Office politics isn’t something you can sit out. Whether you like it or not, office politics is a fact of life in any organisation. And it is possible to promote yourself and your cause without compromising your values or those of your organisation.
Most people look down upon them, but the truth is, they are a part of every organisation. Office politics exists in virtually all organisations. They are performed by people to improve their status and advance their personal agenda – most times at the expense of others.
We must be aware of the destructive aspects of office politics in order to minimise their negative effects. We must learn how to navigate our way through the particular political landscape of the organisation we work for. All workplaces are political to some extent, simply because people bring their personal emotions, jealousies, individual needs, ambitions, and insecurities into their professional lives.
What do you think of when you hear the words “office politics”? Is it all about “backstabbing”, spreading malicious rumours, and “sucking up” to the right people? If so, you’ll likely want to stay as far away from it as you can. Some people attempt to survive by gossiping to cover up their own weaknesses.
First, we need to make sure that we understand the politics in our organisation and key people behind them, and that secondly we devise a strategy of how to successfully navigate the political waters wherever we work.
Differences of opinion
We all want to be successful, but we don’t always agree with one another about what this means or how we should achieve it. Office politics arise when these differences of personality and opinion become difficult to manage. And we often care deeply about the decisions that we make, or that others make about us, we seek to influence people’s choices. We can be straightforward or underhand about this. Remember that some people will always have more power than others, either through hierarchy or some other source such as personal relationship with top leaders.
Office politics often circumvent the formal organisational structure. Lower levels may bypass the hierarchy if their ‘undercurrents’ are continuously entertained and in fact you breed them as a leader if you do so.
When you know where power and influence lie, it’s time to examine people’s interactions and relationships to understand the informal or social networks within the organisation. Keep your eyes open to watch closely but discreetly and ethically to find out who gets along with who, and who finds it more difficult to interact with others. Observe if connections are based on friendship, respect, romance, or something else.
Look beyond your immediate team and cross the formal hierarchy in all directions – co-workers, managers and executives.
Don’t be afraid of politically powerful people and mend your policies or fundamental human values. Instead, build a professional bond based on your value contribution as an employee - avoid empty flattery that’s a bad tactic.
Be neutral
Be friendly with everyone, but avoid aligning yourself too closely with one group or another. And, if you’re considering a personal relationship, be certain to base it on consent, to avoid any suggestion of illegal or inappropriate influence, and to never break confidentiality.
Your first instinct may be to keep your distance from people who practice “bad” politics. In fact, the opposite can be more effective. The expression, “Keep your friends close and your enemies even closer,” often applies to office politics. So, get to know the gossips and manipulators better.
Be courteous but guarded, as they may repeat what you say with a negative ‘spin’. Try to understand their goals, so that you can avoid or counter the impact of their negative politicking. And be aware that some people behave badly because they feel insecure.
You can help to make a workplace become more positive by not “fueling the fire” and joining in negative politics. Avoid passing on rumours without taking time to carefully consider their source, credibility and impact. And don’t rely on confidentiality. It’s safer to assume that whatever you say will be repeated, so choose carefully what “secrets” you reveal.
Remain professional at all times and don’t take sides or get sucked into arguments or recriminations. When a conflict arises, remember that there doesn’t have to be a winner and a loser. It’s often possible to find a solution that satisfies everyone.