Workplace.stackexchange.com is a good Q/A resource for office conflict and other kinds of workplace issues.
Ask HN: Resources for introverted devs to learn workplace politics?
31–40 of 182 posts
Re: Ask HN: Resources for introverted devs to learn workplace politics?
#32It's easy.
- Lie
- Cheat
- Take credit for other people's work.
- Deflect blame to other people.
- Make friends with other jerks in the company and collaborate with them to distort facts in your favor at the expense of value creators within the company.
- Once you climb high enough in the hierarchy, start using your 'friends' as scapegoats for everything that goes wrong; you gotta keep feeding the beast... Even when the meat gets scarce.
- While you're doing all this backstabbing, be sure to keep a smile on your face.
Re: Ask HN: Resources for introverted devs to learn workplace politics?
#33买个S1000RR，去大街上哄两下油门，娱乐一下自己，改变一下活着的方式。
LOL
Re: Ask HN: Resources for introverted devs to learn workplace politics?
#34Definitely read How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. However, just reading a book on this subject is not enough. You will actually have to apply the principles in your everyday life. Dealing with people is kind of like an art. And just like any art (like painting) you can only get better with deliberate practice. Doing this might feel a little uncomfortable at first, but it's how we grow as peopl…
I definitely second this, even if it sounds like a cliche. It's how the sociable people's world works. It helps to get insight into their world.
Re: Ask HN: Resources for introverted devs to learn workplace politics?
#35Human interaction isn't so hard, you just need to view it as a problem to be solved, just like everything else.
There are some good YouTube videos that break this stuff down: https://www.youtube.com/user/charismaoncommand
Re: Ask HN: Resources for introverted devs to learn workplace politics?
#36Is there a chance that your introversion is caused by not feeling comfortable around a certain type of people? Are you always introverted even with a close group of friends?
Chances are that you're not compatible with a certain type of people but there are ways to overcome that.
First try to understand where all this is coming from, do a lot of introspection, see a professional if you can. Take a personality test and read about it. However inaccurate the MBTI is, I found that it helped me a lot.
Second, I found that my voice was a bad feedback loop, I'd attempt to weakly say something and people would not even hear me and that would make me close within myself even more and when I had the chance to say something I would avoid it based on pervious experience. Eventually I had become comfortable in my unconfortable silence.
This can be unlearned and should be unlearned at all costs, it will save your sanity later on.
Learning to project my voice has helped me quite a bit. Also being prepared helped me as well.
Re: Ask HN: Resources for introverted devs to learn workplace politics?
#37In your case I think the solution is pretty clear. Try hanging out more with your colleagues. If you don’t enjoy it then consider it “work” and part of the job.
You don’t have to stay the whole time or even talk too much. Just make an effort to be there which will be noticed and appreciated. It’s ok to leave early as long as you do so quietly.
The flip side to you not socializing with your colleagues is they consider it a rejection by you.
These events are supposed to be fun and for you they are not. I get that this isn’t fair but if you want to solve the problem of not being seen as a machine you have to try.
Re: Ask HN: Resources for introverted devs to learn workplace politics?
#38Break your comfort zone. Try taking some improv classes. Once you break the ice it actually becomes fun.
Re: Ask HN: Resources for introverted devs to learn workplace politics?
#39What a lot of people do is, instead of giving their own opinion, assess what the most respected people are likely to say, and try to say it before they do. Viewed solely on its performance rather than on its intrinsic worthiness, it's probably a good strategy.
Re: Ask HN: Resources for introverted devs to learn workplace politics?
#40Talk to a psychotherapist. You are having social anxiety and they are best equipped to help you.
EDIT: It's also important to note that introversion does not equal poor interpersonal skills. It's about what environment an individual feels rejuvenated.