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> Especially throwing other people under the bus. Hard disagree with this one. I've seen better success with 'compliment everyone behind their backs, giving a

> Especially throwing other people under the bus. Hard disagree with this one. I've seen better success with 'compliment everyone behind their backs, giving a good reason'. Throwing everyone under the bus can be very very effective, but it's got to be for a very short run at the goal, typically. If you end up working with those people again, you're cooked. I'd say, if you don't see yourself working with that person ever again in the next 6mo. to 1 year, you can throw others under the bus, provided you can get ahead of them on the org charts and the cocktail talk. If you are going to be working with those people again and they are in your radius of org chart or cocktail talk, compliment them all behind their backs relentlessly. Don't be a doormat, of course, but sing other's praises. You'll get a reputation for being a great person to work with, and everyone wants to work with a great person to work with. Everything else on this list is spot on, great write up!

ok_coo 7y ago
You have to be careful with throwing people under the bus because if it's noticed by people..going to be honest, they are not going to trust you and word will get around. You become that snake to avoid, you're dangerous to work with. So, hopefully you do it in a way where it can't come back to you. At the org I work at, if you're seen doing this, you're not a team player and you get an unofficial mark against you. People will generally look up to people who take responsibility. Regular smoozing I think is not too hard and you're just being sociable. If you feel you need to play politics, get with good team and play politics in concert. My department has made a lot of good progress just by providing a united front and influencing together. It doesn't even have to be a bad thing.
- Teever 7y ago
  What if you gain a reputation as the person who throws snakes under the bus? That seems like it would be a very good reputation to have with non-snakes because it would signal to them that you'll defend them the need arises.
  - frobozz 7y ago
    Then that's not playing politics and throwing people under a bus, that's standing up for values.
mr_overalls 7y ago
As a counterpoint: the long-term success of Donald Trump.
- Balgair 7y ago
  History is being written as we type. That said, he's out of runway and can't get ahead anymore, being the US President and all. The throwing everyone under the bus tactic can't work if you can't distance yourself away from those you burned, and he's out of room now.
blaser-waffle 7y ago
>> Especially throwing other people under the bus. > Hard disagree with this one. Sometimes you gotta burn bridges. The IT/tech world is surprisingly small, and it's possible you'll see these people again, but the trade-offs can sometimes be worth it. Guys like Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, and Bill Gates have reputations of acting like A-holes. You're going to have to step on someone's toes to make it to the top.

ok_coo 7y ago

You have to be careful with throwing people under the bus because if it's noticed by people..going to be honest, they are not going to trust you and word will get around. You become that snake to avoid, you're dangerous to work with. So, hopefully you do it in a way where it can't come back to you. At the org I work at, if you're seen doing this, you're not a team player and you get an unofficial mark against you. People will generally look up to people who take responsibility. Regular smoozing I think is not too hard and you're just being sociable. If you feel you need to play politics, get with good team and play politics in concert. My department has made a lot of good progress just by providing a united front and influencing together. It doesn't even have to be a bad thing.

Teever 7y ago
What if you gain a reputation as the person who throws snakes under the bus? That seems like it would be a very good reputation to have with non-snakes because it would signal to them that you'll defend them the need arises.
- frobozz 7y ago
  Then that's not playing politics and throwing people under a bus, that's standing up for values.

mr_overalls 7y ago

As a counterpoint: the long-term success of Donald Trump.

Balgair 7y ago
History is being written as we type. That said, he's out of runway and can't get ahead anymore, being the US President and all. The throwing everyone under the bus tactic can't work if you can't distance yourself away from those you burned, and he's out of room now.

blaser-waffle 7y ago

>> Especially throwing other people under the bus. > Hard disagree with this one. Sometimes you gotta burn bridges. The IT/tech world is surprisingly small, and it's possible you'll see these people again, but the trade-offs can sometimes be worth it. Guys like Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, and Bill Gates have reputations of acting like A-holes. You're going to have to step on someone's toes to make it to the top.