Do you "play the game" at work?

anncoates

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? 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?

You're still a tea-boy at 45.

Get over it.

Ruudi_Mentari

There was nepotism at a place I worked.

In fact there was incest...

leggo

I think people have a skewed (and slightly immature) idea of what 'playing the game' actually is in real life, and not as depicted in movies and TV shows.

What I've found (and, as a contractor, I've worked with an absolute ****load of businesses so you see certain trends all the time) is that people CAN get promoted by just licking arse, but generally their incompetence gets them found out. The stereotype that is perpetuated is that the big boss employs a smaller boss who can't do the job because they're a 'Yes Man' or whatever. But it's not possible to be universally disliked because of your incompetence and succeed. If you're incompetent and don't look after your workforce, they won't work well for you because they're not motivated, so ultimately the big boss asks questions about that. Ultimately said big boss just wants an easier life, right? But employing someone incompetent makes their life more difficult.

People can be pricks when given power. That doesn't make them incompetent though. Workplaces tend to come up with these myths and rumours just because they mightn't like a particular person, but if a job is getting done then the person is competent, simple as. The proof is in the pudding.

Whereas if you deliberately have a ****ty working relationship with your boss, you're just being dumb. Let's remove the hero factor from this and call it what it is. I see people who try and 'stick it to the man' all the time and their idiocy never ceases to amaze me. They always come across like a classroom show-off talking about how they told their boss to shove it, then the next week complaining that their hours have been cut, while failing to connect the dots and seeing that their need to be a rebel instigated their own struggles.

Before anyone accuses me of just being a lick arse, trust me I'm not. I was recently told that I was in-line for a promotion and said I wasn't interested and have had plenty of run-ins with my boss when necessary. But, at the same time, I'd still look to help them out when I can and keep on good terms because I'm not a fan of cutting my nose off to spite my face. So I've built a healthy relationship where they know not to give me the runaround and, in return, I'll work my arse off for them.

Playing the game is necessary, to some degree, if you wish to succeed or even just have an easier life. Please don't let me find anyone on here saying that they never do anything for their bosses complaining about their jobs or I will point out how their own attitude caused every one of their problems. I can't believe that the whole 'do as little as you can, get paid, go home' attitude still exists when unemployment is as high as it's been in previous years. It's such a Celtic Tiger thing. Have people learned nothing?

Realt Dearg Sec

Ruudi_Mentari wrote: »

There was nepotism at a place I worked.

In fact there was incest...

Buckingham Palace?

minotour

Im amazed that noone has mentioned "working hard" in this thread. If moving up only requries a bit ass-kissing and schmoozin then fook yeah, go for it. Working hard to get moved up is unsurprisingly hard to do.

Ruudi_Mentari

Realt Dearg Sec wrote: »

Buckingham Palace?

ok maybe I'm just a little bitter. But there was definitely a hierarchy...

starWave

I think there's different levels of game playing, and people have different definitions of what playing the game is.

If you're just being a good employee working hard, then that is game playing to a certain extent.

Then there's the people who lick the boss's ass, but have no negative effects on anyone else. Like they don't adversely affect anyone else by taking credit, or stepping over them.

Then there's the full on game players who will stop at nothing.

You can be in either category and still be a hard diligent worker or an incompetent worker.

Finton90

Interesting thread! I think a certain amount of game playing goes on in almost every walk of life not just work with almost everyone engaging in it. The people who don't are usually the most unpopular among us which is unfortunate because they are often the most honest and genuine people around.

Corcaigh84

jimgoose wrote: »

carbon units

Hahaaaa I must remember that one

jimgoose

Finton90 wrote: »

...The people who don't are usually the most unpopular among us...

Au contraire, my good man. We are the coolest, most wizardly people in the Universe, respected by everyone from the CEO to the cleaning staff, even as we respect them equally. The whole time striding like giants across the Internet, ensuring that the machines may speak, yea, even each unto the other. :cool:

weemcd

Do you "play the game" at work?


Not even for a second

_Kaiser_

I used to be very against "playing the game" and while I got to a point in terms of career progression, it was increasingly obvious as time went on that the only way to get to the next level was to kiss the right ass.
I got on with everyone, was well-liked/respected for what I did but that was clearly not going to be enough.

So I left and moved into a role where I was basically the boss of my department, had a small staff, and was responsible for that. As well as teaching me that really, Outlook and its calendar CAN be useful, I learned that you DO need to "play" a little in order to get co-operation from other managers/sections and be able to get stuff done

I've subsequently moved to another similar role with a larger team under me and more responsibility in a bigger company and I've established what I'd consider good working relationships with my colleagues and seniors (but not to the point of ass-kissing or hanging people, listening to gossip etc) and I always ensure that my guys are looked after and given credit where it's due (equally I give them honest feedback when it's needed).

For myself, I've pushed myself harder and actively looked for ways to increase my value and responsibility by taking things on that weren't in my original job spec, but I find it's a challenge and rewarding when it comes together - plus it's led to more money and seniority which isn't a bad thing!

I've always taken the approach though that you do what's needed to get the job done, so if that means a few extra hours here and there, or a weekend to prepare a report, or late-night conference calls with other parts of the world then that's what it takes.. if I'd wanted a 9-5 I'd have stayed where I was at the start.

(whoa that was a bit of a longer ramble than I planned )

Caliden

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? 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?

If you do it right, you don't need to hang anyone. Just impress the right people.

Andersonisgod

When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die.

frank reynolds

why would anyone bother?
i go into work, do my work, go home and am happy enough with what i get from that. it's a humble living, but at least you get to live a normal life and be happy.

You can climb to the top of the ladder, but there'll always be someone at the bottom of the ladder more than happy to kick it out from under you.

Ruudi_Mentari

If "the game" is code for solitaire then yes some really bored people do still play it, but like a boss! no less.

krudler

I have zero interest in climbing "the ladder" in my place, as it often means you get tons more work for no extra pay until you go way up, and the more you do they more they expect of you. I know someone who bumped up a level career wise and were basically told their days of sitting with us plebs in the canteen were over as we were no longer "their peers" and they should be sitting with the managers instead.

frank reynolds

krudler wrote: »

I have zero interest in climbing "the ladder" in my place, as it often means you get tons more work for no extra pay until you go way up, and the more you do they more they expect of you. I know someone who bumped up a level career wise and were basically told their days of sitting with us plebs in the canteen were over as we were no longer "their peers" and they should be sitting with the managers instead.

and it's usually the people with the most miserable faces on them that have the WANT to move up in the first place.

i actually pity these people. no lives outside of the workplace and why should they have, they dont deserve it if they're stamping on other people to get there in the first place.

Handsome Bob

Nope, I don't. But I'm aware that it has cost me in the past. I remember, after interning and volunteering for a year and a half, going for a permanent role along with many others. I did my research but just didn't do a good interview.

Turns out I was the only one who went in blind as the rest got their hands on the questions beforehand. One person in particular, who I saw as a good friend, simply said to me "I just assumed you had them!" Funny though that he didn't even hint at it during many conversations beforehand!

But I ain't bitter......

:pac:

anncoates

Everybody at some stage has worked with some clown that speaks jargon, licks arse beyond normal compliance and even tries to undermine other colleagues.

That said, if you have to work every day, you may as well work for the best money you can earn and if that means a small amount of sacrifice to enhance your (or your family) life, then what of it?

You get the feeling some people going on about Playing The Game are the same people that think wearing a shirt to work is "Selling Out".

tmc86

I play my own "game" at work.

I'll get the job done and to as high a standard as possible with the least effort that I can. I never over exert myself unless it has to be done and rarely stay late. My aim is to get in at 9 get my work done and be out the door at 5.30. I will work hard when its required but most of the time I work to my pay grade.

There's way more to life than work and although I enjoy my job, at the end of the day its there to support my lifestyle and to allow me to do the things that I want to do outside of work.

krudler

Handsome Bob wrote: »

Nope, I don't. But I'm aware that it has cost me in the past. I remember, after interning and volunteering for a year and a half, going for a permanent role along with many others. I did my research but just didn't do a good interview.

Turns out I was the only one who went in blind as the rest got their hands on the questions beforehand. One person in particular, who I saw as a good friend, simply said to me "I just assumed you had them!" Funny though that he didn't even hint at it during many conversations beforehand!

But I ain't bitter......

:pac:

That annoys the crap out of me, you can know the job inside out, have years of experience, but if you're not adept at spinning absolute bullsh1t and cramming as many buzzword and management phrases into a sentence as possible you're passed over. I did an interview once and one of the questions was like a mind**** of management speak, I actually asked the interviewer to explain what it was she was asking in the question as it didn't make sense and she couldn't, she just sat there going "umm...how do I put this?" what does that tell you about interviews if the person asking the question doesn't even understand what the question is themselves?

Miss Lockhart

I don't. I do a good job and I'm polite and courteous to everyone because that's just good manners and normal behaviour. I really don't understand how it works anyway. People must be pretty blind if unable to see through the ass-licking or pretty stupid if they trust people who engage in it.

In my own business I have no time for such bullsh1t.

Nialler15

Miss Lockhart wrote: »

I don't. I do a good job and I'm polite and courteous to everyone because that's just good manners and normal behaviour. I really don't understand how it works anyway. People must be pretty blind if unable to see through the ass-licking or pretty stupid if they trust people who engage in it.

In my own business I have no time for such bullsh1t.

Thats the right way to be Miss Lockhart. In my job there is one girl who licks up too the boss big time. However thankfully I think he saw through her straight away and she has gone from doing well in her job to struggling. I have to admit I do take some satisfaction from this as I just cant stand that ****.

tigger123

frank reynolds wrote: »

and it's usually the people with the most miserable faces on them that have the WANT to move up in the first place.

i actually pity these people. no lives outside of the workplace and why should they have, they dont deserve it if they're stamping on other people to get there in the first place.

It is possible to be ambitious and have a great life outside of work. Its also possible to get ahead and be promoted by not standing on the heads of your colleagues.

kowloon

I don't understand the 'I'm not here to make friends mentality' from anyone who has to work a full time job with the same people all day. Excepting a small minority you really need to get along with people and have a few friends, you're going to need them in the place you spend so much time in.
The people are what can make a bad job tolerable or a great job into something you can't wait to get home from.

frank reynolds

tigger123 wrote: »

It is possible to be ambitious and have a great life outside of work. Its also possible to get ahead and be promoted by not standing on the heads of your colleagues.

i would like to agree with you, but i've been working since i was a young teenager, in all sorts of jobs, and i have experienced this sort of thing first hand in every one of those jobs.

i put it down to two groups -

1) people like me, who go in, get on with their work and are humble
2) people who are sly, manipulative and get ahead

keep in mind, the most manipulative ones usually do it with a smile on their face and have a mentality of "keep your friends close and enemies closer".

Gaunty

The game. You just lost it.

jimgoose

Here's me mind-melding with Dennis RItchie last week: