III. Winning Office Politics In A Christian’s Way

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

2. Outline • Lessons from real cases II • The clues for survival • The key to success • Lessons from real cases III • The humility of service • The road to sanctity • References III. Winning Office Politics In A Christian’s Way

3. Lessons from real cases III Sharpen your saw III. Winning Office Politics In A Christian’s Way

4. 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 ? III. Winning Office Politics In A Christian’s Way

5. 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 ? III. Winning Office Politics In A Christian’s Way

6. Case 7 Imagine 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 ? III. Winning Office Politics In A Christian’s Way

7. Case 8 When a big shot forces you to endorse an investment which you think is a dog, what would you do ? III. Winning Office Politics In A Christian’s Way

8. Outline • Lessons from real cases II • The clues for survival • The key to success • Lessons from real cases III • The humility of service • The road to sanctity • References III. Winning Office Politics In A Christian’s Way

9. The humility of service : Respond to the call III. Winning Office Politics In A Christian’s Way

10. The parable of goats and sheep 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 - III. Winning Office Politics In A Christian’s Way

11. The call • Be yourselves • Do what you are • Ours for others III. Winning Office Politics In A Christian’s Way

12. Be yourselves • Focus on who you are • Accept who you are not • Be honest about your personal strengths & weaknesses • Who you want to be > what you want to do III. Winning Office Politics In A Christian’s Way

13. Do what you are • Don’t make false promises • Don’t pretend to be able to deliver what you can’t • You can’t please all “customers” – and they know this • But you can please some – figure out what you are good at and do it III. Winning Office Politics In A Christian’s Way

14. Ours for others • Authorship • Help others to do something they love doing, to use their chosen skills, or to express something important about their deeper selves • Unlock the creative freedom of others’ talent III. Winning Office Politics In A Christian’s Way

15. Ours for others • Power • Empower others to make a difference and influence the world around them • Look for “the workers” – help them to produce the greatest return, but respect their lack of desire for the limelight III. Winning Office Politics In A Christian’s Way

16. Ours for others • Love • Take the risk of showing others genuine appreciation, caring and affection • Take the blame for a subordinate strategically (not blindly) • Lessen the amount of the mob violence • Gain a powerful ally • Give others psychic support & personal fellowship III. Winning Office Politics In A Christian’s Way

17. Ours for others • Trust • Build healthy teams and respect their autonomy • Build trust by being loyal to those absent, then you retain trust of those present • Significance • Help others feel that they matter & their works makes the world a richer place III. Winning Office Politics In A Christian’s Way

18. 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 ? III. Winning Office Politics In A Christian’s Way

19. Outline • Lessons from real cases II • The clues for survival • The key to success • Lessons from real cases III • The humility of service • The road to sanctity • References III. Winning Office Politics In A Christian’s Way

20. The road to sanctity Get your hands dirty* * ‘Dirty’ here means engagement III. Winning Office Politics In A Christian’s Way

21. In your context, work is… Co-creation, Actualization ? Gen 1:27-29; 9:1 Work As Gen 2:8,15 Gen 3:17-19 Curse, Punishment ? Blessing, Therapy ? III. Winning Office Politics In A Christian’s Way

22. … your choice could be Actualization =>Success Work Context v. Office Politics Curse => Survival Blessing => Service III. Winning Office Politics In A Christian’s Way

23. Insights from Jesus … Did He pursue others’ goals or His own ? Actualization =>Success Work Context v. Office Politics Did He seek to serve or to be served ? Did He once hide His Messianic secret ? Curse => Survival Blessing => Service III. Winning Office Politics In A Christian’s Way

24. …and other biblical figures as well Actualization =>Success Nehemiah Work Context v. Office Politics Daniel Joseph Abraham Paul Ezekiel Curse => Survival Blessing => Service Moses John III. Winning Office Politics In A Christian’s Way

25. After all, we’ll grow w/ life struggles Success Rationalization ? Mixed motives ? Contradictory ? Exclusive ? Office Politics Sequential ? Survival Service III. Winning Office Politics In A Christian’s Way

26. We are not human beings struggling to be holy, but holy people struggling to be human - Source unknown - III. Winning Office Politics In A Christian’s Way

27. 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 ? III. Winning Office Politics In A Christian’s Way

28. “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 - III. Winning Office Politics In A Christian’s Way

29. Surviving office politics in a Christian’s way III. Winning Office Politics In A Christian’s Way

30. Winning Surviving office politics in a Christian’s way III. Winning Office Politics In A Christian’s Way

31. Your feedback / questions, please

32. References • Books • Clever as serpents : Business ethics & office politics • By Jim Grote and John McGreeney • A Michael Glacier book published by The Liturgical Press @ 1997 • Comment : 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’ hearts • Rating : ***** • Escape from cluelessness : A guide for the organisationally challenged • By Lee G. Bolman and Terrence E. Deal • New York, NY : AMACOM Books, 2000 • Comment : A simple, easy-to-read handbook for the rookies • Rating : *** III. Winning Office Politics In A Christian’s Way

33. References • Books • The 48 laws of power • By Robert Greene and Joost Elffers • Viking Penguin @ 1998 • Comment : A must-read classic for power games • Rating : ***** • Cubicle warfare : Self-defense strategies for today’s hyper-competitive workplace • By Blaine L. Pardoe • Prima Publishing @ 1997 • Comment : A practical guide to craft strategies for different cases; already translated into Chinese • Rating : **** III. Winning Office Politics In A Christian’s Way

34. References • Books • Winning Office Politics : Dubrin’s Guide For The ‘90s • By Andrew J. Dubrin • Prentice Hall @ 1990 • Comment :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 McGeeney • The Liturgical Press @ 1997 • Comment :This is an original, thought-provoking contribution to the field of management and investment theory. • Rating : **** III. Winning Office Politics In A Christian’s Way

35. References • Movies • Disclosure • Comment : A must-watch classic for the boss to trap the subordinate & the latter to fight back • Rating : ***** • Wall Street • Comment : A classic for the boss to manipulate the mob / the market • Rating : ***** • Journals (www.gcf.org.hk) • “Office politics”, GCF Journal 2002, Vol. 44 & 45 • “Office politics”, GCF Journal 2001, Vol. 8 III. Winning Office Politics In A Christian’s Way