Work and Socializing.

[jon11]

Dude I hate the corporate world. I worked in it after college for 6 years. I was able to open my own business after that. I worked twice as hard working for myself and enjoyed every minute of it. Frankly I don't see how people do it. I guess I just hate being fake and that doesn't seem to go over too smoothly in the corporate world, especially if you want to move up that ladder. Too much ass kissing go on, not for me! On the other hand, if you have no choice, I guess just smile. But then again your being fake. Oh well, you get my point. I feel for you brother.

 

[yazamitaz]

I absolutely DESPISED these things, but faked it so well I started to get asked to run them. +1 on my positive team building/team player part of my reviews. I started scheduling them when it was more convenient for me, and I made sure it was engaging. The other employees enjoyed it (or faked it well) and then I got to pass the baton, but was usually consulted on content. Turned something I couldn't stand into something that made me Team Player of the Year.

 

[rangerearthpig]

Gayness....

 

[anglesey]

Team Player

Man that's a phrase I hate. Well done on being able to stomach it yaz, but lord I don't know how. Sometimes there'll be days at my office where I won't speak to anyone, it's great. I am not a team player, I am a single entity. I hate the way businesses try use sporting phrases, and this 'boardroom slang' kind of talk these days. A friend of mine was interviewed by the bbc for some article, but they didn't use her piece as it was felt she hadn't 'interfaced and synergised' well enough with the staff she spoke to. What shit!

 

[sablebrush52]

Back at the Plant the Manager came by and told me You could have let them win one. I told him I didn't know Exxon hired such a bunch of Pussies. We never went on a team building event again.

Bradley, you hare my hero!
Personally, I put up with the mandatory meetings as they're a lot of self congratulation amongst the Poobahs, and are generally boring to the nth degree. I enjoy the occasional party that gets held, especially if it involves lunch.

 

[layinpipe]

Play show and tell with your pipe. Pack it and light it up and explain this is what you do to relax and it increases productivity. Maybe you'll convert a couple folks to the light side.

 

[yazamitaz]

Bradley, I did something very similar to you during my tenure as a virgin manager. Let's say it somewhat thwarted my upward mobility until the douche-pump VP that I punked left the company.
Anglesey - I learned a VERY valuable life lesson during a Commanding General's Inspection while I was in the Marine Corps. I was bitching and moaning about why a general would really give two shits about how shiny my shoes were, or if the creases in my shirt were so sharp that I could slit someone's throat with an elbow strike. One of my Gunny's heard my bitch session and in not so many nice words basically told me that he "didn't give a flying f**k what I thought, I would have the best uniform in our Company and I had BETTER leave the impression to all that I cared". That is now my montra in life, I may not give a shit, but I will LEAVE THE IMPRESSION that I care. This has served me rather well in my professional life since, as you may be able to tell from the former story, I don't do well in the suck up department.

 

[phred]

Thankfully, my company doesn't seem to go in for the more, uh, "creative" sorts of team-building exercises. The occasional lunch out together, and the annual (after hours) picnic and holiday party are about the extent of combining socializing and work colleagues. Of course, I spend 95% of my time at a client site, so there may be more that goes on in the office that I'm not aware of... :D

 

[andrew]

Lol, my work makes high school look civil. I just go to work and do my job and stay out of the drama, in a female dominated profession, I don't think all of the drama is just a coincidence.

during my tenure as a virgin manager

H'yuk h'yuk h'yuk, sounds like a dream job....

 

[winton]

It shows that the head of our division is a mother of small children. We have to decorate our team area for the monthly contest. We took it down at the end of the month and then we found out the event was extended. We got in trouble for not being enthusiastic, so we spent a little cash on new decorations. It does help moral, but not near enough to make up for other issues that are killing moral.
Winton

 

[brian64]

I absolutely loathe all of that type of crap in the corporate world. The entire “corporate culture” is stuck somewhere between elementary school and junior high.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unxHTEdye2A