Please don’t read this article. It is poorly written.
History or political science, no matter how charming, that’s not what mummy, wanted me to study. Mum, so lovingly and protectively would have easily wanted a laid back for me. Teaching, may be, she thought, would do me some good, or nursing – something modest. So protective was mama, she still is, of me because of the danger and the hustle and bustle, push, shove and jostle of such disciplines as communication, journalism or law.
Medicine, teaching, engineering…name them… huh! Mum, I’m sorry, those to me are dead disciplines. They could have been prestigious, but that is in the years of yore. Today, I reckoned, those who rule the world aren’t the scientists. Nope. Historians, journalists, entertainers, lawyers… those in the arts and those who understand the human mind!
Its why by my bedside, a few books are glued that are likely to give mum a heart attack. Such tiles as Nicolo Machiavelli’s The Prince, George Orwell’s Animal Farm or Robert Greens 48 Laws of Power, have always fascinated my senses. Recently I added to the stable another interesting article by Kelly Pate – How to win at office politics.
The office jungle
Over the years, I have learnt some two-cent worth of the realities of the office jungle. That there are permanent saboteurs, and sadists no matter how much everyone on the corridors smile at you. I have learnt to sift through the fake and the real smile.
The bad boys and girls of the office cross their fingers, and engage in thoughts and acts that will bring joy to them on your failure. They will be your sharpest critique, they are big mouthed and masters of sycophancy but of course lacking in substance.
The best way is to avoid them, like a plague (excuse the cliché) because in the process of idleness they have an opportunity to burrow their claws on your job, character and reputation.
Similarly to tame this primitive machinations, an office worker has to be smart like a fox and bold like a lion. Up the game in your performance, construct a sound personal brand that’s impenetrable, and rise above mediocrity. Sometimes it pays to confront these baggers and warn that should they persist with their scheming, a Somali sword will travel their flesh.
It’s a competitive world child
This is because these characters are master-weavers of every single lie conceivable. It is worse when such lies seem to be sanctioned and even entertained by a senior.
Brother, the workplace is such a competitive place. Even vicious. Sometimes there is need to play hardball. But the reality is that not all good works, sterling ones are recorgnised by all. But don’t we all say happiness is how you make it. Be happy with your work first then the hoi pollois can go to hell.
Build your team, your colleague. To survive here, you need allies. A master in building alliances is a master in making things work, and a master of dissolving the wicked spirit.
Alliances are best built over a cup of coffee or a glass of wine… but word of caution, don’t stretch into the bed because, this will leak anyway and would result to something ugly, unless you rare like Zuma, if you are a man, who is loaded enough and cares no hoot in the involvement such sweetheart escapade nor is worried of a sack. I have seen many great names crumble as a result of the bedroom gymnastics, I wouldn’t love to see a comrade drowning that murky rut.
A hue of characters
In my journalistic life I have encountered people of all shades. I met the silent but productive and the big mouthed but useless. I have met the genuine brother and sister; I have also met the sly cunning guy who would love to use others as door marts.
I have met those who want to come out as angels and want to please everyone, and I have met those who stand for the truth. It is a complicated world, this workplace.
The asset!
But for me, my biggest asset is in one thing: resilience, a biiiig self esteem, and beyond that the skills I have constructed over the years. This has given me security of anything. Every time a client insist that he wants to work with me specifically because of my expertise, I smile. I wink; I know, yes, I’m making a mark. Well, I’m a mystery, simply unstoppable! Kwani, what’d-U think ‘bout all thiz krap ave sed? ewamanji@yahoo.co.uk