III. Winning Office Politics In A Christian’s Way GCF Retreat Workshop 1 May 2004

III. Winning Office Politics In A Christian’s Way

GCF Retreat Workshop1 May 2004

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III. Winning Office Politics In A Christian’s WayMay 2004

Lessons from real cases IIThe clues for survivalThe key to successLessons from real cases IIIThe humility of serviceThe road to sanctityReferences

Outline

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Lessons from real cases IIISharpen your saw

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Case 5 Imagine you’re trapped by somebody who

has promised to support your proposal in the meeting and turns out to do otherwise.

What would you do ?

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Case 6 Imagine you’re a HR Manager directly

reporting to MD of a subsidiary with dotted line to Group HR Director in the HQ. In a meeting, you’re caught in the middle & urged to take side.

What would you do ?

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Case 7Imagine you are charged to cut 1,000 staff.

Having made a few vain attempts to persuade the top dogs otherwise, you are finally asked to do what you are told or leave the company.

What would you do ?

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Case 8 When a big shot forces you to endorse an

investment which you think is a dog,

what would you do ?

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Outline

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The humility of service :Respond to the call

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And the King will answer and say to them, , “Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to me.”

- Matthew 25:40, 45 -

The parable of goats and sheep

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The call Be yourselvesDo what you areOurs for others

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Be yourselves Focus on who you areAccept who you are notBe honest about your personal strengths & weaknessesWho you want to be > what you want to do

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Don’t make false promisesDon’t pretend to be able to deliver what you can’t You can’t please all “customers” – and they know thisBut you can please some – figure out what you are good at and do it

Do what you are

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Ours for othersAuthorship

Help others to do something they love doing, to use their chosen skills, or to express something important about their deeper selvesUnlock the creative freedom of others’ talent

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Ours for others

PowerEmpower others to make a difference and influence the world around themLook for “the workers” – help them to produce the greatest return, but respect their lack of desire for the limelight

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Ours for othersLove

Take the risk of showing others genuine appreciation, caring and affectionTake the blame for a subordinate strategically (not blindly)

Lessen the amount of the mob violenceGain a powerful ally

Give others psychic support & personal fellowship

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Ours for others

TrustBuild healthy teams and respect their autonomyBuild trust by being loyal to those absent, then you retain trust of those present

SignificanceHelp others feel that they matter & their works makes the world a richer place

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The ethics of service Work is a blessing, therapy, and service

What is your call ?Who you are and who you are not ?What you are good at and what you are not ?

Possible conflict between meeting the needs of our “customers” and preserving our values

Who are our customers and who are not ?What are their needs ? Can you fulfill ?Are you willing to promote others not for return ?How about mixed motive ?

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Outline

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The road to sanctityGet your hands dirty*

* ‘Dirty’ here means engagement

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In your context, work is… Co-creation,

Actualization ?

Curse,Punishment ?

Blessing,Therapy ?

Gen 1:27-29; 9:1

Gen 3:17-19 Gen 2:8,15

WorkAs

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… your choice could be

Actualization =>Success

Curse => Survival

Blessing =>Service

WorkContext

v. Office Politics

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Insights from Jesus …


Curse => Survival

Blessing =>Service

WorkContext

v. Office Politics

Did He pursue others’ goals or His own ?

Did He seek to serve or to be served ?

Did He once hide His Messianic secret ?

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…and other biblical figures as well


Curse => Survival

Blessing =>Service

WorkContext

v. Office Politics

Nehemiah

Paul

Ezekiel

JosephDaniel

Abraham

Moses John

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After all, we’ll grow w/ life struggles

Success

Survival Service

Office Politics

Contradictory ?Exclusive ?

Sequential ?

Rationalization ?Mixed motives ?

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We are not human beings struggling to be holy, but holy people struggling to be human

- Source unknown -

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Will you see it differently ? A sister in your company has been

designated to succeed a top dog, but she worries about your ability to survive the power play.

She’s seeking your counsel, what would you advise her ?

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“ There’s some good in this world and it is worth fighting for,” said Sam to Frodo.

- The Lord of the Rings : The Two Towers -

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Surviving office politics

in a Christian’s way

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Surviving office politics

in a Christian’s way

Winning

Your feedback / questions, please

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ReferencesBooks

Clever as serpents : Business ethics & office politics By Jim Grote and John McGreeneyA Michael Glacier book published by The Liturgical Press @ 1997Comment : A must-read classic for Christians to lead a corporate life; cynical though, its repeated ‘wake-up’ calls for ascetic detachment may echo in veterans’ heartsRating : *****

Escape from cluelessness : A guide for the organisationally challenged

By Lee G. Bolman and Terrence E. DealNew York, NY : AMACOM Books, 2000Comment : A simple, easy-to-read handbook for the rookiesRating : ***

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ReferencesBooks

The 48 laws of powerBy Robert Greene and Joost ElffersViking Penguin @ 1998Comment : A must-read classic for power games Rating : *****

Cubicle warfare : Self-defense strategies for today’s hyper-competitive workplace

By Blaine L. PardoePrima Publishing @ 1997Comment : A practical guide to craft strategies for different cases; already translated into Chinese Rating : ****

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ReferencesBooks

Winning Office Politics : Dubrin’s Guide For The ‘90sBy Andrew J. DubrinPrentice Hall @ 1990Comment :With this information, you’ll be able to…get the boss on your side...Rating : ****

Clever as Serpents : Business Ethics and Office Politics

By Jim Grote and John McGeeneyThe Liturgical Press @ 1997Comment :This is an original, thought-provoking contribution to the field of management and investment theory.Rating : ****

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ReferencesMovies

DisclosureComment : A must-watch classic for the boss to trap the subordinate & the latter to fight back Rating : *****

Wall StreetComment : A classic for the boss to manipulate the mob / the marketRating : *****

Journals (www.gcf.org.hk)

“Office politics”, GCF Journal 2002, Vol. 44 & 45“Office politics”, GCF Journal 2001, Vol. 8

Documents

III. Winning Office Politics In A Christian’s Way GCF Retreat Workshop 1 May 2004