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Original poster

Office politics dos and don'ts

73 replies

Menagerie · 15/12/2010 10:30

Any advice from people who work in offices? I'll be doing some work from new year for a new client in house with them and really want to make a good impression. I'm used to working for myself, being my own boss and don't have much experience of working in offices.

Also, was given feedback from the presentation I did in interview, that some of the co-workers didn't think I was quite right, but the bosses did, so that's why I'm on freelance trial rather than full time from the outset.

Any advice on how to make a good, friendly impression?

(I know that sounds a bit pathetic - should be able to work it out for myself - but I've been working alone or with clients I've know for years, for so long that I've sort of forgotten how to get on with new people in a business environment and am quite nervous, especially as I know they weren't keen to begin with!) When I'm nervous I can seem a bit aloof and arrogant apparently. I know I don't always make a good first impression but once the ice is broken, things are fine.

Just want to know what would wind you up and what would make you happy to have a new person working alongside you.

Thanks for any suggestions.

OP posts:

theoriginalscummymummy · 16/12/2010 16:23

See all, hear all, say nothing! :)

FakePlasticTrees · 16/12/2010 16:37

smile lots.

You need to make friends with reception and if you have someone in charge of your kitchen, them too. Postal room staff are not worth pissing off either. IT staff can normally be bribed with biscuits. Never have a go at them because something isn't working - even if it was their fault. They will make you pay.

If you have an assistant - make sure you don't ask them to do any personal work unless it has been expressly explained that is in their job discription.

If you have use of a team secretary, you have only limited amounts of their time. Don't monopolise them. OTOH - don't do stuff that is their job to make things easier - a)you will annoy those you share your sec with as it will make them look bad, b)you will make those who don't know think you are more junior than you are and c) when you are busier and need your secretary to do things you'd been handling yourself, they will resent you for it.

Schulte · 16/12/2010 20:19

Don't know if anyone said but be positive. I am an old grumbler and it always comes back to me in my reviews. Going freelance now though so can grumble as much as I like from January!

Fibilou · 16/12/2010 20:41

I've changed my job lots of times and have always got on with everyone quickly and made friends. My tips are:

When you start, settle in, watch what goes on, don't talk too much and get the "vibe". Nothing is more annoying than a know it all
Make tea
Take cakes on your first day
Make tea
Be nice and friendly, join in the banter without being too "me me me"
Make tea

are you getting the theme with the tea ? Quickest way to be accepted IMO.

Fibilou · 16/12/2010 20:42

Oh and offer to do the crappy jobs. Hopefully people won't give them to you but they will be pleased to have been asked.

As long as you are seen to be friendly, willing and not up yourself you should get on fine

starkadder · 16/12/2010 21:02

Smile lots and listen lots.

cloudspotter · 16/12/2010 22:18

One golden rule, never say:

"At xxxx, where I used to work, they used to do xxxxx"

greenlotus · 16/12/2010 22:22

Don't talk too much - it's one thing to exchange a few pleasantries about the weekend but quite another when 15 minutes later you're still hearing about someone's DIY project. You might be on the receiving end of Excessively Sociable Person even if it's not you.

Take in a distinctive mug in case there aren't any spare (there are fewer mugs than people at our place )

Be nice to support services- IT, Facilities, receptionists.

Try not to curse and throw your laptop across the room - you're not at home on your own now!

We only do cakes on birthdays, I do sometimes make them, I think I can get away with being mumsy occasionally since I have to be Executive Techno Woman the rest of the time.

Everyone is smart on their first day, if you're going to be there a while you might try a personal shopper to sort you out a slightly more up to date look.

hellzapoppin · 16/12/2010 23:00

do:

pick your nose when talking to a colleague
take the paper to the toilet
play punch/massage the shoulders of colleagues
put your feet on the desk
never, ever make tea but always accept a cup made by others
bring chips into the office at 11am for an early lunch
bring your farting, smelly incontinent dog into work
bang the desk vigorously with both fists to emphasise. your. point
fail to offer so much as a mince pie to staff at christmas

.. do all of the above and you will very soon be running the company.

beautyspot · 17/12/2010 07:38

Let's hope you are not working with other women as the co-workers who didn't think you were right for the job. You might have a chance to win over the men but it'll be v difficult with a bunch of women like that (whether it's because they are jealous or that they didn't like what you were wearing that day). I always prefer working with men; much easier to get along with. Good luck.

PuppyMonkey · 17/12/2010 08:11

Sweeping statement of the year award goes to beauty spot.

Original poster

Menagerie · 17/12/2010 09:10

hellzapoppin - Sadly, you're right. Gladly - I haven't that urge.

OP posts:

hattyyellow · 17/12/2010 10:05

Definitely agree on the being nice to those less senior than you. I got a job partly on the basis of being the only candidate that week to be friendly and polite to the receptionist.

I would steer clear of all politics and don't try to be everyone's friend - it's great to be liked for being friendly, open and hard working but as soon as you get dragged into anyone's personal tirades about the office you lose some of your professional edge.

And on the style side I would try for some pretty accessories - I'm in my mid 30's and I know a lot of fashions would look slightly stupid on me - so I always make sure I have a reasonably pretty trendy bag/coat etc and stick to simple basics for the rest - black, cream, camel etc.

And don't feel you have to apologise for being you! You got the job, whatever your co-workers might think and the senior managers are the ones who ultimately make those hiring and firing decisions- not your co-workers! You are obviously skilled and intelligent and if they decide you're not right for them, there will be other jobs. Don't do yourself down!

threefeethighandrising · 17/12/2010 11:09

I agree tea is important! Wait and see what the tea culture is - or simply ask someone. In a office where people make rounds of tea it's polite to offer to make a round of course.

But if the culture is for individuals to make their own cups it's actually quite annoying if someone starts making rounds.

Washing up your cups is a must though!

Other than that, be yourself. If you have to put on an act to work there it's probably not the job for you (or a nice place to work). I'm sure once your new colleagues get to know you they'll wonder how they could ever have considered anyone else for the role

Congratulations on getting the job, I hope it all goes well

KPidgeon · 17/12/2010 11:13

Smile and be pleasant to everyone (not in any hierachical way) as it's the people at the bottom of the hierarchy who you may really need to help you out at some point. Im fairly near the bottom (!) and it's the top professionals who were polite and gracious to me from day 1 who I'm most likely to want to help out even when really pushed.

When you're new don't align yourself with anyone in particular as you may close yourself off to other people if there are cliques- just be nice and civil to everyone. I found it hard to start with but 3 years on I wouldn't change my job and the office environment for anything.

DreamTeamGirl · 17/12/2010 13:02

I always find if you can get to know the receptionists, cleaners and IT guys early on, and convince them you are a nice likable person the rest follows fairly easily.

threefeethighandrising · 17/12/2010 14:47

Ooh yes, be super nice to the IT guys!

blueberrysorbet · 17/12/2010 19:18

this also made me remember why I hated working in an office! all that crap with tea/ cakes (I hate cake) and the bitching...
my tips, for what they are worth...

read the first 100 days of working in a new role, its on the net, just google it.

If you are a consultant for a short length of time, your bosses will blame any changes on you (they will be there after you have gone, after all)

just be nice to everyone, its up to your boss to call a meeting to tell everyone what they/ you are doing, wouldn;t do 1:1's seems a bit boss/ subordinate to me. you will get lots of people stopping by anyway to ask:)

wear normal office clothes, trouser suit or whatever, always look smart, never moan about kids/ husband/ commute

don;t get involved in tea/ coffee./ cake rota! dreamt up by time wasters!

I refused to do the cakes on friday bit- involved going to pret, buying cakes for 15 people costing at least 15 pounds a pop once a month-picky co workers.. then all the women used to sit about for ages eating and chatting- the men in the office smiling at the mothers meeting..

depends on your place really.

and don;t watch "the office with ricky gervaise" you might change your mind:)

sure you will be fine, you sound pretty clued up and self aware tbh

southeastastra · 17/12/2010 19:27

i don't make the tea of coffee and i know it winds some people up, but it makes me nervous just thinking about it!

i escape to the coffee machine alone

PurpleKate · 18/12/2010 09:53

Fantastic advice - I don't do any of it.

I don't make tea or coffee for anyone else, I don't befriend the receptionist, I don't bring in cake and I don't socialise out of hours. I am in fact myself - and they take me as I am or they don't.

Amazingly I have made lots of good friends at work and am not completely anti-social, just not over eager. In fact met my husband at work.

Just be yourself.

Original poster

Menagerie · 18/12/2010 10:48

Blueberry thanks for the Google tip - I'll look that up.

I'll just be myself, but curb the tendency to do everything immediately without consultation. Not very team-minded by nature when it comes to work. I just tend to get my head down and get on with stuff, which can be a bit bulldozerish, I think, when others are around.

OP posts:

Heroine · 18/12/2010 12:07

Being head-down is great, actually I like people who do their work and occasionally be nice more than people who are nice all the time and never do their work (if you are working in the public sector be aware niceness is more important there for some reason!) If you are going to be bulldozer-ish try to identify people who would benefit from knowing what you are doing - whether that's 'all' or 'bits' and let them know -

bulldozers are great, but if you don't know where they are going or what they are going to do next, people get very wary of them!

Original poster

Menagerie · 18/12/2010 14:16

Heroine, that's a good tip. Thanks.

OP posts:

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