Workplace politics make people angry, or at least frustrated.
Politics gets in the way of the work, creating delays, disagreements and bad feeling.
It is very difficult to pin down exactly what workplace politics is, partly because it means different things to different people. We made a valiant attempt at codifying the mayhem back in 2005 with 21 Dirty Tricks at Work.
Since then, I’ve concluded that the majority view regards office politics as any act in pursuit of personal gain, especially where manipulation or dishonesty is involved.
To most people I speak with, it evokes the feeling that it is either a necessary evil, or a complete waste of their time. All the game playing, positioning and subterfuge simply gets in the way of doing a good job.
What do you think? Necessary evil, or waste of time?
If you think either of these, or worse, both, you’ve got a problem, and potentially a big one.
That you hold one of these notions in your minds hands a big advantage to the game player, the manipulator and those who don’t give a damn about their colleagues. In effect, you are aiding and abetting these duplicitous Machiavellis.
Why?
Because it is likely you will not engage with the politics, or do so reluctantly. You will leave it too late, be unprepared, and get completely out-manoeuvred by your opponent. Yes, I know you’re supposed to be working for the same side, but it doesn’t feel like that, does it?
Now, I’m not suggesting for a moment that you should join in and move over to the dark side, but what you do need to do is embrace it. It is never going away. it will always be a feature of your working day, so get focused on doing something about it.
I’ve presented a lot of webinars on this topic, including Office Politics and Dirty Tricks, and this has led me to several simple suggestions to help you begin to harness the positive potential and ensure you don’t get wrong-footed and taken advantage of.
- Study the subject and work out what office politics is, and what it is not. To me, it is the personal decision making processes individuals are using to meet their needs.
- Work out how your current attitude helps or hinders you and your work. If you’re frustrated by not being able to defend yourself, or you are unable to get decisions to stick, that causes a direct hit on your results – and your motivation.
- Get curious about it. Become the office detective, trying to figure out whodunnit. Seriously, curious people enjoy finding things out, and the biggest advantage an office politician has over you is that you don’t know what he/she knows.
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- Rediscover your sense of integrity. Getting curious doesn’t mean throwing away all your ethics and sense of fair play. But, what most people lack is a sense of where they stand when it comes to these types of activities. If you feel uncomfortable engaging with the politics, you’ll be beaten, and it will hurt. Or, more likely, you won’t even try to do something about it.
- Get yourself motivated. These is no point in seeing this as a necessary thing you must do, because it will not get done. You must decide that you are no longer going to tolerate being on the receiving end of the game players, and become determined to learn how to do it well, with your integrity intact. No, don’t get angry, get moving.
Getting good at handling the politics to positive advantage pays, big time. Not only are you going to be more able to get your job done, and deliver superb results for your organisation, you’ll also develop your career faster.
Ensuring you maintain your integrity and sense of fair play also helps. In fact, Harvard Business Review reports many years ago that one of the five characteristics of high-potential CEO candidates was having a reputation for playing the politics fairly.
The Gautrey Influence Blog
Ever felt overlooked, unheard, or stuck in office politics? You’re not alone. The Gautrey Influence Blog breaks down the real-world strategies behind leadership, influence, and power—giving you the tools to be heard, respected, and successful. Join 35,000+ professionals getting ahead the smart way—subscribe now..
💡 Benchmark your Influence: Take the Master of Influence Assessment (Free for Subscribers!)
👉 [Subscribe & Take the Assessment]