Archive for the Workplace Politics category
20SMF Episode #72 - New 20SM Contributors and Lessons In Upward Management
by Jared on June 5th, 2008
Brief introduction of a brand new contributor to 20-Something Marketing. We also list out the top 3 lessons learned in upward management.
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Technorati Tags: MBA, owen accelerator, upward management, Vanderbilt
Being Right
by Jared on June 28th, 2007
Last night, I was able to attend a preview screening of Pangs of the Messiah, an interesting play at the DCJCC’s Theatre J. Besides being a thought-provoking commentary on the current state of Jewish settlers in Israel, it is played by some incredible, local actors.
In fact, the actors and director took some time to sit down at the end of the play and field questions from audience. One of those questions was “what do you believe to be the underling root of some of the religious extremism both portrayed inside Jewish culture as well as outside.” The answer, one actor responded, was each side’s desire to claim righteousness of their cause. Stated in other terms: their desire to be right.
The more I thought about that concept, the more I found it fascinating and relevant to our own situations as creative individuals and as participants in the modern office environment. Never before has it been truer; we desperately want to be right.
In order to bolster our cause of righteousness, it appears some of us will do just about anything. This includes manufacturing details that perhaps didn’t exist to justify actions we think are acceptable. Backbiting, negative politics, rumors; all of these are considered weapons in our arsenal in workplace warfare in order to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that we are right and that our actions are justified. More often than not, however, these actions only serve to damage our own cause and undermine our own credibility.
Don’t get me wrong; being right is a great thing. Many of the world’s greatest successes have sprung from the minds of people who, at their very core thought they were right. The paradox is that for some people being right isn’t just about being righteous; it is about making sure the other side knows they are wrong.
Sometimes, being right isn’t always just about occupying the high ground (if you will excuse the unintended, Jewish settler pun). Sometimes its’ about telling the truth and admitting your own complicity in your current situation.
Regardless, the play’s over-arching theme is that there are many sides to an argument. The brilliant question I thought the play left me asking is “are the results of my actions worth the price of being right?”
20SMF Episode #66 - Zen in the Art of Successful Marketers
by Jared on May 19th, 2007
UPDATED - Stereo Audio Issue Resolved
For 20-something marketers, balancing emotion and objectivity can be tricky – especially with older, more guarded co-workers. Can we ever truly let go of our own work and what does it take to avoid the potholes that brand us as inexperienced and less capable than we really are?
Bonus: Ask-Jared – Marketing Consultants, MLM Travel Web Site Marketing & Care Packages
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One way to avoid editing
by Jared on March 21st, 2007
Ever get to the point of editing copy that you just want to lay down the law but can’t seem to do it in a nice way?
I’ve explained that my Sr. Editor/co-worker is currently out for a couple of months. Thus, it falls to me to edit our major value-add publication and ensure its on-time approval by our executives.
Three words sum up what I am feeling now: I hate this.
Here is a fun way I’ve found to lighten the situation a bit without sounding overly critical of my {ahem} illustriously detailed executive co-workers. More
Marketers with Lightsabers
by Jared on March 13th, 2007
Yesterday I walked over to the other side of the office (where the communications and media people sit) searching for a file. Unfortunately, the one thing that stood between me and said file was everyone’s favorite full-contact office sport - TURF WARS!
This one was minor enough but it did spawn a great idea: instead of quibbling over who has authority over what, give all interested parties lightsabers and let “the force†decide who controls the branding galaxy.
It’s simple, efficient and best of all, entertaining!
You can call me as much of a geek as you want but at this point, being low on the totem pole is a great thing if you get to sit back and watch the fireworks. Just watch out for flying limbs…those salespeople have a wicked spinning-attack.
20SMF Episode #58 - Selling the Ethanol Solution
by Jared on February 2nd, 2007
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If ethanol is the solution, should 20-somethings buy it? Tom Slunecka, Executive Director of the Ethanol Information Promotion and Information Council talks shop about marketing alternative energies and we close with a couple of words on workplace bullies. Referenced Links: Podcast:
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“Come to Jesus†Meetings
by Jared on January 8th, 2007
It’s a well-established fact that there are some of us out there that perpetually hate the status quo.
On one hand, this characteristic can be a good thing as you become the “go-to†person in an organization continually seeking to evolve. On the other hand, the need to push the envelope can also result the build-up of animosity from those who dislike perpetual change (or change at all, in that matter).
Like an over-inflated tire, if you don’t let some of that animosity out you are bound for a blow-out resulting in a freakish roadside accident.
Ok, so maybe I’m exaggerating a bit but let me tell you that anyone involved in a marketing change-management operation immediately becomes a lighting rod for criticism. Occasionally you need a “Come to Jesus†meeting to diffuse some of that pent-up rage.
The reason I bring this up is because I find myself in just such a situation this week over a web-site project I spearheaded for one of our internal clients. Tomorrow, I will have to face-off with said client and try to assuage their fears that I am not, indeed the know-it-all 20-something apocalypse they make me out to be.
Hopefully, the result of this meeting will be better understanding of what each of the parties are trying to accomplish and allow us to agree to an amiable plan to manage change going forward.
Then again, as the saying goes, “You can hope in one hand and crucify your messiahs in the other and see which fills up first.â€
Happy Hanukkah!
by Jared on December 18th, 2006
(Click Image For Larger View)
Ok, so it might be halfway through the holiday but give me a break, it’s been a hectic weekend.
For all of those Jewish marketers out there, I snapped a shot of my co-worker, Monique & I setting up our office’s first Menorah!
At this point, I could insert a quirky comment about being only one of two token Jews in an office of over 100 but I’ll save that for later on in the week (since most people are high-tailing it out of the office, I might have to resort to blogging again to fill the time.)
‘Till then; Shalom Aleichem, Marketing Fans!