The Politics of Office Performance

Office success isn't about who welcomes the boss first at work or laughs the loudest at their jokes. You're probably thinking I'm wrong. After all, we've all seen that colleague who seems to rise through the ranks by mastering the art of appearing busy while doing very little. But let me challenge your perspective.

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Take a moment to think about the last person who earned a promotion in your organization. Was it the office politician, or was it someone who consistently showed up and delivered results?

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The real politics of workplace performance boils down to something simpler yet harder: trying.

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Like a farmer who plants seeds knowing some won't sprout, success at work comes from persistent effort, not perfect execution.

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Excellence isn't just about meeting targets. It's like preparing pounded yam - the smoothness comes from consistent, deliberate pounding, not random bursts of energy. Your excellence should show in how you carry yourself, from your email communication to your meeting preparations. When you speak in meetings, do you ramble or make clear, considered points? When you draft emails, are they thoughtful and professional or hasty and unclear?

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I once heard a fellow CEO giving a striking remark, "I don't promote people who never fail. I promote people who fail forward." This mindset shifts how we view workplace success. It's not about avoiding mistakes - it's about how you handle them.

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Think about African bead work. Each bead is carefully placed, but occasionally one breaks or a pattern goes wrong. The artisan doesn't abandon the entire piece - they fix what they can and continue creating. Your career should follow the same principle.

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Many professionals in Africa face unique challenges. Limited resources, power outages, unstable internet - these aren't excuses, they're opportunities to demonstrate problem-solving skills. The colleague who finds ways to deliver despite these challenges stands out more than the one who expertly explains why something couldn't be done.

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Performance politics isn't about being seen working late or sending emails at 3 AM. It's about consistent, meaningful contribution. Are you the person who brings solutions to meetings, or just complaints? Do you take initiative on projects, or wait to be told what to do?

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When feedback comes - and it will come - how do you respond? I've seen professionals handle criticism differently. The ones who progressively treat feedback like a market trader treats business advice - they listen, adapt, and improve their 'wares' rather than defending their current practices.

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Your reputation builds like a termite mound - one small action at a time. Each interaction, each deliverable, and each meeting contribution adds to or subtracts from your professional standing.

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The politics of performance is really about building this mound consistently and deliberately.

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Here's what many miss: true workplace excellence is infectious. When you consistently perform well, you create a new standard. Like the first person to start clapping in a crowd, you inspire others to follow. This isn't about competition - it's about elevation.

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Remember the saying "character is what you do when no one is watching"? Professional excellence follows the same principle. It's not about the big presentation to the board - it's about the preparation you put in when no one sees it.

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I've watched countless professionals in my years of management fall into the trap of office politics - the whispered conversations, the strategic alliances, the calculated visibility. But the ones who succeed? They're too busy improving their skills, delivering results, and building genuine relationships to play these games.

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The politics of performance is about authenticity. Not the superficial kind that's become a buzzword, but the deep-seated commitment to doing your best work, learning from failures, and maintaining high standards regardless of who's watching.

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To the young professional reading this in Kigali, the middle manager in Cairo, or the department head in Lusaka - your path to success isn't through political maneuvering. It's through consistent effort, resilience in the face of setbacks, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

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The next time you're tempted to play office politics, remember: the most powerful political move you can make is to be undeniably good at what you do. Let your work speak louder than your networking skills.

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So when you fail - because you will fail - remember that failure isn't the opposite of success. It's a component of success. Like the African drum that needs both the strike and the silence to make music, your career needs both successes and failures to create something meaningful.

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The real politics of office performance isn't about playing games - it's about playing the long game of consistent growth, resilient effort, and genuine excellence.