Guideline: Surviving Office Politics
Surviving Office Politics
Office politics exist in all organizations . Some are relatively obvious and benign. Others are subtle and dangerous. One of the biggest problems people face is that they can get trapped in them without knowing it. They inadvertently say the wrong thing to the wrong person, and suddenly they are involved in a feud. Quite often they don’t even realize that they are in one; just that things are going wrong, reputations are suffering, and nothing is going the way it is supposed to. This is especially true for new employees, but even people who have been there for a while can get caught up in them. While nothing can ever completely protect you, these tips might help, especially when you start at a new organization, or in a new division or branch.
Get A Mentor
Some organizations have formal mentor programs where new employees, or people transferring in, are assigned to experienced people whose job it is to introduce them to and guide them through the intricacies of the local organizational culture. If you are a working someplace that does not have such a program, talk to someone who has been there for a while, someone who is well respected and knowledgeable, and ask for help in adjusting to the local “rules.”
Be Nice
Be as pleasant, professional, and cooperative as possible. Treat everyone fairly.
Be Honest
Tell the truth, even when it’s painful. Do not be a sycophant. Insincerity is easy to spot, and nobody likes it, or trusts the person who acts that way.
Think Big
You are just one person, however, your actions will affect more than just you. Be aware of the “big picture.” Think about what the consequences will be for the rest of the team, department, or organization before you take action.
Solve Your Own Problems
If
you have a complaint, come up with a workable solution. Then offer both your
complain and your solution to your boss.
Make Your Boss Look Good
Serve your boss well. The better you make your boss look, the better
you look.
Pick Your Battles
You will not win every battle you fight. You will, however, make an enemy, whether you win or you lose. So pick the ones that you have a realistic chance of winning, and that are really worth fighting. Many managers phrase this as: “Is this a hill you are willing to die on?”
Face Your Backstabbers
If someone is spreading rumours about you, do some checking. When you are sure you know who it is, pull them aside for a private talk. Keep it just between the two of you. Tell them that you know what is going on and that you want it to stop. Be organization, but do not get emotional. Even if they deny it, and they will very likely do that, tell them that you want it to stop. Immediately. Don’t make threats. Just tell them to stop it. Let them worry about what you will do if they don’t comply. Make it their problem and their worry. Once it is taken care of, tell your supervisor in private exactly what you have done.