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Archive for the ‘Power Plays’ Category

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 ...

A Twisted Tornado of Office Politics



Dear Office-Politics, I was recently involved in a TWISTED TORNADO of office politics. At the time, I had no clue I was actually in the "clique". I got close to a fellow employee who knew everyone... talked to everyone and talked about EVERYONE! She was promoted (although unqualified) because of her "personal" ...

Animal training to solve office politics problems



Dear Office-Politics, I have been having difficulty with a fellow administrator coming in behind me and directing employees as he sees fit, contradicting the tasks that I have already assigned. The employee doesn't know which one to follow and so they follow the one who is there at the time ...

Part II: Success has created jealousy



Dear Office Politics, (First off, thanks for hosting and operating this site, you gave me some very valuable advice many years ago. So now I'm back again with a new dilemma for your experts.) About one year ago I joined a new startup company as a department head, one level below top ...

She was furious I blind-cc-ed the email to my boss



Dear Office-Politics, I have just been confirmed as a Communications Executive after 6 months being on probation. I have a good relationship with my boss, who's got strong views about building up the company's image and branding. Since we do a lot of discussion on PR and communications matters, some of ...

Ex-team member has my boss in his pocket



Dear Office-Politics, I am in a real mess at work. I am having a lot of trouble getting along with an incredibly popular ex-team member. There are a number of personal reasons for this (he takes everyone to the pub every lunchtime and stifles other people's attempts to arrange things socially, and ...

Part II: Demoted for criticizing my boss



Dear Office-Politics, I’m an Army cadet at an elite military academy in the U.S. Last semester, I was promoted to one of the highest positions in my class by the faculty officer in charge. The only person higher than me was a cadet with a rank that made him my boss. I ...