Office Plowatics

Ah, the politics of an office.

I have always been told by my friends who work in offices that the political games are ones I wouldn't be able to handle.

I always told them that their are plenty of political games at restaurants too.

Now, though, I think there is a political game going on at the office, and I might be put in the middle.

To be fair, I am neurotic, and see intentions in people that sometimes aren't there. Then again, I am intuitive, and sometimes am dead on.

I think there is a bit of a cat fight going on at the studio between SS and TR.

Now, SS owns the joint and TR is teaching the classes. They have worked together for a long time. I assist TR and take class from SS.

SS is a raging neurotic ego maniac. That's how he would describe himself, and he would mean it as a good thing.

TR is a biting self assured ego maniac. He is very lovable, but you have to worship him.

Fortunately, I worship him. He is self assured and egotistical for some good reasons. He is very, very sharp. I am learning a lot from him, and I think he really respects me and likes me.

SS also really likes me. He was the one who made me a TA and he always says he wants me to be a teacher there.

And there's the rub.

I think TR is worried that SS likes me more and plans to replace him. To make matters worse, his defense kicks in with his sarcasm, and the past few times that SS takes me aside to talk to me, TR comes around and rips into SS about trivial stuff.

It is uncomfortable enough that I usually look at the buttons on my shirt or inspect the "new" stain on my shoe.

SS is just starting to notice it. The other day, he took me aside and asked what I thought TR's classes need. He is planning on coming in to guest teach every once in awhile, and he wanted to know what he should focus on. Rather than ask TR, he asked me, since, I think, he knew TR wouldn't reveal a weakness.

That was a tricky puddle.

I told him that I felt TR's classes didn't lack anything. I told him I was impressed with the progress of the students. I told him there were a few students who I and TR found lacked comedy skills. We were doing good work with them, but we just can't get funny into them. I said maybe SS, since he has been doing this sooo long, might know some tricks to use on those you just can't make funny.

He was pleased. I managed to both sell TR, and make SS possess a special gift, an eye for the necessary.

Then, yesterday, SS grabbed me again.

We are doing a live comedy game show next week, and SS wanted me to go over the opening with him and cast all of the cast with there little joke pieces.

When TR walked to his car, we were outside putting it together and laughing.

SS stopped to talk to TR and ask if he would be around for a meeting. TR said no, and ripped into SS for not remembering this and screwing up that. SS totally shut down, and TR left.

SS stood there for a moment contemplating, then we got back to work.

That momentary contemplation is what scares me. I know TR can get away with a lot with SS, but SS still pays the checks, and he is an ego maniac. You had better massage him every time you tell him hard truths.

I think I know how to play the office politics. I just don't know how to avoid the collateral damage.