The “Gotcha!” Game:The “Gotcha!” Game:The Gotcha! Game:Decoding Office

The Gotcha! Game:Decoding OfficeDecoding Office

PoliticsDecoding Office

PoliticsPoliticsPolitics

HR Florida 2008Conference & Expo

August 25-27, 2008Orlando, Florida

©2008 Creative Energy Options

d ill ld ill ld ill ld ill lToday you will learn to:Today you will learn to:Today you will learn to:Today you will learn to:

● Recognize, examine, and transform the patterns that activate office

litipolitics● Understand how patterns impact

communication work performancecommunication, work performance, conflict, and motivation

● Create an office culture in which● Create an office culture in which everyone feels valued and invested in success

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success

Our Philosophy:Our Philosophy:p yp y

E thi iEverything is connectedconnected,

&no one wins l ll d !!unless we all do!!

©2008 Creative Energy Options

©2008 Creative Energy Options

What Are Patterns?What Are Patterns?

Repetitive reactions that pkeep us stuck in the world of

“always” and “never”“always” and “never”

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Insanity:Insanity:yy

“Doing the sameDoing the same things over and over and expecting different results ”different results.

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Patterns in the WorkplacePatterns in the Workplace● Super Achiever● Rebel

pp

Rebel● Procrastinator● Clown● Persecutor● Persecutor● Victim● Rescuer● Drama Queen (King)● Drama Queen (King)● Martyr● Pleaser● Avoider● Avoider● Denier● Splitter

©2008 Creative Energy Options

Leaders who learnLeaders who learnto decode office politics can:to decode office politics can:politics can:politics can:● Impact a healthy bottom linep y● Recruit and retain talent● Limit legal issuesLimit legal issues● Create a climate of trust● Get more done in less time● Get more done in less time● Sleep better at night

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How DoHow DoPatterns Begin?Patterns Begin?

●Family●Culture

C i i●Crisis

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Family Patterns:Family Patterns:Family Patterns:Family Patterns:● The first organization into

which you were bornwhich you were born● Downloaded through the

tigenerations● Part of your genetic

memory● Locked in your nervous y

system

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Culture Patterns:Culture Patterns:Culture Patterns:Culture Patterns:

● Societal norms and rules that become “knots” as in “can not,” “will not,” “should not” and “not like me”and “not like me”

● Silent agreements about inclusion and exclusioninclusion and exclusion

● Unfinished business from the past i e “we did not know”past, i.e., we did not know

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Crisis Patterns:Crisis Patterns:Crisis Patterns:Crisis Patterns:● Split-second occurrences

th t “h d i fthat cause “hardening of the emotions”

● The belief that the external● The belief that the external world is not safe

● Obsession and guilt with gfeelings of “if only”

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What Activates P tt ?What Activates P tt ?Patterns?Patterns?

Rigidit Fle ibilitRigidity Flexibility

E l i I l iExclusion Inclusion

Emotionally Closed Emotionally Open

Constant Sameness Constant Change

©2008 Creative Energy Options

Tools and Tips to diffuse Tools and Tips to diffuse pnegativity and improve workplace culture:

pnegativity and improve workplace culture:workplace culture:workplace culture:

● Don’t ignore negativity● Don’t ignore negativity● Offer recognition, and lots of it!● Coach the complainers

©2008 Creative Energy Options

d hd hd hd hAnd guess what…..And guess what…..And guess what…..And guess what…..

Work is not aWork is not a rehab facility!rehab facility!

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A Pattern AwareA Pattern AwareA Pattern AwareA Pattern AwareA Pattern Aware A Pattern Aware Leader will….Leader will….A Pattern Aware A Pattern Aware Leader will….Leader will….● Observe… behavior to discern

underlying patterns● Understand… and probe

deeper to discover theporigins of these patterns

● Transform… byytaking actions tochange behavior

©2008 Creative Energy Options

Pattern Transformations Pattern Transformations

Super Achiever

at Work and Home:at Work and Home:Creative Collaborator»Super Achiever

RebelProcrastinator

Creative CollaboratorCommunity BuilderRealizer

——»——»——»

ClownPersecutor

Victim

HumoristVisionaryExplorer

——»——»——»Victim

RescuerDrama Queen (King)

Martyr

ExplorerMentorStorytellerIntegrator

»——»——»

»MartyrPleaserAvoider

IntegratorTruth TellerInitiator

——»——»——»

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DenierSplitter

Trust BuilderPeacemaker

——»——»

These are Pattern AwareThese are Pattern AwareThese are Pattern Aware Leaders…These are Pattern Aware Leaders…

Community Peacemaker CreativeCommunity Peacemaker CreativeBuilder Collaborator

Integrator Visionaryg y

©2008 Creative Energy Options

Recommended ReadingRecommended ReadingRecommended ReadingRecommended ReadingRecommended ReadingRecommended ReadingRecommended ReadingRecommended Reading● Don’t Bring It To Work: Breaking the Family Patterns● Don t Bring It To Work: Breaking the Family Patterns

that Limit Success – Sylvia Lafair, Ph.D. (February 2009)

A Wh l N Mi d D i l Pi k● A Whole New Mind – Daniel Pink

● Social Intelligence: The New Science of Human Relationships – Daniel Goleman

● The Wisdom of Crowds – James Surowiecki● The Wisdom of Crowds James Surowiecki

©2008 Creative Energy Options

ContactContactContact Contact Sylvia Lafair Ph DSylvia Lafair, Ph.D.

PresidentCreative Energy Options IncCreative Energy Options, Inc.

45 Country Place LaneWhite Haven, PA 18661

www.ceoptions.comsylvia@ceoptions.com

(570) 636 3858(570) 636-3858Fax: (570) 636-5387

©2008 Creative Energy Options