How to Navigate Through the Tempestuous Sea of Office Politics

Office politics, love them or hate them, they exist in every company. From Jon, the CEO through to lovely old Doris the cleaner, it appears that everyone has a key part to play in the soap opera that calls itself “The Workplace.” You might not be keen on weaving your way through the myriad of office politics, but if you’re going to be successful within the organisation you had better get a handle on them.

Are office politics always bad?

Sometimes described as “power play,” they relate to the path we take through our workplace in order to benefit our own position. Many dislike the notion of office politics and view it as employees pushing their way forward or scaling the career ladder without any care for colleagues. It’s certainly true that climbing over colleagues to get to the top can have a negative impact on the vibe within the workplace and the relationships within it too. But we’re giving office politics a bad name here, which is not entirely fair. Office politics can be used in a positive way too, they are a great way of showcasing your talents and getting to know the “right people.” You should never underestimate the power of networking and never waste an opportunity to present a positive image of yourself. A friendly smile and “good morning” never hurt anyone. It’s not about seeking out those who can do you good in your career. It’s about being genial to all of your colleagues.

Find your way …

The key is to identify the negative office politics around you (and there will be plenty of those) and negotiate around them. You will have to deal with one or two issues, but this is a perfect way to show your mettle. Ignore them at your peril, others will take advantage while you shy away. Don’t forget to embrace positive office politics. Champion your work ethic, and if you are in a team (or run the team) back your colleagues to the hilt. You also have to be fair and listen. Not everyone will share the same views and one employee’s take on a situation can be entirely different to another person’s interpretation.

Lay back and observe a bit

Learn how to sit back a little and be an expert observer. Pin-point the influencers and those with the wisdom and respect to carry weight with their colleagues. Those are your target market if you are looking to enter into positive office politics. Build yourself a strong network. Don’t get tarred with the “office gossip” brush. That’s for those who aren’t looking to go anywhere fast!

Come across as rational and honest. Proffer opinions but be ready to listen to and accept others’ opinions. Lastly try not to get sucked into a group. Find a way to try and align yourself with colleagues at all levels and above all, play nicely. Wilson Mizner (American playwright, raconteur, and entrepreneur) totally hit the nail on the head with his wonderful nugget of wisdom:

“Always be nice to people on the way up; because you'll meet the same people on your way down."

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