Does Office Politics bother you?

There’s no office that doesn’t have a bit of politics, friends and foes. To deal effectively with office politics and use it yourself in a positive way, you must first accept the reality of it. Once you’ve done this, you then need to develop strategies to deal with the political behaviour that is going on around you. The best way to do this is to be a good observer and then use the information you gather to build yourself a strong network to operate in. Always consider the organization chart before you indulge yourself in the same. You should know who is the real influencer, who has the power, but does not practice it and remains silent, how your colleague is performing at work?

Politics happens everywhere, in every office, but you must know how to handle it effectively. Ensure that you have good relationship with bosses and you have won their trust on the basis of your work. Don’t try to jump the hierarchy. Be friendly with everyone but don’t align yourself with one group or another. The expression, “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer” applies perfectly to office politics. Get to know these people better and be courteous to them, but always be very careful what you say to them. Understand what motivates these people and what their goals are, and so learn how to avoid or counter the impact of their negative politicking. Be aware that these people typically don’t think much of their talents and that’s why they rely on aggressive politicking to get ahead.

Observe more, as through observation you’ll learn what works in your organization’s culture and what doesn’t. Watch other people at work and identify successful behaviours that you can model. There are also some general standards to observe that will stop negative politics from spreading. Don’t pass on gossip, questionable judgements, spread rumours – when you hear something, take a day to consider how much credibility it has. Rise above interpersonal conflicts – do not get sucked into arguments. Maintain your integrity at all times – always remain professional, and always remember the organization’s interests. Be positive – avoid whining and complaining. When voicing objections or criticism, make sure you take an organizational perspective not a personal one. Be a model of integrity to your team, and discourage politics within it.