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How I deal with the corporate blame game in a high pressure role:
*A Thread*
*A Thread*
I am a Navigational Officer and I run the live operations of a busy Shipping Port.
It's my job to communicate with all 3rd party companies also essential to the day to day running of the port.
No matter what goes wrong and no matter how irrelevant to me, fingers point my way.
It's my job to communicate with all 3rd party companies also essential to the day to day running of the port.
No matter what goes wrong and no matter how irrelevant to me, fingers point my way.
1. I stopped doing people favours, I have the ability to click a few buttons and save someone else from doing hours of work.
Never do someone's job for them when they can do it themselves, but also never use 'that's not my job' as an excuse when you can prevent further damage.
Never do someone's job for them when they can do it themselves, but also never use 'that's not my job' as an excuse when you can prevent further damage.
2. I always call them out, but never officially to a superior.
If I tell a superior, a small situation explodes and I look defensive. If I tell them to their face they try to avoid it getting back to a superior and they back off.
If I tell a superior, a small situation explodes and I look defensive. If I tell them to their face they try to avoid it getting back to a superior and they back off.
A Ship's Captain needs to maintain power and can not show any weakness to their crew or to a Marine Pilot. The same goes for the Marine Pilot.
They never admit mistakes, but when people find out that they won't take responsibility for their actions, that is bad for them.
They never admit mistakes, but when people find out that they won't take responsibility for their actions, that is bad for them.
I won't hesitate to tell a ship's Captain in front of a Marine Pilot the truth or vise versa.
They often forget things and pretend they told my office.
They are humiliated when I say 'I was in work yesterday and if you asked me to do that I would have said no.'
They often forget things and pretend they told my office.
They are humiliated when I say 'I was in work yesterday and if you asked me to do that I would have said no.'
I then ask who they spoke to because our office shouldn't get involved, they never have an answer and back off.
They learn that I know my job and I have a pair of balls.
They only try it as many in my world are intimated by those positions.
I refuse to be that person.
They learn that I know my job and I have a pair of balls.
They only try it as many in my world are intimated by those positions.
I refuse to be that person.
3. I am not afraid to hang up the phone.
3rd parties love to talk about things they know I don't understand before threatening to fine my company to try and get me to do whatever they want.
As soon as I hear a threat the phone goes down, they always call back and act polite.
3rd parties love to talk about things they know I don't understand before threatening to fine my company to try and get me to do whatever they want.
As soon as I hear a threat the phone goes down, they always call back and act polite.
Again I don't tell superiors as I look defensive and the 3rd party won't complain because they weren't expecting me to get onto their sly game.
Again they know never to try it again with me.
Again they know never to try it again with me.
3. Confidence.
I dispaly confidence socially even though I'd rather just keep myself to myself and do my job.
If you're not confident the blame will always go your way because timid people are no good at defending themselves.
I dispaly confidence socially even though I'd rather just keep myself to myself and do my job.
If you're not confident the blame will always go your way because timid people are no good at defending themselves.
I have seen many timid people be mininipluated into believing it was their fault and accept blame and get into a lot of trouble.
Never take responsibility that isn't your own.
Never take responsibility that isn't your own.
4. I admit my own mistakes before they come to light.
My superiors know I accept my mistakes so they don't just assume its my fault when someone makes an accusation.
That means accusations about me to my superiors often backfire.
They learn this and point fingers else where.
My superiors know I accept my mistakes so they don't just assume its my fault when someone makes an accusation.
That means accusations about me to my superiors often backfire.
They learn this and point fingers else where.
5. I defend others.
People sometimes blame whoever was on watch before me, to me.
Straight away I explain why that wasn't their fault.
They'll think twice before accusing me in future.
My colleagues don't always have confidence to do the same, but it still benefits me.
People sometimes blame whoever was on watch before me, to me.
Straight away I explain why that wasn't their fault.
They'll think twice before accusing me in future.
My colleagues don't always have confidence to do the same, but it still benefits me.
6. I provide as much value as possible and my progress is always evident.
I constantly have some form a learning project underway.
So when someone blames me my superiors don't want me in trouble as I provide too much value and I'm always learning, so they have my back.
I constantly have some form a learning project underway.
So when someone blames me my superiors don't want me in trouble as I provide too much value and I'm always learning, so they have my back.
7. I always put safety first.
I am Ex Coastguard Rescue and safety is everything to me.
This role is still safety critical and my experience is invaluable to the company.
The fact that nobody has ever been in harms why on my watch makes them have my back.
'Nobody died.'
I am Ex Coastguard Rescue and safety is everything to me.
This role is still safety critical and my experience is invaluable to the company.
The fact that nobody has ever been in harms why on my watch makes them have my back.
'Nobody died.'
8. I'm pursuing Financial Independence.
Even though I love my job, the fact I rely on it gives power to the company.
With Financial Independence there will be no fear of the blame game at all anymore and I can do my job properly without stress for as long as I am happy.
Even though I love my job, the fact I rely on it gives power to the company.
With Financial Independence there will be no fear of the blame game at all anymore and I can do my job properly without stress for as long as I am happy.
Thank you for reading.
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