Topic: Negative Office Politics

Topic: Negative Office Politics
Author: Dr. Carla Pennington
Date: 1/18/20

Are you a leader who engages in "negative" office politics?

   If you are unfamiliar with the title of this post, negative office politics includes offering a position/promotion to someone who is not qualified for a position because they are your friend/family member when you have internal candidates more qualified for a position. This topic arose this week when I had an individual to inquire about services my company offers.
   Office politics can lead to a loyal employee hating their job and disengaging in what was once a dream job. Office politics lead to a toxic work environment, difficulties with employee retention and cause the dissatisfied employee to experience health issues from frustration of a toxic work environment. Jeffrey Pfeffer, an organizational behavior professor and author of Dying for a Paycheck, found in his research companies with poor management are responsible for approximately 8% of annual health cost and approximately 120,000 deaths related to employees feeling trapped at a job with a toxic work environment (Torres, 2019).
   Employees are seeking companies that allow internal promotion and acknowledgment of a job well done. Employees seeking career growth and development do not stay at organizations who do not offer professional development or employee engagement actives.

For Employees / Job Seekers: How to avoid becoming a victim of an organization that engages in negative office politics:
(1) Seek new career opportunities related to your career goals
(2) Interview current employees of organizations you're interested in to see what the office environment is like
(3) If you land an interview with an organization, ask the hiring manager what their leadership style is like
(4) Before accepting a position, inquire about growth opportunities and provide a timeline of where you wish to be within the organization, and ask if they can meet your desires
(5) Hire a career coach to help you polish your resume, provide business/interview techniques to land the job of your dreams


For Leaders: 5 ways to improve your leadership style if your company engages in negative office politics?
(1) Immediately change your office environment by offering internal candidates promotional opportunities and alleviating an environment where rumors are started and people are not informed of important organizational changes
(2) Keep your company website updated so current employees will know what opportunities are open at your company
(3) Interview all qualified candidates in a peer setting so everyone can engage and learn about the candidate and the candidate can learn about the company from various current employee perspectives.
(4) Offer exit interviews so you can listen, learn and understand why an employee has chosen to depart from your organization
(5) Offer professional development opportunities for employees to continue to learn. This alleviate employees from getting bored and feeling like they are complacent in their career.

Sincerely,
Dr. Carla M. Pennington
1/18/20

Reference:
Torres, M. (2019). This Is What Happens to Your Body When You Hate Your Job. Retrieved from https://www.huffpost.com/entry/hate-your-job-body-symptoms_n_5c40a314e4b0a8dbe16e8373


About the Author: Dr. Carla Pennington is a researcher and subject matter expert in job satisfaction, management and leadership. She owns Prestigious Communications, LLC which is a communication agency that provides services such as organizational management, leadership, and business communication. For more information, visit www.prestigiousevent.net.

When Good Isn't Good Enough

Do you encounter each day as if it is your last? Are you thankful that God allowed you to wake up to see another day? Have you considered all the factors that make you happy in life? These are just a few questions for you to ponder when you feel that your good isn't good enough.  Each day we encounters obstacles, some larger than others, but God allows his children to go through struggles so we can have a testimony. You may encounter people who have evil intentions towards you, which leaves you with the questions: why me? Trust me, I have been there. But why not you? God gives his battles to his strongest soldiers and we are equipped with the full armor of God, so hey, let's fight! The enemy is sent to kill, steal and destroy, but it is up to Christians to handle the obstacles with the faith of a mustard seed. I come to you today with a scripture to keep you focused and moving along your day. Allow God to fight your battles and the rest will fall in place. Scripture for the day: Psalm 119:95-105

Be Blessed,

Carla M. Pennington

Getting Back In The Coupon Game: Put Me In Coach

Hello Couponers,
   Today, I decided to start back couponing after a four year hiatus. I credit my desire to start back couponing to my cousins Tonnell Holcombe and Syletta Woodard. They have posted major hauls over the past six months that makes me miss the craziness of figuring out the best deal. I am working on my doctorate degree and I am always stressing and reading, so today I decided to take a break and clip coupons. I realized how much I missed it and it's actually a stress reliever for me. So this post won't be long, cause I only have a few minutes to spare. I decided this time to only clip coupons of items I use.
     In the past, I got good enough to where my stockpile was full of all types of stuff. Today, I clipped household items like lotion, detergents, personal items, etc. and it made me want to reach a goal of completing a major haul. I only went to one store this time, which was Dollar General, however, the AirWick in the photo is much cheaper at Publix, I later found that out from my cousin. This is a small haul, but I saved a total of $10.55. Anything counts, so if you are a new couponer, take time to read the rules of the manufacturer and the retailer. I would also suggest taking a coupon class so you can learn the basics to awesome savings. Happy Couponing! ~ Carla M. Pennington 12/4/16

What is "HAPPINESS?"

Happiness can be defined by many things, but regardless of how much money you make, how many friends you have or how well you get along with others; many fell to ask themselves if they are "truly" happy. I was lead to write this post because in the past two months, God has poured so many blessings on me that I can't keep it to myself - HE is a "wonderful" friend indeed- God that is :) Skipping through a lot of chaos that eventually lead me to find my happiness; I felt compelled to encourage others who may feel that the world is against them: they do not have enough money to enjoy their life, or every time they check their mail - its a bill needing to be paid or whatever your issue may be. No one knows what others go through, but I can attest... "With God, ALL Things Are Possible."

I wanted to share 5 things I did to finally achieve the happiness I have today:

1: Set a GOAL: When setting a goal you have to have your mind 'made-up' that regardless of what comes or goes, you will not allow yourself to get distracted from your GOAL.

2. FOCUS on YOU: I know we have all been raised to help others in a time of need, but what about YOU? If you are placing all your attention on someone else, then how can you make YOU happy? You can't!

3. Worship: Spending time with God first thing every morning seem to make all my cares and worries disappear - as if I was in the world by myself; just me and GOD. Oh, what a wonderful feeling it is to be HAPPY. As I was awaken each morning, I knew that was my first blessing of the day, cause he didn't have to wake me, BUT he did - so the world got another chance to see God's greatness shine through CARLA. SN: I don't look like what I've been through.

4. Faith of a Mustard Seed: Faith without works, is what? DEAD... If you don't have faith that your dark nights will soon become beautiful days, then you have not experienced the God I know, cause when he moves the rain and you can only feel the mist sprinkle upon your face - YOU know that YOU know that YOU know - those stormy days are over!

5. Prayer: "Pray without ceasing... In every thing give thatnks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning YOU." - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 Be thankful for the GOOD & be thankful for the BAD! God has designed a place for you and you have to allow whatever process he has set forth for you to take it's course.

Set a goal, FOCUS on YOU, Worship God in EVERYTHING you do, have FAITH that he will move all obstacles in your way and last, but not least, PRAY.  When I developed this plan for my life, I found my HAPPINESS, now go forth and develop a plan that works for YOU!

- Dedicated to all those you are seeking Christ to answer their prayers

The Pain Behind MY Smile: Weight Lifted & Lost!

As I brought in 2013 with a different outlook on life, I quickly reflected over the past year-and-a-half of my life. In October 2010, I loss my best friend (my grandmother) to cancer. Never had I experienced such great sadness & while mourning of her loss, food helped eased my madness. The more I cried, the more I ate & before I knew it, I was at my heaviest weight. The struggle was real for someone like me, striving hard to be the best woman I knew I could be.
    With love & care from family & friends, I moved back to my home state to get back on track again. No one really knew the thoughts that ran through my mind; it was like a horror movie that would never end; picking at a wound, while blood ripped through my skin. Quickly, I became as confused as a child, which lead to me having,
"The Pain Behind MY Smile."

    Confusion, Pain, Sorrow, Sadness, Depression, Anger, Fear & Madness were emotions I felt, even when smiling & talking to others; I never could just be my old self. I often questioned God, "Asking him WHY," but little to my knowing, the process I encountered, was like a worm, inside of its cocoon, spinning into a beautiful butterfly.
    On June 2012, I decide to take my life back, by making a promise to myself that I could & would get back on track! I ventured on a weight loss journey with a dear friend - with her motivation, encouragement and kick-butt workouts; the 'curved' path you see, got me 'straight' on track again :)
    A word of encouragement for those living with no hope; trusting & believing in God is what help me the most. You may be judged by many, when you put on your clothes, but defeating a workout is when you feel great & can boast ;) As this new year has begun,  I plan to continue this journey, cause when I was delivered from, "The Pain Behind MY Smile: I LOST 40! Be encouraged, stay focused & live life to the fullest!

~ CARLA PENNINGTON
Special thanks to my supporters, you know who you are ;)
1/1/13

Buy One Get One (BOGO)

I found it odd that most coupons in my Sunday's paper are for products that are Buy One Get One (BOGO), however it is the best way for me to have a successful coupon trip! I was asked today, "Are you a shelf clearer?" My response, "NO, I am considerate of others, however if it is a BOGO, I may have to clear the shelf :)"

The most important rule as a couponer is to ONLY PURCHASE ITEMS YOU USE, in my opinion it doesn't make sense for me to purchase CAT food if I have a DOG o_0

My trip to WalMart this past week was in my opinion the BEST ONE YET! I was able to purchase $100 worth of items for half the price, total of $50.39. My weekly routine in my coupon adventures, are purchasing my Sunday paper, clipping ONLY the coupons I find useful for my household (it's best to have a friend to share and swap coupons with) & searching Couponmom.com for all the BEST deals in my area. Then off to shop I go! The second most important rule in couponing, NEVER TAKE KIDS / SOMEONE WHO WILL BE A DISTRACTION! Couponing is a tricky hobby - if you do not pay close attention to the ounces or quantity of an item that is listed as a SALE item; you will end up spending more than you planned! WE WANT YOU TO SAVE, SAVE, SAVE!

HAPPY SHOPPING

Sometimes You Get Lucky

      A creative approach to couponing that is helpful & stress free, is to search your local store's sale paper or online database, so you cans compare store prices and to ensure that you are getting the most of your product at the cheapest amount. Sometimes you get lucky and have a coupon for an item that is already on sale! This means you are getting the name brand item at its lowest price possible!
       As I flipped through Family Dollar & Dollar General sale paper, I realized that two of their sale items, also had  a coupon in the past Sunday's paper. Note: It is best to purchase your Birmingham, Mobile Press Register or local newspaper on Sunday's at Dollar Tree. Regardless of how much the newspaper company may charge for you to purchase a Sunday paper at the kiosk, Dollar Tree sells their newspaper for only $1. Below is a breakdown of the items I purchased from Family Dollar & Dollar Tree. Always remember that couponing is a stress-free hobby that allows you the opportunity to save.
~ HAPPY SHOPPING!

Retail Value $37.17 ~ Paid $23.92 ~ Saved $13.36

Details:
Tide $5 on sale - $2 coupon = $3 per item (Family Dollar)
Dr. Pepper 10 - FREE with a coupon inserted in Sunday paper up to $1.99 value
Scott Paper Towel 9pk $5 on sale - $1 coupon = $4 per item (Dollar General)