This is one of the problems I had - I have a huge extrovert personality and I'm friendly to everyone - I don't really 'see' those social boundaries - and for 5 years, my office was next door to the woman who became #1 on the org, chart - she was the same age as me but I'm aware that my 'jolly nice chap' persona tends to elicit a 'mothering' instinct. It seems that the jealous, political animals hate people who are open, friendly and have no secrets.
It was only once she had moved on to another position that the others were able to make their move against me.
