Meditation, compassion: How to handle people who dominate you in the office? I have been doing meditation for long time and have felt a change in me. I have started developing strong compassion, and due to this I am speaking very politely to everyone and always agreeing with the views of others. In fact, I am helping others in their work. However, now people have started taking me for granted.

As I speak kindly with my subordinates, they are taking advantage of me by commanding me to do their work and are trying to dominate. They have started speaking in rude ways to me as they have started feeling that I am not harmful for them and cannot do anything. I am now becoming a victim of their politics.

How to overcome this problem? I cannot leave my post as this is the only way of earning my bread and butter.

Being on the path of Buddhism, how to maintain relations with your colleagues?
Every worker has a duty to become proficient in &amp; do their work. A proper leader must nurture this. Also, rude speech is improper in the workplace; just as rude speech is improper in Buddhism. 

In reality, the values in original Pali Buddhism perfectly fit a secular world. For example, if the Pali scriptures are read, it will not be found the Buddha speaking very politely to everyone and, particularly, always agreeing with other's views. Often the Buddha was firm (but always fair) to others in his speech &amp; the Buddha always conformed with what is ethically &amp; dhammically correct thus often correcting or even admonishing the wrong views of others. 

Just like the Dhamma-Vinaya (Doctrine-&amp;-Disciple) has clear rules, a workplace has set rules &amp; delegation of duties. These should be adhered to, without prejudice, which results in a lack of confusion.

If you are a leader, you have the opportunity to nurture a clear, ethical &amp; unconfused workplace. It is when workplace leaders become corrupt, prejudiced or too wavering when confusion arises &amp; difficulties begin, particularly for ethical workers. Most people take any chance to dominate. A fair &amp; ethical leader is rare.

In short, less focus on personalities (including your own) and more focus on rules &amp; responsibilities. 


  Kesi, I train a tamable person [sometimes] with gentleness, [sometimes] with sternness, [sometimes] with both gentleness &amp;
  sternness.
  
  Kesi Sutta


Some references: 

Right Speech From His Own Lips

A Constitution for Living: Buddhist Principles for a Fruitful and Harmonious Life

Sigalovada Sutta: The Layperson's Code of Discipline


  Potaliya, four kinds of people exist and can be found in the world.  What four kinds?  The four kinds are:
  
  Some people blame those who should be blamed, according to the truth, at the proper time, but do not praise those who should be praised,
  according to the truth, at the proper time.
  
  Some people praise those who should be praised, according to the truth, at the proper time, but do not blame those who should be
  blamed, according to the truth, at the proper time.
  
  Some people do not blame those who should be blamed, according to the truth, at the proper time, and do not praise those who should be
  praised, according to the truth, at the proper time.
  
  Some people blame those who should be blamed, according to the truth, at the proper time, and praise those who should be praised, according
  to the truth, at the proper time.
  
  Potaliya, these four kinds of people exist and can be found in the world.  Of these four kinds of people, that kind should be the most
  fair and right, the most refined, to you?
  
  "Venerable Lord Gotama, of all those four kinds of people, the kind of person who does not blame those who should be blamed, according to
  the truth, at the proper time, and does not praise those who should be
  praised, according to the truth, at the proper time; is the kind of
  person who is the most beautiful and refined to me.  What is the
  reason for this?  Because this is fair and right with upekkha
  (equanimity)."
  
  Potaliya, of all those four kinds of people, whichever kind of person blames those who should be blamed, according to the truth, at the
  proper time, and praises those who should be praised, according to the
  truth, at the proper time; this kind of person is the most beautiful
  and refined of these four kinds of people.  What is the reason for
  this?  It is fair and right because such a one knows the right time in
  those circumstances.


~~~


  Avoiding the biases: when an administrator is carrying out his functions, he should not allow the four biases, or deviations from
  righteousness, to interfere:
  
  Chandagati: biased conduct on account of like
  
  Dosagati: biased conduct on account of dislike
  
  Mohagati: biased conduct on account of delusion or foolishness
  
  Bhayagati: biased conduct on account of
  timidity and fear