office politics

[autumn]

I know this is very long, so anyone who likes figuring out long, involved social dramas is thanked ahead of time for bearing with such a long post.

A year ago our company hired a very bright new manager who took over responsibilities that I was helping to perform. I saw myself moving professionally in this direction, and told my current supervisor that. We went through a reorganization, and the head boss planned for me to go work under the new boss (NM). Unfortunately, the head boss didn't survive the reorganization, and was moved out of his position, so now we have a new head boss (HB) who is also female.

Six months ago a position under NM was posted and I competed for it. HR sent an email saying due to budget cuts the position had been eliminated. NM came up to me in the hallway and told me that she wanted me to work for her very much but my current supervisor had been tipped off by her friends in HR that I had been selected for the job and my current supervisor intervened and had the position cancelled. So, my current supervisor screwed me out of a promotion because she can't do her job without my help. I later found out that current supervisor had been milking several other situations to try to prevent NM (whom she is jealous of) from ever having the opportunity to offer me a job again.

I had several very frank discussions with NM about this, and we agreed that I would start doing work for her on the side. I did a few minor things for her, with the result that my current supevisor began hovering over my shoulder and giving me time-wasting insignificant things to do. So, I had planned to do a lot more work for NM, and hadn't been able to.

Out of the blue NM begins asking me with a clearly upset tone for updates on her projects, and out of the blue tells me she has arranged for another person to be detailed under her. My reaction was- well, I've blown my chance. She no longer wants me to work for her. But the problem is I don't know exactly what happened, or who's doing what in all of this to figure out if I ever have a chance to go work for her and get the promotion that I had stolen from me.

Twice on different days I started out talking to the wise i-ching by asking, 'tell me about working for NM'. First I got 24.4.6(21), and then 24 unchanging. Line six seems to suggest I've missed my chance completely. I wasn't sure if I did it by not being involved enough with her work, or if it was something beyond my control. So I asked, what is the outcome if I try to turn this around (by focusing more on her work)? I received 31.3 (45). From Wilheim, "As little should he yield immediately to every whim of those in whose service he stands."

I have not been entirely certain whether the problem is that she no longer works for me, or that someone else is interfering with me working for her. So I specifically asked which it was. I received 6.5 (64).

I asked specifically, what is NM's position on me working for her, and received 15.3.4.5 (45). On the other day I had received 64.3.5 (44). I asked what is my current supervisor's position on me working for her, and received 36.1 (15). I wondered if the reference to 'gossip' and speaking ill could mean she is manipulating the situation through these means.

Then to cut to the chase, I asked, what is the outcome of working for NM? I get 43.6 (1). Interesting, LiSe calls 43 the Speaking Staff, and the line is unfortuanate. Other translations point to a moment of inattention and carelessness causing something one believed was secure to fall through. I wonder, did current supervisor twist something I said in regard to NM projects? Did I say something wrong to cause NM to all of the suddenly seem angry with me? I wanted to be sure, so I asked again, and received 2.5(8). The subject of the line is the discreet reserve of the servant.

Finally, I asked, how should I proceed with NM, and received 25. I take that is completely back off. Dis-entangle. Which is the opposite of get highly involved in her projects.

Does anyone else have a take on this?

 

[jesed]

Hi autumn

Just in case the comment could be useful

I would suggest you face this issue with a little more order. From general to concrete, and from causes to effects.

So, I would made the following dialogue, in this order:

a) General Diagnosis of my Labor Time
b) Diagnosis of my concrete situation in my job
c) How is my position within this situation?
d) How is NM's position within this situation?
e) How is NB's position within this situation?
f) What should I do to achieve armony in my job?

I hope this could give you more clarity. Knowing the battle-field (questions "a" and "b"), and how every army is moving within it (questions "c", "d" and "e"), the wise general can made the correct strategy to win the war ("f")

Best wishes

 

[autumn]

Wow, ok. These answers were really surprising, and a little frightening. Some basic background- my job has been very secure (from the standpoint of my performance) for five years. However, I feel very frustrated, and have felt frustrated for at least a year and a half. I feel like my current supervisor, the one who stopped my promotion, is holding me back in other ways and that my job is not challenging me. I feel like I need to grow and I'm a little stuck.

#1) 7.4.6 (64). I know I shouldn't react literally, but the Wilheim translation in line six says, 'inferior people should not be employed', and in terms of the most general question, and given the fact I feel held back.. does this mean I am inferior and should not have my job? : Or maybe marching on into the unknown.. onto something new?

#2) 40.3 (32) I have made myself conspicuous; I have put myself between two managers?

#3) 55.1.3. (16) (my position)

#4) 62.3 (16) (the manager who wanted to hire me)

#5) 62.4 (15) (the new head boss, not my current supervisor, but the mediator between the two managers)

#6) 23.6 (2) Possibly forget these politics, as they will be detrimental to me, and set my sights on another way to advance in my career?

 

[jte]

Hi, Autumn - just a few thoughts, hopefully others will chime in as well...

#1 - a double meaning, perchance, in line 6? Maybe it's time to step back and consider the whole situation vis a vis your wants and needs? When I see double meanings, it's often time to transcend the situation in order to get a higher perspective. (Of course, that's easier said than done when one is worried over those pesky office politicians...).

#3 - assuming this reading is a "blend" of the two lines and not each being completely independent: despite the inner connection between you and the new manager, circumstances are adverse (hey, you knew that anyway! arent I useful? ;-) Maybe someone else can get more out of this one... )

#4 - "office politics" can get nasty, and jobs can be lost. Perhaps she's being real careful about stepping on your current boss' insecure toes?

#6 - "harmony" does not necessarily = advancement or moving on, so I'm not sure the question really gets at what you want. However, your interpretation of, essentially, ride this situation out seems in keeping with the line...

 

[jesed]

Hi autumn

Hope not to be rude; but if you think I am, just say it and I'll apologize

a) Diagnosis of Labor Time. This is a General question, is not concrete level situation. I mean, this points to you action in the external world in general. An it is a very bad answer.

In mayority cases of Diagnosis, the principal hexagram (the one you casted) is in the Present. This is the normal case.
Some times (minority cases), the principal hexagram is in the Past, and Tendential hexgram is in the present. This points that you are attached to past situation. So, even if the FACTS are in the past, you feel and acts as they are Present. Because of not learning the lessons of the past (principal hexagram), you are now in the Tendential hexagram.

And there are very few cases when both principal and tendential hexagram are in the past. This is called, in traditional teachings, as "psiycological past", and it is a very bad situation. The consultant is losing contact with his/her present reality. This shows some stubborn attach to wrong ideas. The consultan NEED URGENTLY re-examinate his/her ideas, position and reality.

In your case Principal hexagram is in the past (the army...from June 17, 2005 to February 27, 2006) and Tendential hexagram is also in the past (before transition... from June 17, 2005 to January 16, 2006)

So, re-examinate what happened in you Labor realm (I insist, in the way you act in the external world) in those dates, and leave it in the Past. You won't walk forward in your life until you solve this.

Best wishes

 

[autumn]

Nothing happened at work at all during those times. In January 2006 I competed for the job I was posting about and initally hired, and then the position was cancelled. Whatever this is referring to, it can't be about a concrete situation at work. I'm not sure what it is referring to.

 

[jesed]

Hi autumn

a) Diagnosis of Labor Time. This is a General question, is not concrete level situation. I mean, this points to you action in the external world in general.

I'll try to explain myself better.

In traditional teachings, there are 3 levels of questions:
a) Global diagnosis (this points to the macrocosmical Path of your life)
b) General diagnosis (this points to one of e mayor areas of your life: the spiritual, the internal/emotional, adn the external/labor)
c) Concrete diagmosis (microcosmical situations in the day-by-day life)

The General diagmosis of my Labor life, therefore, is not related to concrete job situation (that was the second question, "diagnosis of my concrete situation at job"), It is related, in a ore general sense, to the way you place yourself and acts in the external world (in contraposition to the internal world... emotions, feelings, thoughts...)

Is in this general aspect (the way you stand in the world in general, not only at your work place) where you need to made a severe self-examination (accordinly with traditional traditional teachings, I must to say)

Best wishes

 

[jesed]

ps

even about your work place... if you follow your time frame references, you meet first with NM "a year ago" (June 2005, right?) and the competition for the place under NM was "six month ago" (January 2006, right?)

And in your answer, the key date is June 2005 (in both hexagrams) and January (tendential hex)-February (principal hex) 2006.

So, even in work place, seems that SOMETHING DID HAPPENED between June 2005(you met NM)-February 2006 (you wanted to work under NM and fail); and you are strongly attached to that instead of moving forward.

Best wishes

 

[autumn]

I understand what you're saying, but I'm not connecting it to anything specific- especially in those timeframes. Is it saying there's something wrong with me, or something that I'm attached to or doing that is wrong? Because the only thing really wrong at all in my life isn't something I am doing. I have an old house that I moved into in October that was from my divorce five years ago. My ex and I made an arrangement that to get out from under it financially (since we didn't do it in the divorce) I would fix it up and sell it. I have been neglecting to do the work, and pushing it to the background. But, I can't go on and really live where I want to live without selling this house. I am just being lazy to not put more effort into it. Could it be that?

 

[jesed]

Hi autumn

Well, you know. 7 is about organization; discipline; material support for the comunity's life; find allies; administrate your resourses.

This apply in general to your external action.

Hope this help a little bit

Best wishes

 

[autumn]

This probably isn't important, but it wasn't in June of last year that the new manager was hired. I think it was Aug- but that falls into the timeframes. Yes, it's true that I failed to get the promotion, but it hasn't been a cut and dry situation. It's over- you don't get the job. There has been much more after Feb. 2006 that has happened with that situation. She made an arrangement in May 2006 for me to help with her work with my current supervisor. So, all of that is continuing, and that's what the post has been about, and the reason why I am attached to the idea of working for her. She has told me several times she wants me in that position.

So, I'm not doubting what you are saying, but whatever the situation is, it cannot be very simply- you wanted this job, but now it's gone- and everyone else has moved on, because that's not actually what's happening at work.

But, in my original question, I had wondered, well, did the fact that I have not 'moved forward' and seized more work from her instead of concentrating on what my current supervisor is doing, has that been the problem. And connecting it to the house on a general level, do I withdraw from the day to day business of what I need to do because of fear. So, if I get what you're saying- don't concentrate on the answers to my specific questions at all, and instead focus on standing up to the challenges that are before me in all areas of the way I interact with the world.

I am very willing to examine what it is I need to. When I asked these questions, I did it quickly, on the computer, without a lot of focus. I believe in synchroncity, so I don't thin k it is likely it was just an accident that I got the answer I got, but because I am concerned/confused about the answer, I asked the same question again with more focus. General diagnosis of labor time. Has this given the same answer? 54.4 (19). The focus in on doing things at the right time- seizing the moment. Does that clarify the answer? But more importantly, this gives me a real sense of hopelessness. Is there hope to figure out the changes that need to made, if it such a rare condition?

 

[autumn]

As I've let this soak in, the more I've realized that the answers I got cannot be about this particular job. There's no way- because I'm not even that attached to this particular job. I have other ideas/plans about how to move up or on in my career. It's not hugely significant in the relative scheme of things, but the answer was urgent and extreme. So something is not fitting.

I think this is pointing me to a different cause, and it was something that happened between June-January with a man. If in fact 'labor time' is in general how you are in the external world, then it doesn't necessarily have anything to do with work at all, and I don't think this does.