Taking on office politics through prose
Nthabiseng Monyepa, fueled by a desire to end disputes among colleagues, penned a book, The Workplace: Another Terrain For Struggle to address these conflicts.
POLOKWANE – Nthabiseng is a pedagogics postgraduate of the University of the North and her book chronicles workplace challenges experienced by several individuals as a result of flawed human relations. It is a result of experience, consultation, observation and analysis of events in the career world. With regard to colleague on colleague abuse, Nthabiseng explained people are consciously or subconsciously inflicting pain on others in the workplace.
The Workplace: Another Terrain For Struggle is strategically aimed at creating awareness of the prevalence of a system that brings about workplace struggles such as cartels, office politics, favouritism, brutality, cruel prejudice, harassment, suppression, unfair judgments, vindication, isolation, discredit, victimisation, impurity, connivance, opposition and marginalisation.
“These struggles perpetually grind the victim’s self-esteem, reducing them to a non-existent state. It articulates clearly that where systems are involved, the goodness of individuals is very often irrelevant,” she explained.
The book is not only meant to advise but also to encourage and assist employees to identify their strengths, know their worth, choose employers carefully and make their stay in employment a pleasant one.
The workplace, she added, is meant to enhance the quality of life of its employees. If there is anything contrary, employees should stand up for what is right and refuse for the workplace to treat you with discourtesy.
“I have always been a writer. Growing up I used to write my parents messages to apologise or to appreciate them.
Those who worked with me will know that my diary is my friend.
“I write in my diary, my journal, on my laptop and on pieces of paper whenever I get a chance. People with whom I share space know I am always writing something,” she laughed.
Writing the book, she said, was one of the most tedious experiences in her life. “I lost the book three times,” she reveals.
“My daughter and I co-authored the book. My daughter wrote on my behalf and she completed the last two chapters of the book. My eldest son edited the book and toned it down before the actual edit. My third born son edited the book twice,” she said.
She told BONUS the beauty of life was her inspiration and motivation for the book. “I am motivated by the response of the universe. Touching one life at a time through my writing and winning one struggle at a time makes all the difference.
I want to represent my late parents, my community, my children, and people of this world through my writing. I get a high out of life and seeing people happy,” she explained.
She thanked her family who supported her throughout the journey of writing the book, adding although her children felt the emotional desertion, they were her biggest supporters.
“What will I be without them? I want to share experiences and solutions through my book and get people talking. As a society we tend to bottle up our emotions and I hope to change this through my book. My advice is to use any platform to talk about your emotions and struggles to help bring about understanding and closure.” For the youth, she said they should be limitless in following their goals.
“Block out those who tell you that you cannot, or should not, do something. Listen to your inner voice, stop talking and act.
There may be obstacles along the way, but you can overcome them and in the process reveal the magnificent gem within yourself. Choose to be the man or woman you envisage to be. It might be difficult but it is possible.”
