Workplace Tactician Gifts

"Can I savor this for a few moments? The ball's never been in my court before!"

Brian wanted to call the presentation "Synergy". Paula wanted to call it "Cooperation". They could never agree.

"I believe we've found the weakest link."

"It's Swamp & Swallow - they're making an offer we can't refuse!"

"That's Hicks from the corporate office. He's adorable, but trust me—when it comes to acquisitions, he's an animal!"

Takeovers.

Genius

"Well I didn't see the incident myself.."

'Competition is good...unless it's too good.'

'So far, sir, we've rejected plans A,B, C, D, E, F, and right now we're evaluating'G'.'

"Huddleston, I admire your hands-on approach to everything, but get the hell out of my office!"

Telephone message - 'This is a recording. If you'd like to speak to a real live human being, forgetaboutit.

'Jones, somewhere out there, we've lost our common sense. I want you to go and bring it back.'

"Do you handle employee salary negotiations as well?"

"No, it hasn't anything to do with my presentation. But wait until you see how I hold everyone's attention with it sitting next to me at the podium."

"I was able to negotiate it from a hostile takeover to an uneasy alliance."

'Larry, you have everything it takes to go far in this company, but a word of advice: lose the laugh.'

'This is Osgood, our most essential man -- he thinks up new ways to limit warranties!'

'What say we set aside all our petty grievances and just hate each other on general principles.'

"Hi, I'm Cindy, the company's most toxic employee!"

'Remember, Henderson - Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish and you've sacrificed your leverage.'

"You can't expect to get anywhere in business without making an enemy or two, Filmeyer."

"The change management consultant wants to move the meeting."

'Some executives have within them the seeds of greatness. Others are just seedy.'

'let's see if we can find any loopholes in this 'honesty-is-the-best-policy' nonsense.'

"Miss. Wilcox, get me the coast."

"It's a dog-eat-dog economy. And I'm the Doberman."

"I said, 'Don't worry, I still have a few tricks up my sleeve.' That's when he called my bluff."

"Remember, negotiating is like buying fruit. You don't know what you'll get until you squeeze 'em a bit."

"I didn't mean to burn any bridges behind me. It was just a part of my crumbling infrastructure."

'What else do you have going for you besides being aggressive?'