I didn't start this action but I certainly have the tenacity to not give up, to not let this group of people to run over the top of me and take advantage of my work. So if I have to act offensively, I have to be ruthless and I can't be too concerned how these actions will affect this group or their careers - they started it. Let's face it, they have attempted to sink my career to advance their personal career prospects. So wouldn't it be ironic if by acting offensively to secure my position, I damaged their career prospects. Now that would be a new take on the rule of unintended consequences.
For what it is worth…
ReplyDeleteThe best managers I've seen are the ones who are intensely aware of: where things are, where they want things to be, the politics of the organisation, and most importantly the (small) steps and (potentially long) time-frames needed to get from here to there. In my experience those managers then set about getting from here to there by overcoming the obstacles needed in taking small step by small step (no matter how many there are in front of them). They also are aware of which distractions to ignore in their quest, and there are many to ignore.
I suppose that I'm saying that if you have a quest, can you pick a strategy, plan the steps and get there without worrying about the distractions (the things which nitwits love to put in your way because they think that they are important)? And ignoring includes not letting (the involved) people know that you are ignoring.
I was always amazed by the lack of concern for time that successful managers had because all that is remembered in an organisation is the results (even if they take years). IMHO, there's nothing which makes senior managers forget the past like future success. Would your managers (no matter how high up the chain they are) be more interested in successful results than the problems of the past?
Finally, (working) life is finite, and what may seem like an all-encompassing problem now will almost certainly seem like a pointless episode if you manage to move on to a much more fulfilling role (and they exist, trust me). This has happened to me and I look back and wonder how I managed to be consumed by what I now see as trivial issues and people?
Best wishes, and perhaps a Little Creatures beer followed by a Margaret River red will settle you for a good weekend of constructive contemplation?
Cheers,
Andrew.
Great points Andrew, unfortunately the issues I am battling are related to corruption in the public sector. There are established rules for dealing with public funds and the services offered by public sector organisations. I believe I would be remiss in my actions to allow such corruption to occur and I have officially applied for whistleblower protection under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2003. As a trainer in an academic leadership role, I serve the students and their employers who have entrusted me to provide quality training paid for by taxpayer funds.
DeleteI have considered just clocking in and clocking out and seeing my salary deposited in my bank account every fortnight but unfortunately my personal ethics prevent me from doing this. I will continue to expose corruptive practices and the tactics to disenfranchise my personal work will soon pass, people will soon be held accountable. They are learning that I don't give up and won't go away so it will be in everyone's best interest to just address the issues.
I will definitely take your advice, once I have exposed the corruption, I will indeed move on to a more fulfilling role. Ironically, as a trainer I believe this role is pretty fulfilling as you have the ability to shape and change people's lives. I want to pave the way for all the hard working people in my organisation who are doing amazing work but are not being recognised and missing opportunities to advance because of the cronyism that is endemic in the system. If people don't stand up to corruption, we will lose all our quality hardworking and principled people and will be left with the undedicated clock watchers. I take this obligation seriously so writing about this and publishing in a public forum hopefully changes the attitudes of the management who read my blog so I can work to achieve equal opportunity for everyone in my organisation.
I am off to opening day at Royal Perth Yacht Club this weekend, my brother and his wife have now moved to Sydney to pursue better opportunities and I hope to get the lowdown on quality Hunter Valley reds as well.