Do you "play the game" at work?

Wanderer2010

Are you someone who will kiss up to the right person, listen to the dramas of certain people and hang others all in the name of climbing the ladder and getting on, promotions etc? I know there is a certain amount needed to get by in life but on the whole, would you play the game or do you prefer the quiet life of working, coming home and forgetting about it, even if you suffer as a result?

The Backwards Man

I'd suck my bosses' balls if I could.

I'm self employed.

Kylo Ren

I like games.

Captain_Generic

I find brooding silently in the corner works for me, content in the fact that if I get in early enough I can dip my balls in the coffee machines water

dodderangler

The Backwards Man wrote: »

I'd suck my bosses' balls if I could.

I'm self employed.

Then hire some employees and get ya balls sucked off them

dobman88

Yes, im not in work to make friends, im there to climb the ladder, quickly, and look after myself. Promotion would mean more money with a lighter work load so if I hang a few people on the way it wouldn't bother me

KeithM89

Awww i thought you were on about having a danger-**** in a cubicle before someone else came in.

Degag

Nah, I try to be nice to everyone tbh.

leggo

You need to play a certain amount of 'the game' to look after your own best interests, but you also need to be able to stick up for yourself and take 'the man' to task too. That's something I think I've balanced out over the past couple of years.

Ireland favours people who play the game, we're too lazy and apathetic in our work lives to judge people on merit. I've been the guy who tells my bosses off and it's **** on actual good work I've done. You get no thanks being a rebel without a cause. It's a dumb naive attitude, not brave and rebellious as it's often made out to be.

Das Kissen

I live my life through the 48 laws of power by Robert Green.

B.A._Baracus

I never 'played the game' in any job I had. My mentality was always screw the job. They are employing me now but could be sent down the road in 6 months.

minidazzler

I love my job, but I kiss up to no one, I drink with and talk to everyone (it's a bar). I'm more friendly with some than others, but I'm friendly with everyone, If someone pisses me off I'll tell them.

Rezident

No which is partly why I don't get promoted but I'd rather go home early and do important stuff instead.

Like right now I'm sitting in my pants, eating chocolate and watching Barcelona while my colleagues will all be in work for at least another hour or so

Ruudi_Mentari

The Backwards Man wrote: »

I'd suck my bosses' balls if I could.

I'm self employed.

Sickophant!

Citycap

I'd do anything to move up the ladder and away from the common folk

Cody Pomeray

At first I thought you meant charades.
Anyone remember this classic on a Saturday evening?

Yes, charades, *live on TV*

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urfYViamhw8

--Kaiser--

There's being successful at all costs and there's being able to look at yourself in the mirror in the morning.
So, no, I don't play 'the game'

Sofiztikated

Not particularly. A promotion above where I am at the moment means a fúckton more work, for very little payoff.

Was previously at a higher level, and I stepped down. Couldn't deal with the stress, was affecting my relationship, my happiness, and my health. Wasn't worth it.

On the other hand, it does seem like the ones that do well, don't particularly give a fúck about the work.

George Huxley 1983

dobman88 wrote: »

Yes, im not in work to make friends, im there to climb the ladder, quickly, and look after myself. Promotion would mean more money with a lighter work load so if I hang a few people on the way it wouldn't bother me

This man has obviously never been promoted before

witnessmenow

I think everyone plays the game a little bit. Ever go on work nights out that you didnt want to go on just cause you should show face... playing the game right there

--Kaiser--

Sofiztikated wrote: »

On the other hand, it does seem like the ones that do well, don't particularly give a fúck about the work.

In my experience, many business people who climb the ladder just play the game, suck up the right people, hang the right people, take credit for other peoples work and are generally worse than useless at their job, and I mean criminally inept. They also seem to be people with no friends or life outside of work

krudler

Nope, I come in, do my job and go home. There's way too much bullsh1t and drama and cliquey behaviour in here as it is.

Stojkovic

krudler wrote: »

Nope, I come in, do my job and go home. There's way too much bullsh1t and drama and cliquey behaviour in here as it is.

Me too.
And God help anyone who tries to hang me or grass on me. I hate snakes.

ILikeFriday

What shocks me, and maybe I'm naive, is the extent to which "playing the game" actually works.

Can everyone else in the office not see when one person has taken credit for anothers work, when someone has exercised a complete double-standards in how they treat people, when someones work "friends" are a bunch that is exclusively made up of the "right" people?

Celly Smunt

Yes I do,work isn't a place to be personal,its work.Ill step all over anybody's toes if I know it will benefit me.I might sound like a dick saying it that way,but im not in work to make friends or stagnate with a group of people.Its not college,its work.

April O Neill

ILikeFriday wrote: »

What shocks me, and maybe I'm naive, is the extent to which "playing the game" actually works.

I know, it's depressing.

April O Neill

Celly Smunt wrote: »

Yes I do,work isn't a place to be personal,its work.Ill step all over anybody's toes if I know it will benefit me.I might sound like a dick saying it that way

Yup.

Nobody said you have to be friends with your colleagues but why does that mean one must walk all over people?

Celly Smunt

April O Neill wrote: »

Yup.

Nobody said you have to be friends with your colleagues but why does that mean one must walk all over people?

Why should I sit back for the people I don't know to step all over me?.In work you either grab it or watch somebody else take it,and im not prepared to allow somebody else take for the sake of being nice to people.

ILikeFriday

Celly Smunt wrote: »

Why should I sit back for the people I don't know to step all over me?.In work you either grab it or watch somebody else take it,and im not prepared to allow somebody else take for the sake of being nice to people.

Ok, you've made it clear being nice to these people for the sake of being nice isn't important to you, but do you not worry that this tactic will come back to haunt you? If you annoy enough people, could that not have a detrimental affect on you at all?

April O Neill

Celly Smunt wrote: »

Why should I sit back for the people I don't know to step all over me?.In work you either grab it or watch somebody else take it

You don't have to sit back and "let somebody else take it". Being assertive without being a cock is possible, though not everyone is blessed with this skill.

Celly Smunt

ILikeFriday wrote: »

Ok, you've made it clear being nice to these people for the sake of being nice isn't important to you, but do you not worry that this tactic will come back to haunt you? If you annoy enough people, could that not have a detrimental affect on you at all?

Not really,its not like im making their lives hell or being in their face all the time.Im just saying when the situation arises when its me against somebody else I'll favour myself always and never be guilty about the other person.

Celly Smunt

April O Neill wrote: »

You don't have to sit back and "let somebody else take it". Being assertive without being a cock is possible, though not everyone is blessed with this skill.

Of course you can be assertive without being a dick,work however isn't a charity nor is it a place to extended your personal life.You either eat or be eaten.

Senna

ILikeFriday wrote: »

Ok, you've made it clear being nice to these people for the sake of being nice isn't important to you, but do you not worry that this tactic will come back to haunt you? If you annoy enough people, could that not have a detrimental affect on you at all?

In my work you get to a level where you are the boss and if you are doing the job right, some employees wont particularly like you. You can worry about what people think or you can do the job correctly, if you upset people along the way, so be it.

ILikeFriday

Senna wrote: »

In my work you get to a level where you are the boss and if you are doing the job right, some employees wont particularly like you. You can worry about what people think or you can do the job correctly, if you upset people along the way, so be it.

I wouldn't regard doing the job correctly as "playing the game" in the first place. I'm talking about screwing people over, licking up to some people, shunning others, taking credit where it's not due etc. - the underhanded stuff.

jimgoose

I'm a classically trained programmer and a systems administrator, so I'm both a navel-gazing nerd and an antisocial psychopath. None of the carbon units ever attempt to tell me "office gossip", for some reason. That's just fine.

dobman88

George Huxley 1983 wrote: »

This man has obviously never been promoted before

Been promoted already, after only 14 months. Next one shouldn't be too far away either, like I said im looking after myself only

NickDunne

The island of saints & scholars...and gombeens & fcukin' arselickers

Everyone plays 'the game' to some extent.

Realt Dearg Sec

Celly Smunt wrote: »

Of course you can be assertive without being a dick,work however isn't a charity nor is it a place to extended your personal life.You either eat or be eaten.

Sounds like a sh1t job. Maybe you should work on finding a place to work where everyone isn't such a pack of self-obsessed arseholes.

ILikeFriday

NickDunne wrote: »

The island of saints & scholars...and gombeens & fcukin' arselickers

Everyone plays 'the game' to some extent.

Maybe it depends on the extent then. Someone gave the example of going to a work do you don't want to be at. I would have problem there at all as nobody gets hurt. But I've seen situations where people actively go about undermining their colleagues for their own advancement, subtly implying that the other person is not quite up to the job whenever they can. That's a whole different matter imo.

Femme_Fatale

Since when is not being a dick the same thing as being nice for the sake of being nice?

jimgoose

Celly Smunt wrote: »

Of course you can be assertive without being a dick,work however isn't a charity nor is it a place to extended your personal life.You either eat or be eaten.

And what, pray, manner of thrusting young executive are you? Motivational speaker on a mushroom farm? Lauren Bacall's nipple-tweaker? Duck-washer fifth Dan?

marketty

Playing 'the game' a lot at work lately.

Candy Crush Saga.

Nialler15

Dont play the game. Cant play it as I cant stand the bull****. I think a lot of this game playing is what has the country where it is now. Yes I know thats a very negative view to have but I firmly believe the wrong people get to positions of power purely cos they lick ass and whatever else they have to.

genericguy

I would never screw anyone over, but I do always make sure I say the right things around the powers that be, and always make sure I only promise things that I can over-deliver on. I've been promoted twice in two years and have another on the way.

Zen65

Wanderer2010 wrote: »

Are you someone who will kiss up to the right person, listen to the dramas of certain people and hang others all in the name of climbing the ladder and getting on, promotions etc?

No, I enjoy a good relationship with all of my colleagues and most of my staff. I don't kiss ass, and it's probably true that because of that I'll never be CEO, but I'm a part of the senior management team in a large company. I like to think I "tell it as it is" but over the years I have learned to tell it in a more sensitive way, without having to make enemies every time I want to make a controversial point. I don't believe in taking credit for anyone's work, and far from it, I'm occasionally happy for others to take credit for mine if it serves them.

I have learned that I do not want to be CEO. I want balance in my life. I want my family life to be harmonious, and I want to spend a fair amount of my time pursuing non-work-related goals. My greatest satisfaction at work comes from guiding others to improve their performance and their careers.

The idea that you have to 'kiss ass' to impress managers in the company is mostly incorrect, IMHO. Most managers can see through that behaviour and don't like it. Mostly, you don't get to be a manager without having some cop-on.

There are exceptions, and they're a disaster.

Fox_In_Socks

witnessmenow wrote: »

I think everyone plays the game a little bit. Ever go on work nights out that you didnt want to go on just cause you should show face... playing the game right there

I only go on work nights out with people I'm friendly with and know, ie my department.

I work hard and even though I don't enjoy my "career", I take pride in doing it correctly. However, this means that I won't be progressing far up the ladder in this field as I have no interest in managing people.

starWave

There's always a few ass kissers on the job, and they seem to get on faster than others. The smokers get all the inside information too, or at least share more rumours with each other. They always seem to know whats what way before everyone else. I wish I could smoke, could only ever manage a cigar, and they would take too long to smoke at work.

Came across one or two who would do anything to get up the ladder, taking all the credit and none of the responsibility. But those guys are never happy. Apparently, most people are happy in their careers at 37 years old, the age you give up on getting up the ladder.

Where I used to work, everyone was mad for promotion, but all it meant was small bit more pay, and loads more work. The director actually gave up his position and took a lower position.

Its like Office Space: They pay you just enough to make you not quit.

I gave up on all that annual review **** and went freelance. Now I make more than the director in my old job.

johnr1

I've been self employed for most of my working life, -until a couple of years ago.

I wasn't quite enough of a user who didn't give a sh1t if my employees starved to succeed in the sh1tty business I was in. No matter how hard they or I worked, no matter how innovative or smart we were, there was always some cnut who thought he could complete the contract for less, and once in, he had to, even if it broke him. In fact, it suited our clients if he went bust as they then didn't have to pay him at all and could get some other fool to finish it on the promise of more work.

These cnuts abused their employees, didn't care about quality of work, bust the guys who actually could deliver, but they still couldn't make money.

Sh1tty industry, and I bless the day I went bust in it. Never again.

Now I'm an employee, won't be forever, but I'm very happy to do the best job possible for the company I work for, and as we are partly paid on results, I'm making money. Sucking management's arses wouldn't work in the current number, its the clients who need to be cuddled up to.

For anyone still reading who's wondering: Commercial Construction and Touring wealthy people around Ireland.

KyussBishop

A job where you have to suck up and play office politics to get anywhere, is a shít job and a shít working environment.
Unfortunately, that seems to encompass rather a lot of the jobs out there, and is a pretty core part of what makes business/politics so corrupt in Ireland.

People who 'play the game' like that, to push others down and manipulate their way up the ladder, are pretty much (to be quite blunt ) cúnts.

That's not the same as genuine work and talent now, it's trying to get a slice/percentage of everyone elses work, through gaining status.


This is why you need unions: If the management are corrupt, all the workers are fúcked unless they come together to do something about it.
Remember that, when you come across the anti-union types, who often are in parts of finance/business, that most often engage in this type of private corruption; a lot of them peddle that crap, to try and fool workers into disempowering themselves.

johnr1

KyussBishop wrote: »

A job where you have to suck up and play office politics to get anywhere, is a shít job and a shít working environment.
Unfortunately, that seems to encompass rather a lot of the jobs out there, and is a pretty core part of what makes business/politics so corrupt in Ireland.

People who 'play the game' like that, to push others down and manipulate their way up the ladder, are pretty much (to be quite blunt ) cúnts.

That's not the same as genuine work and talent now, it's trying to get a slice/percentage of everyone elses work, through gaining status.


This is why you need unions: If the management are corrupt, all the workers are fúcked unless they come together to do something about it.
Remember that, when you come across the anti-union types, who often are in parts of finance/business, that most often engage in this type of private corruption; a lot of them peddle that crap, to try and fool workers into disempowering themselves.

I'm vehemently anti union, and nothing like your silly generalisation.

KyussBishop

johnr1 wrote: »

I'm vehemently anti union, and nothing like your silly generalisation.

I didn't say everyone who is anti-union fits that description, I'm encouraging people to look a bit at the background and motives of anti-union types, and to watch for ones where there's a potential conflict of interest.