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Response to "Excess Karmic Baggage" @ http://asp.thedailyenlightenment.com/59.htm#realization
14 Responses on "How to Deal with Office Politics"
1) I have the similar experience as your friends, hence, to date i have changed several jobs and were unhappy most of the time I left. I guess myself is a reserved person and tend to bottle up my unhappiness. The last employer I had was indeed mean to me, in fact I tried to practice my patience, however, to no avail. I never voice up my grievances knowing that she will not listen to my problems.
I guess I had learnt some valuable lessons from the message & my experiences as well, do not make any
assumptions when you encounter unhappiness in the workplace, seek answer why you are unhappy at work
(e.g, it could me ourselves that were wrong, not mindful at work which resulted the boss to be unhappy)
See yourself clearly, think before you do piece of task assign to you, check with your boss to clarify doubts, if you are unhappy, you should highlight voice it up and get possible help. Meditate to seek answer to
your unhappiness. I am hoping that I can apply this in my new job.
May all be well & happy.
with Metta, Sher
2) Hi, This is an interesting article and somehow it comes at the right time. I have just changed a new job and leaving my old job was not because of any bad reason but mainly I want to learn more new things. I miss the people over at the old place. I thought that moving to a new place means a fresh new start but somehow it is REALLY not what I expected.
My work scope is totally different from what they offer during my interview. THe people here are playing politics all the time. Though I know that this happens in nearly all companies, but seeing this scene repeat every day makes my life rather depressing.
What the article is correct. If we know the problem and fail to speak up, we will only carry this baggage
wherever we go. I failed to speak up for my rights, to fight for things that I want to do so there is no use
grumpling right?
Regards, Char
Response to "Excess Karmic Baggage" @ http://asp.thedailyenlightenment.com/59.htm#realization
14 Responses on "How to Deal with Office Politics"
1) I have the similar experience as your friends, hence, to date i have changed several jobs and were unhappy most of the time I left. I guess myself is a reserved person and tend to bottle up my unhappiness. The last employer I had was indeed mean to me, in fact I tried to practice my patience, however, to no avail. I never voice up my grievances knowing that she will not listen to my problems.
I guess I had learnt some valuable lessons from the message & my experiences as well, do not make any
assumptions when you encounter unhappiness in the workplace, seek answer why you are unhappy at work
(e.g, it could me ourselves that were wrong, not mindful at work which resulted the boss to be unhappy)
See yourself clearly, think before you do piece of task assign to you, check with your boss to clarify doubts, if you are unhappy, you should highlight voice it up and get possible help. Meditate to seek answer to
your unhappiness. I am hoping that I can apply this in my new job.
May all be well & happy.
with Metta, Sher
2) Hi, This is an interesting article and somehow it comes at the right time. I have just changed a new job and leaving my old job was not because of any bad reason but mainly I want to learn more new things. I miss the people over at the old place. I thought that moving to a new place means a fresh new start but somehow it is REALLY not what I expected.
My work scope is totally different from what they offer during my interview. THe people here are playing politics all the time. Though I know that this happens in nearly all companies, but seeing this scene repeat every day makes my life rather depressing.
What the article is correct. If we know the problem and fail to speak up, we will only carry this baggage
wherever we go. I failed to speak up for my rights, to fight for things that I want to do so there is no use
grumpling right?
Regards, Char
3) I don't totally agree with the approach....
1. There are many factors contributing why a person would rather remain silent.
2. There are instances whereby the boss and your peers relationships are extra-ordinary to the extent of covering up each other and when the peers backstap, and when u go and clarify the matters, it don't make any difference but instead it will be like opening up a can of worms and this and have dire negative impact on u. This does happens and I had witness it.
silences or not to silences remained very much on the situation, that's why u call it OFFICE POLITICS ---
---- SILENCE might be the best situation and one should decide whether or not to continue with the situation but one must not act on haste but given the situation a little more time to assess..................
WT TAN
WT TAN
4) Fellow Cubicle Dwellers,
Here are some suggestions I have found helpful in dealing with office life:
1.) "You don't see the world the way it is, you see it the way you are."
You may be upset about what you think someone else is thinking or doing, when actually it may just be the way you are seeing it rather than the way it actually is. Beware of the stories we get into the habit of
telling ourselves, many of which are not true. Be particularly mindful when it seems like the same story
is playing out over and over again, even as you go from workplace to workplace. Maybe you are carrying it with you wherever you go.
2.) "Take care of your own mind, even as those all around you are losing theirs."
The Buddha taught many practical ways of dealing with anger and other negative emotions. Practice them with diligence. You should always strive to be a positive influence on any situation you find yourself in, promoting harmony where others are sowing discord and strife, using gentle and kind words where others are being harsh and defensive. I guarantee this will make your experience of going to work a more pleasant one.
3.) "Focus on the process, not on the result."
Ultimately, individually we rarely have the power to control the situation we are in. Our company may be very successful or it may go broke, but in most cases it is not in our power to bring about or prevent
either of those outcomes. Even though we do a good job, we may get laid off if circumstances go against us. It is helpful to recognize how little control over outcomes most of us have - this it allows us to let go of the outcome and focus on what we do have absolute control over - our individual effort to be a positive presence for others, to do a good job simply for the sake of doing a good job, and to find
satisfaction in our work.
4.) "Happiness and peace is found within your own heart and mind - no one else can give those things to
you or take them from you."
If you are good at the office politics game, you may get a payback in ascending the ladder of office
success, but if your life is unhappy in your little cubicle, unless something else changes inside of you,
it will be just as unhappy in the penthouse office suite. Finally, remember the words of the Diamond Sutra:
"Thus shall ye look on all this fleeting world;
A star at dawn, a bubble in a stream,
A flash of lightning in a summer sky,
A flickering lamp, a phantom, and a dream."
Don't take it all too seriously.
Robert Cotterill, San Diego
5) What I think the most appropriate way to deal with office politics is to learn to say "no" with no ill feelings, and let your own behaviour speaks for itself.
May the triple gems be with you all!
Regards, Just me
6) I read this issue with much interest because in my current job I have been meeting several "ridiculous"
people that I just have to write about them. Both of them, one woman and one man at different points
actually threw tantrums, scream and shout at me with totally unjustifiable reasons. Just last Thursday,
this more senior and powerful man raised his voice at me. Seriously, I have never been talk to like that for the whole of my 30 years on this earth.
Being a woman, of course I cried afterwards and when I told my friends, they said I should complain about them. But I thought real hard about it and wonder what would really come out of complaining about them, will they apologise, changed for the better or make my life more difficult. Plus I always remember reading somewhere not to let another person's bad karma come into me as in I shouldn't take revenge as a Buddhist. I also recalled the Dalai Lama who even after his homeland being so stirred and torn by China, maintained his pro peace stance.
Then today at the hair salon, in a much relax mood, I suddenly realise that even though I shouldn't let
nasty unenlightened people run over me, I should let these experiences go and not let them have any effect on me. Truly the purpose of these people are to ruining us and make us feel bad, so the more they try, the more I shouldn't let them spoil my day and my outlook.
Of course its a fine line between a coward by not taking action against them and really letting go, but
I think since I have no concrete evidence against these people, the best thing I can do for myself is to
remember what happen but to let go in the end.
Qli
7) tell the truth and only the truth will suffice over times.
carry out your work in accordance to the company's guideline and rules.
when pointing out mistakes, based on facts and support your findings fully.
no favoring and creating small circles for your own benefits. exercise fairness.
avoid those who will back stab.
always on guard in anticipating situations to avoid uncontrolled situations.
s py
8) Your friend might also consider other possible courses of action to utilise in his next job, in addition to speaking up, rather than resigning. Ten jobs in 10 years may indicate some sort of a "self-fulfilling prophecy". (1) Is it possible that your friend expects, consciously or unconsciously, that things will not work out at any job, and so emanates and sows the seeds of negativity and distrust that come back to him. Does he, perhaps consciously or unconsciously, anticipate and fully expect that his colleagues, boss, etc. will let him down sooner or later, will be dishonest, will be backbiters, etc. and thus brings about or "attracts back" this behaviour from others. (2) Another possibility for him to reflect upon is this. Usually when we feel that everyone else -- everywhere we go -- is at fault, is going to let us down, does not hold to standards as high as ours, or is not as "evolved" as we are....it turns out that we're usually the cause of our own problem. We are lost in the mire of our own ego issues. We then have no true compassion or understanding for our boss/colleagues because we regard them as too different, not as conscientious or principled as ourselves. We don't see ourselves connected to them as fellow human beings, but rather view ourselves as separate and alone in our daily "battle" through life... Hope this helps.
Pat
D.R.
11) Dear Sirs,
6) I read this issue with much interest because in my current job I have been meeting several "ridiculous"
people that I just have to write about them. Both of them, one woman and one man at different points
actually threw tantrums, scream and shout at me with totally unjustifiable reasons. Just last Thursday,
this more senior and powerful man raised his voice at me. Seriously, I have never been talk to like that for the whole of my 30 years on this earth.
Being a woman, of course I cried afterwards and when I told my friends, they said I should complain about them. But I thought real hard about it and wonder what would really come out of complaining about them, will they apologise, changed for the better or make my life more difficult. Plus I always remember reading somewhere not to let another person's bad karma come into me as in I shouldn't take revenge as a Buddhist. I also recalled the Dalai Lama who even after his homeland being so stirred and torn by China, maintained his pro peace stance.
Then today at the hair salon, in a much relax mood, I suddenly realise that even though I shouldn't let
nasty unenlightened people run over me, I should let these experiences go and not let them have any effect on me. Truly the purpose of these people are to ruining us and make us feel bad, so the more they try, the more I shouldn't let them spoil my day and my outlook.
Of course its a fine line between a coward by not taking action against them and really letting go, but
I think since I have no concrete evidence against these people, the best thing I can do for myself is to
remember what happen but to let go in the end.
Qli
7) tell the truth and only the truth will suffice over times.
carry out your work in accordance to the company's guideline and rules.
when pointing out mistakes, based on facts and support your findings fully.
no favoring and creating small circles for your own benefits. exercise fairness.
avoid those who will back stab.
always on guard in anticipating situations to avoid uncontrolled situations.
s py
8) Your friend might also consider other possible courses of action to utilise in his next job, in addition to speaking up, rather than resigning. Ten jobs in 10 years may indicate some sort of a "self-fulfilling prophecy". (1) Is it possible that your friend expects, consciously or unconsciously, that things will not work out at any job, and so emanates and sows the seeds of negativity and distrust that come back to him. Does he, perhaps consciously or unconsciously, anticipate and fully expect that his colleagues, boss, etc. will let him down sooner or later, will be dishonest, will be backbiters, etc. and thus brings about or "attracts back" this behaviour from others. (2) Another possibility for him to reflect upon is this. Usually when we feel that everyone else -- everywhere we go -- is at fault, is going to let us down, does not hold to standards as high as ours, or is not as "evolved" as we are....it turns out that we're usually the cause of our own problem. We are lost in the mire of our own ego issues. We then have no true compassion or understanding for our boss/colleagues because we regard them as too different, not as conscientious or principled as ourselves. We don't see ourselves connected to them as fellow human beings, but rather view ourselves as separate and alone in our daily "battle" through life... Hope this helps.
Pat
9) I am realizing that many factors must come togeather to cause such things to happen in our lives.Be it good or bad.It all comes togeather to be the "condition" that you experience in life.The cause and effect we here so much about in Buddhism.As in office politics and gossip...all those people have come together from our past karma to create the condition one finds themselves in.I find if I keep my patience,lay low and just observe whats around me,even simply a word spoken I will find out the so called condition within the condition that generated the effect.TRY IT.PATIENCE IN YOUR SILENCE AND OBSERVATION !!!
D.R.
10) As we all know, office politics happens at almost all workplace. The ones causing the problems are the truly "sleeping" ones. The ones who suffer are the ones who are targeted or scapegoat'ed. There are many reasons, and the usual ones are jealously and competition. I have come across my share of it. In the past, I usually ignore. Just let it past. Or if I can circumvent it without retaliating, I will do so.
I really think whatever it is, my usual response is, "How to make it right?", or "How to neutralise it?", or "How to stop it?". I tend to reject it, because I feel unpleasant. It "hurts" me. The very moment I reject it, I have entered into a habit. I am no longer mindful. No longer awake. I think the best way out is to be aware of my hurt. To be aware of my thoughts. To be aware of what I am telling my self in my mind. Stop resisting. Stop rejecting the hurt. By being aware, I begin to learn more about myself. More about my anger, and how I have automatically react.
It may seem silly to you. My approach seems docile, perhaps too timid. I tell myself, if I can remain awake and not be attached to my reactions, to my hurt... then now I am centred. Now I begin to experience what Buddha experience. Not easy to remain awake... so easily drifted. I guess that's why the Theravada tradition is so focused on Mindfulness & Insight meditation. Hope this sharing is useful. I can share more about it, but I wonder if it makes sense to my fellow Dharma followers.
Metta, Tony
11) Dear Sirs,
I have read your article with great interest. As your article had only revealed part of this person's problem, we need to explore deeper as to the reason or reasons for being back-stabbed by his colleagues.
Keeping silence might not be the root of his problem, as it could go further than that - e.g. fighting for promotions and recognitions, overshadowing his colleagues without him realising it, being reserved, etc. It could go on and on as to the actual reasons why his colleagues were back-stabbing him.
We have to bear in mind that in order to be happy we need to be mindful and make our environment happy as well. Moreover, all problems are self-created and we need to apply our wisdom to evaluate what might be the likely cause for being an easy and eager target of his colleagues to back-stabbed him.
With Metta, K K Tan
12) Based on my 30 yrs working experience as a supervisor and a subordinate, the best way to deal with office politics is not to get yourself involved in the office politics. If there are different camps in the office, don't make yourself belong to any camp but be yourself. Try to learn as much as possible and do your work conscientiously. Render help to anyone who needs your help. Do your chanting quietly whenever there is an opportunity. By doing this, you will find that whichever camp is in power you are still yourself and out of the power struggling circle.
with Buddha's blessing, sock kwang
13) When you open your mouth to talk about "bad" in job, WELCOME to the door of office politics.
Let go, let everything go. Why hold? We already been 'tight' with our this body, thought and family, other thing. Just let go.... The more we hold the more we suffer...13) When you open your mouth to talk about "bad" in job, WELCOME to the door of office politics.
Anatta metta
14) Hello. Good day. Currently, I am quite "blessed" (so say), as I am not involved in any kind of "office politics", small or big (or perhaps, I am too insignificant to be involved in these corporate chess games...). In my previous workplace, however, office politics are common.
Besides office politics, I think, some of us would have to, on a day-to-day basis, deal with our immediate colleagues whose behaviour could range anything from unco-operative to downright rudeness to absolute 'coldness'. While one may avoid office politics... one cannot avoid one's immediate team mates. Applying Buddha's teachings, we would be able to respond to both (i) office politics and (ii) unreasonable colleagues with greater ease of mind [Note: I used the term, "respond to" instead of handle].
If (i) we retaliate against a hostile colleague, (ii) return an unkind act with similar act of unkindness, (iii) engage in "double-tongue", (iv) 'unintentional' back-stabbing i.e. complaining behind a person's back, etc,
then be prepared to receive similar treatment. It is a vicious cycle. It would not stop unless we decide to end it somehow. How to end this unnecessary cycle? Is silence the answer? The answer being, Yes and No. Appraise the situation before embarking on the correct next-course of action (note: Applying calmness. Once you're calm, things become clearer, though not necessarily wiser).
In cases where one is being wronged because of some misunderstanding, stay calm. Let the dust settle first. But it is not easy because if one is being wronged, it will be difficult to subdue our pride and anger. Our first reaction? Retaliate! Or at best, we try to talk sensibly to the other party. Psychologically, however, trying to defend oneself would make matters worst because the other party will become even more infuriated. Silence and calmness are liken to cotton wool. For a person who practise such attributes, he or she receives minimal impact. Internally, one remains peaceful. On the other hand, the offending party would be seen as the aggressor, hence, receives the greatest impact [unless the offending party has absolutely no qualms of hurting people deliberately].
Silence may not be the best method in cases where one has to defend himself or herself on-the-spot because there would be no second chance. Defend back, if necessary. But the fundamental principle of Calmness would never change. If one lacks calmness, one loses ground, even if one not guility of any
wrongdoings.
It takes tremendous amount of courage to (i) right a wrong and (ii) stand for the truth. In cases of misjustice, we would need to show that we're no pushovers without trying to be overbearing.
At the end of the day, I cannot prescribe a complete solution. Events are dynamic and people's behaviour are volatile. Only through a good grasp of Buddha's fundamental teachings, can one respond to unfriendly situations at greater ease and flexibility.
Have a nice day ahead.
Amitabha. Regards, Jee Meng
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