August 21, 2012 • Volume 3, Issue 17 • ISSN: 2154-3240

In This Issue

♦	Feature Article: Office Politics
♦	Ask Amanda: If I speak up about wanting a different role, I’m afraid I’ll be fired. What should I do?
♦	Practical Tips: Business Travel

Office Politics

The subject of office politics usually elicits a barrage of negativity. Before you get on your high horse, realize that politics are how things get done. It is unavoidable—any time you have a group of people doing anything together there are politics. Ignore them at your peril.

Office politics are about building relationships to achieve a result. Think about the last time you started a new project. Once you knew your goal, you needed to identify who was who in your company, who knew what, and who had power and influence.
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	Creativity is the ability to trust your imagination.

Practical Tips:
Business Travel

As the economy picks up again, more people are going back on the road as part of their jobs. It can be tough to stay productive with all the disruptions that come with business travel. To help keep yourself sane, try these tips:

Make Time for Loved Ones
According to a recent survey by the Business Travel News Group, 61% of business travelers say the biggest sacrifice they make is time with family and friends.
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I love my company but not my role. I know what I want to do but am concerned that if I speak up I could talk myself out of a job. What should I do? J.B., Sag Harbor, NY

Congratulations! Most people are unclear on what they want so you are way ahead of the game. Assuming that the company values you, it is in their best interest to accommodate proven performers if there is a business need.
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About Us: Our Corporate Life LLC (OCL) is a company that offers a new system for reducing unnecessary workplace suffering caused by the organizational, interpersonal, and ethical issues of our time. It is founded on the belief that adhering to core human values and achieving business success are always compatible. Working with both companies and individuals, OCL helps create solutions that enable corporate employees at every level to optimize profits while enabling them to thrive in the corporate environment. OCL was founded by Amanda Mitchell to help meet the needs of people working in corporate America during this transformative moment in our nation's history. The OCL system reflects her experience and insight gained from a 20–year corporate career working with Fortune 500 companies, and as an executive coach to senior–level corporate executives.