ago. We have been actively involved in the business together as partners. I am well qualified with vast business experience, including being a legal secretary. The company grew steadily and was profitable.
Flash forward: We started a new company when we were swindled out of our former business. Our growth has necessitated hiring more help – 2 friends, and our daughter-in-law. One woman is extraordinarily intelligent, and very capable. She apparently thinks it is her job to run the office completely and seems annoyed whenever I’m involved. She knows that I am her supervisor and “boss.” She has defined part time hours. My husband told her in a joint meeting that she was the office manager (my title) without speaking with me about it.
How to deal with a dismissive, disrespectful and arrogant employee?
Dear Office Politics,
As a director of marketing, I manage a great team of nine in a large organization. Lately I’m experiencing some challenges from a senior member of the team (let’s call her Sharon). Based on her proven and potential ability, I have sent Sharon on a major conference, provided financial recognition for work well done, been supportive in some interpersonal issues, and given her the lead on important projects. However, considering she reports to me, her behavior towards me has increasingly felt dismissive, disrespectful and arrogant.
Demotion is a bitter pill to swallow
Dear Office-Politics,
I work for a government agency where the Executive Director is a political appointment, rather than a hire based on knowledge and experience.
Since this Director started, it has become obvious that he holds in small regard employees who have advanced program technical knowledge and skills, unless those employees are in a management position. This I firmly believe stems from his lack of experience in what we do and how difficult the work is. The cultural climate at our agency has become one that revolves around the power of management and the “executive team” (the new name for our top administrators). The book our Executive Director most often quotes from is “From Good to Great”. The concept that appalls me the most in this book deals with management “shaking things up” by getting the wrong people off the bus, and the right people on. Bus being our agency. “Wrong people” seems to be me!
Did my trainer sabotage my efforts?
Dear Office-Politics,
I’m currently in a 8-week internship and have 2 weeks left and need to finish strong and gracefully. During my internship, I was assigned to someone who’s supposed to teach me about the experimental methods and data analysis of my project. Nevertheless, he has consistently delayed me and made me wait on several occasions. I understand that he’s busy, but the delay got so great that I confronted him about it and he self-corrected and made an effort to show me some of the experimental methods.
My suspicion is that he’s in self-preservation mode and doesn’t want me to come in, perform well, and potentially take his job; even though he has a PhD with respected publications and I only have a BS. Also, he’s a foreigner and doesn’t have good English skills.
Barbed remarks & rumors in new job
Dear Office-Politics,
Recently I was unlucky enough to lose my job. Then after around three months of interviewing, I landed another job. I am young and have been reasonably successful so far in my career. The problem is another executive’s assistant who sits just outside my new office. I have known “Virginia” for 3 years from my previous job, although not well, we were friendly when we saw each other.
On my first day she told me not to get too excited about my office as it was “supposed to be hers.” I have joined the company as a VP and she has been there for at least 8 years and is an assistant/coordinator (and is older than me).
Every day Virginia makes some kind of barbed remark, even though I am trying my very best to be extra friendly and polite. I hear her on the phone all day speaking to other members of staff and she is rude, often shouts and even scares the interns that sit near her with her phone manner. She also seems emotional (on the first day she was crying on the phone, it was business rather than personal related). Her manager, however seems to like her (they have been working together for 8 years).
Director to Intern, “You understand that you are not allowed to leave, right?”
Dear Office Politics,
At the end of my internship, a wealth of job opportunities will be open to me. I already have two solid job offers that my current organization cannot compete with. The problem is that the Director of my organization and my immediate boss have both told me that I cannot leave, because they have invested too much time and money on training and “mentoring” me. The worst was a phone call from my Director where he said “You understand that you are not allowed to leave, right? We do have an understanding?” I laughed nervously and said “Okay, bye.” I was in utter shock.
Coworker is trying to get me fired.
Dear Office Politics, Last month I was written up at work for tardiness, I was given a few days off from work as part of my write up. Since then I am trying to lay low. I have straightened up and don’t want any problems. There is one coworker Eric (pseudonym) that told lies to my supervisor Jim, in an attempt to get me fired. Jim dismissed it and told me to forget about. Eric ignores me while on the job and I know he is trying his best to get me fired or in trouble. He keeps spreading lies. All I want to do is show up for work and go home. I hate all this childish behavior. I don’t want to tell my boss because I am trying to stay off of his and everyone’s radar for a while.
My problem… My Manager.
Dear Office-Politics
I work for a very large world-wide distribution center. My location, however, is a very small “off spring” branch that has only two employees, myself and the branch manager. Let me start by saying I love my job! I love the people I deal with over the phone, the few walk in customers and the work load.
My problem… My Manager. I am at my wits end. I honestly don’t know where to turn. I know that if I were to do the things my boss does, I would have been fired! He spends most of his days surfing the internet and posting in chat rooms. When he’s not playing on the computer he’s on his cell phone. He is a part time police officer and many a time he is called away for police related work. He has left our store to go to court. I am told that if upper management calls, I’m to say he is on a sales call. Upper Management is aware of his part time position, but has little knowledge of his leaving our office for his police duties. Several days at work he is so tired from his night shift that he will go into his office to sleep for hours. I am told not to disturb him…
Win or lose in the first 5 minutes of a job interview
The first five minutes of any job interview are critical in the selection process. For candidates seeking employment at a job fair, an initial interview with a company may last only five minutes. A job seeker has to be qualified in order to get the job but there will always be several other people who are equally qualified as far as the interviewer is concerned. In the end, you will be hired because the interviewer personally likes you the best, not necessarily because you are the most qualified in the field of candidates. And many interviewers, especially in a job fair situation, will know whether or not he or she likes you the best within the first five minutes!
Plan for Success; Out-think Your Competitors; Stay Ahead of Change 
