Whose side are you on anyhow?

In a work dispute, any on-looker or mildly interested third party will not know all the facts. We’re often faced with such stand-offs inside companies; listening to colleagues complain about the boss’ lunacy; seeing how global HQ has suddenly created more ‘useless red tape’, hearing the gossip of a pending re-org, who’s in or out, who’s up or down, which sales team has won the big bid, who’s lost another, who’s to blame, on and on..

Many comments or opinions will move you towards taking a position, a stance, an implied ‘are you with me/us or not?’ question.

Most people I work with are already in senior management, not much of a gulf between grade level, and the politics is hardball. What to do about taking sides? My answer often is: Don’t.

Here’s why:
[list]

You’ll almost never know both sides equally well, usually one side only–that reason alone is sufficient not to be a ‘decider’ (in the words of GWB..)

There can be a fair amount much at stake, depending on the players involved. Holding one’s cards close to your chest until you have clarity is positive acquired behaviour–and it also helps one look more diplomatic. Show your hand and you lose anyhow..

Knowing how to be both straight-faced and empathetic is also learned behaviour, and terribly important at work. Getting worked up into a lather upon hearing one person’s viewpoint may assuage them, but you may soon eat your words the following day once you gather more information. Knowing the facts takes time, for goodness sake.

[/list]

Leave the drama to reality TV-or others.

The old saying that “ASSUME” is nothing more than making an ASS out of U and ME still holds true. This is not to say be ignorant and hold no belief, but exactly the opposite; be up to speed on all issues, but know when to hold one’s tongue and when not..

The trick is to remain neutral until you weigh in.The more impartial one remains, the more senior you appear–and become..

When children fight at home, parents seldom descend to their level and wallow with them; they don’t know who said what, and don’t care to know. Listen to both sides, go to separate corners, and move on-it will happen again..

In the corporation it is similar, but one should seldom (not never–seldom) take sides. The long term view can only be deduced when one can look beyond the emotion of the present (and ‘long term’ is the corporate perspective anyhow..)

Be impartial. When you finally speak up, its impact is far greater than others who spout off regularly.

In the words of another ex President, RWR, “Trust, but verify”, a much saner approach to [corporate] life. Knowing how to stay calm in the eye of many storms takes practice, but we are all judged only by our action, not our thoughts, so act prudently.

Speaking of Presidents, Obama’s even-keeled nature is a far greater attribute than coming out swinging. Get angry in public and you lose more often than you win (take a look at the recent video of the Barcap FX head in Singapore throwing sheet metal at construction workers-he was fired the next day..)

The higher up you go, the more you can count on being constantly watched by others, especially when you think you aren’t..