I 've heard a lot of people talk about politics in the office. I never really understood what it really meant. But after five years of working , I have come to realise its meaning in a true sense. It all started when I was assigned a project. I worked on it for a solid two and a half years. I toiled in front of the computer. During that time people discouraged me from using the technique, I was using because it seemed difficult and complicated. I finished it just recently and presented it in our annual technical seminar. After my presentation, looking at my future work, I was invited by a Director of another institute to visit a similar project of his institute. I was happy and overjoyed.
I started working towards that project. But when it came to visiting that place, suddenly many people got interested. All of them were assigned similar projects, but they did not even complete a tenth of their job. Fine, I said to myself, as long as my project is not affected, I really don't care, if other people tag along with me.
We visited the place and gained a lot of knowledge.
After returning, I briefed my immediate superior. To my surprise, a meeting was convened at 1600 hrs with the other 3 members of the team and other people who were in my previous section (before the organizational restructuring).
Over there they were talking about a project team to be formed, the area for the new project. And all this by the person who is not at all involved in the work I did. And people who have no idea what work i have completed, are stating that my work has come to 'some shape'.
All of sudden my future project has become everyone's collective project. And I feel like I am being pushed from the driver seat on to the pavement.
It seems to me that the primary purpose of their interference in my work is climb up the ladder, sycophancy runs in their veins. I felt really miserable yesterday.
People are dictating terms to me on how I should carry out my project.
This I think is what feels like politics. Merit, Righteousness is far far away. Definitely not in the same scale, but I felt like Steve Jobs who was fired from the company he started. But I will also remember what he said ' I still love what I do'.
I started working towards that project. But when it came to visiting that place, suddenly many people got interested. All of them were assigned similar projects, but they did not even complete a tenth of their job. Fine, I said to myself, as long as my project is not affected, I really don't care, if other people tag along with me.
We visited the place and gained a lot of knowledge.
After returning, I briefed my immediate superior. To my surprise, a meeting was convened at 1600 hrs with the other 3 members of the team and other people who were in my previous section (before the organizational restructuring).
Over there they were talking about a project team to be formed, the area for the new project. And all this by the person who is not at all involved in the work I did. And people who have no idea what work i have completed, are stating that my work has come to 'some shape'.
All of sudden my future project has become everyone's collective project. And I feel like I am being pushed from the driver seat on to the pavement.
It seems to me that the primary purpose of their interference in my work is climb up the ladder, sycophancy runs in their veins. I felt really miserable yesterday.
People are dictating terms to me on how I should carry out my project.
This I think is what feels like politics. Merit, Righteousness is far far away. Definitely not in the same scale, but I felt like Steve Jobs who was fired from the company he started. But I will also remember what he said ' I still love what I do'.
No comments:
Post a Comment