the “gotcha!” game: decoding officedecoding office politics€¦ · the “gotcha!” game:...

The “Gotcha!” Game:The “Gotcha!” Game:The Gotcha! Game:Decoding Office

The Gotcha! Game:Decoding OfficeDecoding Office

PoliticsDecoding Office

PoliticsPoliticsPolitics

HR Florida 2008Conference & Expo

August 25-27, 2008Orlando, Florida

©2008 Creative Energy Options

d ill ld ill ld ill ld ill lToday you will learn to:Today you will learn to:Today you will learn to:Today you will learn to:

● Recognize, examine, and transform the patterns that activate office

litipolitics● Understand how patterns impact

communication work performancecommunication, work performance, conflict, and motivation

● Create an office culture in which● Create an office culture in which everyone feels valued and invested in success


success

Our Philosophy:Our Philosophy:p yp y

E thi iEverything is connectedconnected,

&no one wins l ll d !!unless we all do!!


What Are Patterns?What Are Patterns?

Repetitive reactions that pkeep us stuck in the world of

“always” and “never”“always” and “never”


Insanity:Insanity:yy

“Doing the sameDoing the same things over and over and expecting different results ”different results.


Patterns in the WorkplacePatterns in the Workplace● Super Achiever● Rebel

pp

Rebel● Procrastinator● Clown● Persecutor● Persecutor● Victim● Rescuer● Drama Queen (King)● Drama Queen (King)● Martyr● Pleaser● Avoider● Avoider● Denier● Splitter


Leaders who learnLeaders who learnto decode office politics can:to decode office politics can:politics can:politics can:● Impact a healthy bottom linep y● Recruit and retain talent● Limit legal issuesLimit legal issues● Create a climate of trust● Get more done in less time● Get more done in less time● Sleep better at night


How DoHow DoPatterns Begin?Patterns Begin?

●Family●Culture

C i i●Crisis


Family Patterns:Family Patterns:Family Patterns:Family Patterns:● The first organization into

which you were bornwhich you were born● Downloaded through the

tigenerations● Part of your genetic

memory● Locked in your nervous y

system


Culture Patterns:Culture Patterns:Culture Patterns:Culture Patterns:

● Societal norms and rules that become “knots” as in “can not,” “will not,” “should not” and “not like me”and “not like me”

● Silent agreements about inclusion and exclusioninclusion and exclusion

● Unfinished business from the past i e “we did not know”past, i.e., we did not know


Crisis Patterns:Crisis Patterns:Crisis Patterns:Crisis Patterns:● Split-second occurrences

th t “h d i fthat cause “hardening of the emotions”

● The belief that the external● The belief that the external world is not safe

● Obsession and guilt with gfeelings of “if only”


What Activates P tt ?What Activates P tt ?Patterns?Patterns?

Rigidit Fle ibilitRigidity Flexibility

E l i I l iExclusion Inclusion

Emotionally Closed Emotionally Open

Constant Sameness Constant Change


Tools and Tips to diffuse Tools and Tips to diffuse pnegativity and improve workplace culture:

pnegativity and improve workplace culture:workplace culture:workplace culture:

● Don’t ignore negativity● Don’t ignore negativity● Offer recognition, and lots of it!● Coach the complainers


d hd hd hd hAnd guess what…..And guess what…..And guess what…..And guess what…..

Work is not aWork is not a rehab facility!rehab facility!


A Pattern AwareA Pattern AwareA Pattern AwareA Pattern AwareA Pattern Aware A Pattern Aware Leader will….Leader will….A Pattern Aware A Pattern Aware Leader will….Leader will….● Observe… behavior to discern

underlying patterns● Understand… and probe

deeper to discover theporigins of these patterns

● Transform… byytaking actions tochange behavior


Pattern Transformations Pattern Transformations

Super Achiever

at Work and Home:at Work and Home:Creative Collaborator»Super Achiever

RebelProcrastinator

Creative CollaboratorCommunity BuilderRealizer

——»——»——»

ClownPersecutor

Victim

HumoristVisionaryExplorer

——»——»——»Victim

RescuerDrama Queen (King)

Martyr

ExplorerMentorStorytellerIntegrator

»——»——»

»MartyrPleaserAvoider

IntegratorTruth TellerInitiator

——»——»——»


DenierSplitter

Trust BuilderPeacemaker

——»——»

These are Pattern AwareThese are Pattern AwareThese are Pattern Aware Leaders…These are Pattern Aware Leaders…

Community Peacemaker CreativeCommunity Peacemaker CreativeBuilder Collaborator

Integrator Visionaryg y


Recommended ReadingRecommended ReadingRecommended ReadingRecommended ReadingRecommended ReadingRecommended ReadingRecommended ReadingRecommended Reading● Don’t Bring It To Work: Breaking the Family Patterns● Don t Bring It To Work: Breaking the Family Patterns

that Limit Success – Sylvia Lafair, Ph.D. (February 2009)

A Wh l N Mi d D i l Pi k● A Whole New Mind – Daniel Pink

● Social Intelligence: The New Science of Human Relationships – Daniel Goleman

● The Wisdom of Crowds – James Surowiecki● The Wisdom of Crowds James Surowiecki


ContactContactContact Contact Sylvia Lafair Ph DSylvia Lafair, Ph.D.

PresidentCreative Energy Options IncCreative Energy Options, Inc.

45 Country Place LaneWhite Haven, PA 18661

[email protected]

(570) 636 3858(570) 636-3858Fax: (570) 636-5387


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