21 Dirty Tricks at Work

21 Dirty Tricks at Work is about lies. The type of underhand, pernicious and downright Machiavellian scheming that goes on in business every day. An estimated £7.8bn is lost each year in the UK alone though unnecessary and counter-productive office politicking. But 21 Dirty Tricks at Work is also a book of hope. It exposes the classic manoeuvres and gives practical advice on dealing with them to the vast majority who just want to do a good day's work. 21 Dirty Tricks at Work provides you with all the information you need to spot negative tactics and self-interested strategies. It shows you how to spot the games frequently being played and how to come out with your credibility intact and your sanity preserved. So, if you are fed-up of being on the receiving end of constant backbiting and skulduggery from workmates, join hands with the authors and get Machiavelli on the run!

Acknowledgements vii Introduction: Immunity or ignorance? 1 Chapter One: Destiny beckons 11 Dirty Tricks 1–3 Chapter Two: The apprentice 45 Dirty Tricks 4–6 Chapter Three: Commuting to (no)where? 73 Dirty Tricks 7–9 Chapter Four: Escalation and attrition 101 Dirty Tricks 10–12 Chapter Five: A rather SAD display 133 Dirty Tricks 13–15 Chapter Six: A day at the Belfry 165 Dirty Tricks 16–18 Chapter Seven: Decision time 195 Dirty Tricks 19–21 Epilogue: Florida – six months later 231 Appendix One: Bibliography 239 Appendix Two: About Politics at Work Ltd 243 About the authors 244 Index 245