In this series, Guardian writers share the best advice they have received and how it has impacted their lives
- Read more in the Words to live by series
I was barely in my 20 when I found myself thrown into the vagaries of middle management. It’s a weird position to be in. I was telling people what to do and how to do it when I’d barely managed to be a person in the world (I’m still figuring that one out).
When it comes to finessing the finer points of office politics, there’s no one better to ask than a public servant. And fortunately I had one on tap. My mother had spent the better part of her career navigating the treacherous waters of the Australian Public Service (there was a period when her job title was actually “navigator”), so whenever a tricky or even mildly bemusing issue came up at work, I turned to her.
