How can one become a "politician" at work without having to lose one's dignity?
Asked by elisaus_cr
I know the above sounds a little too "drama", however, here is my situation: I work at an off-shore center for a big American corporation. My current boss, who is the head of the department, knows a lot less about the job than he thinks he does. I am a trainer...reportedly a senior one, at that. Lately, he has been getting some heat from upper management and taking it out on the junior trainers, by pestering them with items that should, per his opinion, be a part of the current training program (we teach a program that has been very efficiently put together and takes five weeks to teach, without including the practical application of the knowledge). We have several assistant trainers and trainers, yet, none of them report to me; whenever an issue arises with any one of them and they seek his help (since some of them report directly to him), he delegates everything to me; yet when it comes to stand our ground from having our partners in production criticize training delivery styles (of which they know very little), he will not set boundaries and take production's side. In my humble opinion, a training manager ought to observe trainers deliver training, teach a management course every now and then, do coachings or one-on-one meetings, as well as staff meetings, support trainers and understand both sides of what training and production perspectives are. He does none of those things and delegates most of them to me and the trainer supervisor for another sub-division. I could really use some advice to see how I can survive having to deal with a boss I have very little professional respect for and who, definitely, does not lead by example. Were it not for the fact that his wife has an 8-5 schedule, he would arrive at 10 and leave at 5 (which he does on her day off). I would really like to grow in the company, but I sincerely feel that, with a severely lacking manager, I may not get too far. Also, whenever he has a presentation with upper management, he will take any ideas my peers have come up with and take credit for them.

Best Answer:
Put your gloves on and play the game