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Invisible Agent

Monetary Mechanisms

Vitamins A-E for the Office Machiavelli

DISCLAIMER

Vitamins A-E for the Office Machiavelli

by Linguascelesta

Appearance

Dress as though for an interview, every day. If this is not practical in your workplace, dress at least one level of formality higher than peers.

For example, in My workplace, a suit would be overkill and would look silly. Most men wear trousers and a shirt; so I wear the same but with a smart tie, shinier shoes, and cufflinks. At the weekend it is dress-down. For most people this might mean wearing jeans and a t-shirt. In My case, it means possibly not wearing a tie.

Behaviour

Without insubordination or ostensible presumptuousness, act as if you are one level higher than You are, whatever that level may be; junior, tiers of middle-management, senior management, etc. Get into that mindset. Allow others to think of you in that role. The promotion will be on its way soon. Be dynamic and keep moving onwards and upwards, always setting sights on one stage ahead.

For example, I started work at My most recent job back in March. By the turn of April and May, I was half the time doing the job of My immediate boss. At the beginning of June, I was made officially the same level as he is, doing the same job as him officially. My next move will technically be a lateral one, however it will mean better hours and pay; I am of course already working on being accepted into that role.

Competence

Be the best. Know your job well. At the very, very, least, know your job better than your peers. Make yourself the one that they come to for help and advice; do not be seen as big-headed, but do be seen as the person who will know what to do in any scenario.

For example, it is visible in terms of My productivity at work that I achieve more than My peers, and anything they do, I do better. In order to be neither self-effacing nor come across as big-headed, I politely smile at any compliments, and tend to verbally agree with facts rather than opinions, and do take any praise with a smile that suggests that I do so in a but it doesn't really mean anything or make Me any better than you way. My immediate boss sends at least one email a week to us all that contains words to the effect of and if you have any problems and I'm not around, speak to David, or See David for tips on how to best handle such situations as he does it very well, etc. In case you're wondering, no, it doesn't make them despise Me, but rather just accept the fact that I'm doing rather well for Myself. And to be honest, even if it did make them despise Me, I wouldn't be too concerned, as it is My boss's opinion of Me that matters more to My career, not theirs.

Decisiveness

Know what you want and take whatever action it takes to get there. Be ruthless. Be prepared to make some sacrifices. Ideally, they won't even have to be self-sacrifices, though they may be on occasion. If something is on offer and its good, take it. If something might be on offer and its good, take it also. If something's not on offer and it might be good, find out immediately what needs to be done to make it on offer, and then do what's necessary. It is said that He who hesitates is lost. I hear you cry "What about look before you leap?" Well, know the terrain in advance and you'll not need more than a glimpse when it comes to it.

For example, I was recently asked "Would you be interested in taking part in a community project day?". I replied "Sure, I'd be delighted to", before even looking at what exactly would be required of Me. I ended up spending a day outside gardening (more like terraforming) at a primary school, with lots of little children. My company does these things so that it looks charitable. What did I get out of this? Time off real work, a nice day out, time to spend mixing with staff on other (including higher) levels in a very informal level, the chance to be seen as a company man, and to be seen as someone who is active and participates fully in things, and someone who adapts quickly and is comfortable with new strange tasks; all excellent things for promotion.

Energy

There are two polar-opposite images of the office worker, regardless of how smart in appearance. There is the tired, overworked office-worker who sits hunched over his desk counting the time to his next break or home-time, and on the other hand, there is the upright, smiling, energetic professional man who is sharp of mind and all set for success.

For example, in My workplace, because we provide a 24 hour service, working weird hours results in a lot of fatigued people at the office as they've been sleeping at the wrong times, too much, or too little. They are sick and tired, literally. My sleep pattern is just as incoherent as theirs, and I sleep at all kinds of hours and sometimes go for silly periods without sleeping. However, I always leave a few hours between sleeping and work, so I never show a just got up attitude, and My lifestyle habits are such that I eat healthily and exercise regularly, so I show a healthy and happy appearance rather than the unhealthy unhappy look that is associated with the lowest rungs of the corporate ladder, the sad and neglected. Also, I project a sharp Spartan image at work by never eating at the office as many do. In the animal kingdom, herbivores graze constantly in a placid manner, carnivores feed heavily maybe once a week. This is a primal thing, and silly as it may initially seem, eating throughout the day at the workplace makes one look like that placid herd creature, and not being seen to eat at all presents better the image that one is a more refined individual. Likewise, I tend to drink only water while working.