Recognize them

You know them, although sometimes not until after you have been played. They orchestrate your workplace drama. They quietly set the stage and deftly string all the puppets. Then, unseen, they pull the right strings and the play unfolds.

Beware

Be careful with your workplace relationships. The puppeteer is often competent, maybe even excellent, at doing assigned tasks. They don't consider this side entertainment to be particularly destructive and often consider themselves to be “professional” on every level. The puppeteer may be helpful to people new to the company or to the task. After all, a willing puppet is easier to manipulate. But something in you will sense trouble.

The strings and wires are hard to see in the beginning; a strand of discord here, a wire of dissatisfaction there. What you do notice, though, is that co-workers who used to get along no longer like each other. They distrust. And they aren't even sure why.

Don't play

The puppeteer only has the power given to them by the puppets. The disharmony and discontent they orchestrate has to be played out by others, the puppets. When co-workers band together against someone, watch out for a puppeteer. When a task is criticized, objectively evaluate the comments. There may be a puppeteer lurking.

Sadly, the damage done by the puppeteer often outlasts their employment in an organization. At some point, the curtain slips to show the strings and the puppets realize they are being played. Then the puppeteer packs up the props, the strings, and the wires and quietly moves to the next department or company.