Games People Play
WHEN you join the corporate world, there will be times when you might feel that you are a marionette, being manipulated. In all possibility you are. Welcome to the world of the various games that are played out in corporate offices across the world.
Clever persuasion
Persuasion of all kinds is the main ball game. You could be persuaded to stay back and complete your superior's work. Then again you could be `convinced' that it would be good for your career to work eighteen hours everyday. You could also be gently persuaded to sign the voucher copy, which should actually be signed by the senior.
If you need the job desperately, you might go along with it. But if you do not, and you would like to hold on to your moral values, then you might take a stand and be firm. Many a time, the greenhorns in the corporate world get swayed by the seniors and cannot speak their minds for fear of losing the newly acquired job. But not everyone in the hierarchy is nasty and manipulative. There are good people everywhere and it is up to you to find the right person to trust and spill the beans!
Office politics
There are those who are in the good books of the management and then there are those yearning to get there. Finally, there are those who don't care a fig about the books or otherwise— they just do their job and stay out of all the muck that flies around in the office.
You have to maintain a cool demeanour. Do your work to the best of your ability and, under no circumstances allow yourself to express a statement against anyone— takes a lot of tact and oodles of diplomacy to stay away from that `guileless creature' who will con you into expressing your views on a contentious issue and before you know it, the whole office will be raring to get at your throat!
The mechanisms in place
Most corporate offices have a good HR team in place, which helps maintain sanity and balance. One can seek their help.
Generally the teams are headed by compassionate but level- headed people who are very good at separating the chaff from the grain.
Once you have spoken to such a person, you feel relaxed and would be able to get back to work with equanimity.
This kind of a set up protects the interests of the company as well as those of the employees. If there is no one you can talk to, you get so upset that you might want to leave.
This would be a loss to the company, as it would not want to lose you, especially after it has spent a small fortune on your training.
If your company does not have such a person in the HR, then maybe you could talk to a compassionate senior who may be able to help you with your problem.
One thing is true. The games will carry on in their quiet subtle way.
It is you who has to spruce up and learn the ropes so that you do not get to be the `dummy' or the `fall guy'!
SHYAMOLA KHANNA
faqs@cnkonline.com
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