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Franke James is Editor/Founder of Office-Politics.com and Inventor of the Office-Politics® Game. Peter R. Garber has worked as an HR professional for over 25 years and is the author of many business books including: Winning the Rat Race at Work and 100 Ways to Get on the Wrong Side of your Boss. Dina Beach Lynch, is an Ombudsman, Author and former attorney. An award-winning mediator, Dina served as the Corporate Ombudsman for the 7th largest bank in the US helping over 48,000 employees to resolve workplace issues. Dr. Rick Brandon is CEO of Brandon Partners. He has consulted and trained tens of thousands at corporations worldwide, including Fortune 500 companies across a variety of industries. Dr. Marty Seldman is one of America's most experienced executive coaches. His 35-year career includes expertise in executive coaching, group dynamics, cross-cultural studies, clinical psychology, and training. Arnie Herz, is a lawyer, mediator, speaker, author and consultant nationally recognized for his practical and inspired approach to conflict resolution and client counseling. Dr. John Burton LL.B. M.B.A. M.Div. Ph.D. is an ethicist, mediator, lawyer and theologian. John is currently located in Prince Rupert, B.C., Canada, working with Canada's aboriginal communities. |
Most of these people have had their jobs awhile and look at me as a threat because I know the owner...
March 2006 Dear Office-Politics, I have an issue. The situation is that I work for a privately owned company that is large and global about a little over a billion a year in sales the headquarters are in Europe. I work here in the North American headquarters. My brother grew up with the owner's son (friend A) and is basically best friends with him to this day but he lives in Europe now. Two years ago my brothers friend (friend A's) older brother came here to the States for a type of sabbatical (had just sold his company in Europe). We quickly became friends on an older brother/mentor type of level; he vouched for me to get in with one of the companies in the group here in North America and then went back to Europe to consult for the mother company. I do not have a degree and so obviously that was a huge foot in the door, the plans that they set for me was to learn all aspects of the company by way of starting in one department and stay 8-9 months and then transfer to another. The problem with this is that most of these people have had their jobs awhile and look at me as a threat b/c I know the owner, and treating me like I was a temp and just passing through. Since the owner or his son are not here in the states and have bigger issue to think about not me here in the States. The upper management is not motivated to make sure that my "Plan" is not forgotten or pushed to the side. Not one person here truly takes my employment here seriously, and my age doesn't help 25yr old. The current vice president of this company here in North America is young and feeds me BS constantly by acting like he is on my side, however if I was Joe Schmo he would probably not acknowledge me at all. There was a chance for me to move to another department coming straight from the president but it was a position that your ability is easier to judge and pay potential is greater. The vice president saw me right before the meeting and told me they were going to try and move me but that I should say no and stay in my current position, and that he was going to make me more in charge of my current department. It has been two months and nothing has happened and he will not talk directly about it he just uses innuendos. Sorry I'm writhing so much but the dynamics are so wide that it could be a soap opera and the two cups of coffee don't help. I basically want to besuccessful in my job but I keep being used as a device to play co-workers against myself and upper management. I would ultimately like to hold a management position in time. I don't think there is really a direct question in here but I would really like your advice b/c these guys have 25-35 years of office politics on me. Help I feel like I'm drowning! Drowning Dear Drowning, It is great to have the ambition to become a manager. To be a truly great manager (which is a type of leader), you need to develop many skills and qualities. Here are a few pointers: 1. Be 100% responsible for yourself, your happiness, your desires, your success 2. Don't look for handouts from others The list can go on for pages. There are many great books and courses on leadership, self-empowerment and personal growth. Go for it and allow you innate greatness to come forth. If you heed this advice, your career trajectory will be brilliant. If you don't, the victim story you write below will continue for the rest of your life in one form or the other. Let me know what happens. Thanks for writing to Office-Politics. Arnie Herz Arnie Herz, Esq. Feedback from Drowning I would like to thank you both [Arnie and Franke] for the time and thought you have put into my email. I will take the advice you have given me and put it into action. I think it will not only help me in my professional life but also in my personal life. Again thank you very much for your response! Regards Drowning
The Ethics Letters that appears as a feature of this Website is an educational and discussion oriented column designed to help the reader better understand ethical issues. The matters discussed in the letter are reviewed in a summary/abbreviated way and are only meant to foster thinking on the part of the reader. If a person decides to adopt or implement suggestions, they do so at their own risk. No representation or warranty is provided in relation to suggestions or the contents of the letter. Neither the authors of the letter, Franke James, John W. Burton, Rick Brandon, Marty Seldman, Arnie Herz or the owners of this Website accept any liability whatsoever for any opinions expressed in the letter or for errors and omissions. Submission of letters to the Office-Politics Forum grants the Publisher, Nerdheaven Ltd. the right to reproduce, republish, repurpose and excerpt the submission in any and all other media, without compensation or contacting the author. Copyright Nerdheaven Ltd. 2002-2005
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