Dealing with Politics in the Workplace — via Fiction

For me, the purpose of my novel revolves around the genre and theme — visionary fiction and self-awakening. In this rewrite, I have several goals in mind to start. Other things will develop, I’m sure; however, I want to set up a later, larger societal conflict that is revealed through personal conflict within two large firms. I’ll explain a bit as we go along. Revamping the intro becomes easier keeping this in mind, I think.

One of the firms is Paragon Engineering. Anne Lafarnge is a mid-thirty structural engineer who has made a name for herself. I will need to develop this. I thought maybe I would start with two of her colleagues, Kathryn Frank and Edward Sampson.
__________________________________________________________________
Edward: What do you think, Kathryn? Does Ms. Lafarnge seem like someone we would want to work closely with for a year or more? I already have an opinion, but I don’t want to influence what you say.

Kathryn: I’m not 100% sure. She purposefully passed on using us on the Convention Center? She told me that things looked pretty good, and then, nothing. She didn’t even say anything to me until the project was underway.

Edward: You’re right about that. We have discussed this so much I am almost sick of it. We were hired the same week, and for five years we’ve just been doing what amounts to intern work.

Kathryn: Well, a little more than that, but you’re right, Ed. I thought — and still do — that Anne was different, like maybe people mattered as people to her — not just talent to be used for…

Edward: …politicking in this mega-company, like everyone who is a junior or senior associate does?

Kathryn: Yeah, Ed, like that. I still feel like Anne is different, though.

Edward: So, what are thinking about this offer, Kathryn? Ms. Lafarnge did ask for us. It seems she wants us to be on the Riverview Canyon Bridge team.

Kathryn: Ed, you know me. I need more information to be sure. Why did she pass us up before and now she wants us? Would she be offended if I asked her? Was she playing politics in the company? You know, I heard that Stan Boyle is super upset about Mr. Egan even considering Anne for the new senior associate opening.

Edward: Kathryn, how do you hear these things? You always know these little tidbits.
Kathryn: (laughing) Hey, when you ask a lot of questions, people tend to tell you things, don’t you know?

Edward: (smiling) You seem to have mastered that skill. But, Kathryn, you still haven’t told me if you’re going to take Ms. Lafarnge’s offer to join the Riverview project team.

Kathryn: Ed, do you think we would ever be anything more than glorified draftsmen if we turn this down?

Edward: Still not answering my question, Kathryn. You only asked another one.

Kathryn: Oh, you’re right. Sorry. Okay, yes, I’m going to accept it, but only because of Anne.

Edward: Don’t you think she is playing the political game, too, since you’ve heard she’s up for senior associate?

Kathryn: Yep, she might be, but I think there’s more to her than that.

Edward: Why? What would lead you to think so?

Kathryn: Because of all the questions she asked me!
__________________________________________________________________
Well, that’s a start. No, I am not writing it as a script, but this is just to get some ideas set. I will add transitional actions in the lines of dialogue.

Beyond that, here are two young twenty-something people who see how corporate politics can affect and control their lives.

I know when I taught I often felt those influences on students and on us as staff. The only real answers to such is to listen to Heart, know our own truth, and make decisions based on those. To decide based on the political maneuverings of any power block is to become part of the political machine. To ego, that may feel safe. To Heart, it’s a copout. Again, acting on Ego or Heart either one does not make one right and the other wrong. However, Ego often makes one confused, angry, or guilty on at least a subconscious level, while Heart gives peace and confidence.

​Yeah, that’s a big theme of The Fellowship of the Heart.