II. Surviving Office Politics In A Christian’s Way GCF Retreat Workshop 1 May 2004

May 2004 Slide 2 II. Surviving Office Politics In A Christian’s Way A Warm-up Question 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 ?

May 2004 Slide 3 II. Surviving Office Politics In A Christian’s Way 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 Outline

May 2004 Slide 4 II. Surviving Office Politics In A Christian’s Way Lessons from real cases II Source of wisdom

May 2004 Slide 5 II. Surviving Office Politics In A Christian’s Way Case 1 Shortly after your new boss has come into play, he receives an anonymous letter complaining your partiality towards some staff. He shows the letter to you, what would you do ?

May 2004 Slide 6 II. Surviving Office Politics In A Christian’s Way Case 2 When your boss subtly put his boy into your team, what would you do ?

May 2004 Slide 7 II. Surviving Office Politics In A Christian’s Way Case 3 When an important project fails, everybody is passing the buck and making you a scapegoat. What would you do ?

May 2004 Slide 8 II. Surviving Office Politics In A Christian’s Way Case 4 When your boss tries to make you an accomplice against company’s tendering procedure, you know if you reject it he will make your life hell & ruin your career. What would you do ?

May 2004 Slide 9 II. Surviving Office Politics In A Christian’s Way To fight or to flight, you need to calculate… Standard SelfSituation What are the biblical & ethical norms ? Do you get the power you need ? Are your guts up ? After all, be accountable for your decision ! What’s on stage ? What’s behind the scene ?

May 2004 Slide 10 II. Surviving Office Politics In A Christian’s Way 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 Outline

May 2004 Slide 11 II. Surviving Office Politics In A Christian’s Way The clues for survival : Master the art of invisibility

May 2004 Slide 12 II. Surviving Office Politics In A Christian’s Way Strategies for survival I. Be in the crowd, but not of the crowd II. Make your boss look good III. Detach from blame & credit IV. Keep your P/E low

May 2004 Slide 13 II. Surviving Office Politics In A Christian’s Way Strategy I : Be in the crowd but not of the crowd

May 2004 Slide 14 II. Surviving Office Politics In A Christian’s Way At these words the whole audience was filled with indignation. They rose up and expelled him from the town, leading to the brow of the hill and intending to hurl him over the edge. But he went away through their midst and walked away. - Luke 4: The mob

May 2004 Slide 15 II. Surviving Office Politics In A Christian’s Way Pilate said to the Jews, “Behold, your King !“ They therefore cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him !” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King ?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” So he then delivered Him to them to be crucified. - John 19: The idol, the victim and the mob

May 2004 Slide 16 II. Surviving Office Politics In A Christian’s Way Strategy I : Be in the crowd but not of the crowd Be corporate chameleon – blend into the mob but closely observe its movement Dwell in the shadow of others Beware of insult by omission Avoid attaching to celebrity or becoming a group’s idol / a scapegoat Remember, all scapegoats start by being different

May 2004 Slide 17 II. Surviving Office Politics In A Christian’s Way Strategy II : Make your boss look good

May 2004 Slide 18 II. Surviving Office Politics In A Christian’s Way I don’t want any yes-men around me. I want everyone to tell me the truth even if it costs them their jobs. - Samuel Goldwyn - The boss

May 2004 Slide 19 II. Surviving Office Politics In A Christian’s Way Rule # 1 : The boss is always right. Rule # 2 : If the boss is wrong, please refer to rule # 1. The golden rules

May 2004 Slide 20 II. Surviving Office Politics In A Christian’s Way Strategy II : Make your boss look good Never go around your boss Tell him what he wants to hear, even when he claims that he wants dissenting views If he wants something dropped, drop it Be sensitive to his wishes so that you anticipate what he wants Don’t report something that he doesn’t want reported, but cover it up. Do what your job requires, and keep your mouth shut - Robert Jackall, Moral Mazes : The World of Corporate Managers -

May 2004 Slide 21 II. Surviving Office Politics In A Christian’s Way Strategy III : Detach from blame & credit

May 2004 Slide 22 II. Surviving Office Politics In A Christian’s Way God asked, “Have you been eating of the tree I forbade you to eat ?” Adam replied, “It was the woman you put with me; she gave me the fruit, and I ate it.” Then God asked the woman, “What is this you have done ?” The woman replied, “The serpent tempted me and I ate.” - Gen 3: The blame

May 2004 Slide 23 II. Surviving Office Politics In A Christian’s Way "There are two kinds of people, those who do the work and those who take the credit. Try to be in the first group; there is less competition there." - Indira Gandhi - The credit

May 2004 Slide 24 II. Surviving Office Politics In A Christian’s Way The blame and the credit The seven phases of a project 1. Enthusiasm 2. Illusion of progress 3. Panic 4. Disillusionment 5. Search for the guilty 6. Punishment of the innocent 7. Praise / honors for the non-participants

May 2004 Slide 25 II. Surviving Office Politics In A Christian’s Way Strategy III : Detach from blame & credit Accept blame (for others) in small ways; it tends to inspire loyalty Practice creative incompetence Avoid winning battles but losing the war Don’t get caught in the clash of Titans Share credit & win yourselves friends Remember, blame follows credit

May 2004 Slide 26 II. Surviving Office Politics In A Christian’s Way Strategy IV : Keep your P/E low

May 2004 Slide 27 II. Surviving Office Politics In A Christian’s Way Political price-earnings ratio Politician (~IPO w/ no earnings) CEO (~expensive growth stocks) Bureaucrat (~widow & orphan stocks) Worker (~value stocks) Visibility High Low UtilityLowHigh

May 2004 Slide 28 II. Surviving Office Politics In A Christian’s Way Buy a stock with a boring name Buy a stock that does something boring Buy a stock that is boring and disagreeable at the same time Peter Lynch’s Rules

May 2004 Slide 29 II. Surviving Office Politics In A Christian’s Way In a hierarchy every employee tends to rise to his or her level of incompetence. The Peter Principle

May 2004 Slide 30 II. Surviving Office Politics In A Christian’s Way Strategy IV : Keep your P/E low Be “the worker” – low visibility, high utility Trade higher security for lower pay Peter Lynch’s Rules – “boring” can be a hidden asset Avoid the Peter Principle Remember, low risk low return

May 2004 Slide 31 II. Surviving Office Politics In A Christian’s Way The ethics of survival Work is a curse, filled with conflict of interests; therefore, our obsession is with security Should security be our ultimate value ? Should low P/E compromise ROI (Return on Investment) (God’s given talents, resources, opportunities…) ? Possible conflict between obedience to our boss and obedience to our values How far are we willing to stretch our integrity in order to survive ? Without our integrity, who is it that survives ?

May 2004 Slide 32 II. Surviving Office Politics In A Christian’s Way The master praised the dishonest steward for his astuteness. For the children of this world are more astute in dealing with their own kind than are the children of the light. Use Money, tainted as it is, to win yourselves friends, and thus make sure that when it fails you, they will welcome you into the tents of eternity. - Luke 16:8, 9 - The parable of dishonest steward

May 2004 Slide 33 II. Surviving Office Politics In A Christian’s Way 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 Outline

May 2004 Slide 34 II. Surviving Office Politics In A Christian’s Way The key to success : Focus on your goal

May 2004 Slide 35 II. Surviving Office Politics In A Christian’s Way Strategies for success I. Bank on your competency II. Play positive III. Confront the darkness IV. Detach from your enemies

May 2004 Slide 36 II. Surviving Office Politics In A Christian’s Way His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful slave; you were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things, enter into the joy of your master.” - Matthew 25:21, 23 - The parable of talents

May 2004 Slide 37 II. Surviving Office Politics In A Christian’s Way What is success ? What do I want ? The true measure of success is achieving your own goal, not someone else’s

May 2004 Slide 38 II. Surviving Office Politics In A Christian’s Way Strategy I : Bank on your competency Know what you’re good at Do what you’re passionate & you’ll do it well Set your goal and focus on it Don’t borrow other peoples’ desires and goals Make things happen Deliver what you advertise Be “the CEO” and yield high ROI Remember, high risk high return

May 2004 Slide 39 II. Surviving Office Politics In A Christian’s Way Strategy II : Play positive 1. Know the big picture 2. Volunteer for special tasks 3. Dare to be different 4. Ally with right people 5. Collaborate with peers 6. Tell the truth 7. Be professional 8. Choose your battles 9. Have fun

May 2004 Slide 40 II. Surviving Office Politics In A Christian’s Way Strategy III : Confront the darkness Aware & beware of the 48 laws of power (Appendix 2) Political problems are primary and technical problems are secondary When it isn’t broke, don’t fix it When in Rome do as the Romans Be in the office, but not of the office Know when to hold and when to fold Remember, be as formless as possible

May 2004 Slide 41 II. Surviving Office Politics In A Christian’s Way The 48 laws of power 1. Never outshine the master9. Win through your actions, never through arguments 2. Never put too much trust in friends, learn how to use enemies 10. Infection. Avoid the unhappy & the unlucky 3. Conceal your intentions11. Learn to keep people dependent on you 4. Always say less than necessary12. Use selective honesty & generosity to disarm your victim 5. So much depends on reputation, guard it with your life 13. When asking for help, appeal to people’s self-interest, never their mercy 6. Court attention at all cost14. Pose as a friend, work as a spy 7. Get others to do the work, but always take the credit 15. Crush your enemy totally 8. Make other people come to you – use bait if necessary 16. Use absence to increase respect and honor

May 2004 Slide 42 II. Surviving Office Politics In A Christian’s Way The 48 laws of power 17. Keep others in suspended terror. Cultivate an air of unpredictability 25. Re-create yourself 18. Do not build fortresses to protect yourself – isolation is dangerous 26. Keep your hands clean 19. Know who you’re dealing with – do not offend the wrong person 27. Play on people’s need to believe to create a cultlike following 20. Do not commit to anyone28. Enter actions with boldness 21. Play a sucker to catch a sucker – seem dumber than your mark 29. Plan all the way to the end 22. Use surrender tactic : Transform weakness into power 30. Make your accomplishments seem effortless 23. Concentrate your forces31. Control the options : Get others to play the cards you deal 24. Play the perfect courtier32. Play to people’s fantasies

May 2004 Slide 43 II. Surviving Office Politics In A Christian’s Way The 48 laws of power 33. Discover each man’s thumbscrew41. Avoid stepping into a great man’s shoes 34. Be royal in your own fashion : Act like a king to be treated like one 42. Strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter 35. Master the art of timing43. Work on the hearts and minds of the others 36. Disdain things you cannot have : Ignoring them is the best revenge 44. Disarm and infuriate with the mirror effect 37. Create compelling spectacles45. Preach the need for change, but never reform too much at once 38. Think as you like but behave like others 46. Never appear too perfect 39. Stir up waters to catch fish47. Do not go past the mark you aimed for; in victory, learn when to stop 40. Despise the free lunch48. Assume formlessness

May 2004 Slide 44 II. Surviving Office Politics In A Christian’s Way Don’t chase what your competitors have; focus on your own Love yourself as your neighbors – you become what you hate so as to succeed Befriend your enemies & convert them There are no real enemies, only paranoid projections Remember, the only real competitor is your own ego Strategy IV : Detach from your enemies

May 2004 Slide 45 II. Surviving Office Politics In A Christian’s Way The ethics of success Work is creative, playful self-expression and self-actualisation Is self-actualisation our ultimate value ? Our obsession is with winning For whom & for what are we fighting ? Possible conflict between defeating our rivals and protecting our values Have your competitors disappeared ? If not, you have not achieved success

Your feedback / questions, please