Create Your Own Job Security: Stomp Office Politics, Chapters 2
| posted by christi pembertonChapter 2: Create Your Own Job Security: Stomp Office Politics!Developing the Mindset. http://www.glocrest.com/globalcrestblog/Traci’s situation can mirror to some degree our own lives in the career world. It is amazing how far people will take the “office politics game”. The game can actually become a tool to for managers to bully their employees. I have been in the opposite end of bullying, which caused much stress that created a breakdown in the mental and physical health. I will say that Traci’s previous declaration at the end was how I freed myself from this pressure. I decided that no person can is going to dictate my job securty; only God and I. We live in a world with so many opportunities. In fact, the opportunities we have now are unprecedented and give greater freedom for us to design our own lifestyle. God has given us the freedom to choose. Tools such as the internet, the increasing discussions and popularity in lifestyle design, the increasing numbers of people venturing to take over their dreams, and God’s own power to put fuel behind our success; has proven that the sky is the limit to what we can do. We have been blessed with so many tools to break the mold in workplace structure. To be honest, we are actually very free in that aspect, but just need to find a vehicle to take us where we want to go. The old standards staying confined to one job and one way do not have to be our own. If anyone tells you that they do, then it is either out of their own fear of losing or their own jealousy because of your decision to make your dream into reality. Jealousy is actually a form of fear. The Mindset:Everyone will have a different way of exercising the “Create Your Own Job Security” mindset and lifestyle. There is, however, a common thread in this mentality. First, you have to understand your own unique value. All of us have been created with unique personalities, natural and yet-to-be cultivated skills and talents. I know that every self-help guru speaks on that same topic of valuing oneself and following your dreams. I, however, would like to take the “self value” and “live the dream” concepts further. You got to have a fluid mental state to break from the confines of someone else’s oppressive power. Having a fluid mental state means you see yourself as not being confined to one job, one area, one situation, and so on. You are unique, talented, and valuable enough to become successful anywhere that you go. If one job does not work out, then instead of saying “Woe is me”, you could say “Oh well, the next opportunity awaits”. Mental Fluidity in the career world prevents you from becoming so obsessed with your current job that you would hang on to it for dear life no matter what. Many of us have seen people lie, cheat, and steal over keeping their jobs, their prestige, and money. Sadly, we have many pitiful souls who will dive into a death match with a colleague or subordinate to gain just an inkling of extra money or prestige in their position. Imagine two five year olds fighting over a few pieces of dollar store candy, not knowing that on the other side of the kitchen table there is a fresh big bag of Snicker bars . The fixation of a few pieces of that cheap candy mesmerizes the two children. They simply can not see the extra bag of the better candy bars just a quick distance from them. Similar situations of fighting happen all the time in the workplace. People fight each other over a little more money and prestige instead of seeing that this big world of ours has an abundance of opportunities for us all to enjoy. Mental Fluidity allows you to contribute to and benefit from not one, not a few, but many work situations. You notice that what doesn’t work in one office environment may work wonders in another. If you are not pleasing your current supervisor, for whatever reason, your unique personality and skills may be desired by another supervisor. This is not to say that one should allow himself or herself to keep and act out destructive personalities and unethical behavior. Respect is always required in fluidity thinking. Without respect for oneself and others, fluidity will only turn into chaos. You have to be a disciplined person in how you treat others and your productivity. Mental Fluidity will only work properly if you maintain respect and show respect whether you agree or disagree with your superior or fellow employees. Plus, some of these people who bully are to feel sorry for. To degrade and exert negative power over someone else is a tell-tale sign that the bully has a low opinion of themselves and can not see their own value. As a result, they have to devalue someone else.
