shmolitics

I know that office politics are present in every workplace. It is a universal constant. The office politics in a call center are fueled, exclusively, by the desire to get off of and stay off of the phones. If you are seen as a threat to anyone in a coveted position, you will become a target. I have been subjected to many brutal attacks of unfair judgment, and it has made me realize that the only person truly concerned about my welfare is me. If you are overheard saying anything that may, even remotely, be considered as "unbecoming someone in a leadership position", you will be labeled for the remainder of your employment within that company. You will consistently not be considered for promotions, and you will eventually be strong-armed out of your position and, quite possibly, out of your job completely.

My advice is this: Know who your opponents are and watch them like a hawk. Don't try to befriend them. Keep your eyes open, your mouth shut, and write everything down. Someone is always listening. They make it their job to limit your career. Don't play their game and don't give them any ammunition. They have convinced themselves and everyone else that they are acting solely in yours and the company's best interests. They are vicious and self serving and the sooner we can expose them for the backstabbing predators they are, the better off we will all be.

If you have trouble recognizing these people, here are some tips that may be helpful:

- Be wary of anyone that is perpetually cheerful and friendly. Nobody is in a good mood all of the time and anyone that pretends to be is a liar.

- Be wary of anyone that uses phrases like "perception is reality" and "fake it til you make it". Both of these phrases encourage being a fraud. Anyone that actually believes the logic behind these phrases has built their careers around presenting themselves as something they are not, for the sake of their own self preservation within the company.

- Be suspicious of anyone that pulls you aside to give you a "coaching conversation" regarding the way that you present yourself. If they are criticizing your expressive nature when you speak or the way that you laugh out loud when something strikes you as funny, it is because they are afraid of how YOU will make THEM look.

- Finally, be wary of anyone in a position of authority that will freely discuss the shortcomings of other associates. If they are willing to talk about them to you, they are certainly willing to discuss your faults with anyone who will liste