There’s a lot of war and talk of war around at the moment! And just like conflicts that take place on the international stage, office politics can often be a micro war of their own, writes Rachel Wetherall.
One bullet that you’re unlikely to dodge if you’re in the professional game long enough is an office disciplinary. And know this – it may have nothing to do with your performance. It might even be the case that you are outstanding, which is exactly why someone has their sights on you! I would surmise that a high percentage of disciplinaries have nothing to do with actual performance but have everything to do with someone wanting to ‘get’ you.
The underbelly of the working world can be cold, calculating and nasty. I am in no way ashamed to say that I have been slapped with a few disciplinaries in my 35-year public relations career – and I am also delighted to say I have never lost one – especially as I was always confident that my work was never substandard. If, and most likely when, it happens to you, be prepared. A disciplinary will either make you….or break you.
So here are a few words of wisdom I’ve learned over the years. When you first join a company, watch and listen. Who is popular? Who is disliked and why are they disliked? Who immediately resents the fact that you were hired over their application. Who’s in the ‘in’ crowd and who’s already half out of the door. Who doesn’t like you – there are many reasons why someone takes a dislike to you. When you think that statistically one out of every three people has a mental health issue which they bring to the workplace – that’s a mean toxic soup you are going to be swimming in.
Most importantly: take notes! If someone tells an extremely off-colour joke and you’re the punch line write it down: time, date and witnesses. If your boss yells at you in front of other people, write it down. If the boss yells at other people in front of you, write it down. If someone is regularly rude to you, write it down. In a disciplinary you need to show that there is a pattern of targeting/bullying or abusive behaviour and the only way to do that is to have reference to facts. It takes just a few moments to jot something down in a hidden file.
It’s also important to remember that appearance is everything. Often when that HR disciplinary notice hits your email people crumple which sometimes results in going off on stress leave.
I say Don’t Do That!
It may be difficult, especially if you know you are being set up, but show up every day and continue doing the great job you do. If you’re there every day, bright and breezy doing your job that is going to make the other side very nervous. Trust me, it works!
And always remember that old adage: hope for the best, but prepare for the worst!
