Why Politics Exists at the Work Place

Everyone has experienced politics in the workplace in one form or another. However the extent can differ, whilst some organizations have found a way to create a peaceful environment some are just as toxic as a political organization that cries foul to election rigging. So the question of the day or this article is "Why do office politics even exist", after all we are hired to work and not to bicker.

Defining Politics

Am not going to go "bookish" on this one, but rather say it as it is. To me work place politics is underhanded or open agendas which are put in place not to promote the organization but self interests by specific personalities in the work place. The organization is there to thrive economically in order to reward staff as well as stakeholders, whilst on the other hand politics are not concerned with the thriving of the organization but rather their self interests. My former CEO used to talk about VMV (Vision, Mission and Values) of the organization, hence on the "flip side" politicians are not concerned with the VMV they are more concerned with the self promoted values hence

• Strategic decision are made for the company based on how the individuals will benefit
• Human resources are treated according to how they benefit the individuals desires
• Company resources use are guarded jealously to only promote the self interest of the individuals.

Impact of Organization Politics

The impact is as follows in summary

a) Office Cults: People have alliance and networks that go beyond the office

b) Terrible decision making: Decisions made are not optimized for organizations' benefit but for individual or cult benefits

c) Toxic environment: No one really feels safe or has mental peace

So why do Office Politics Exists?

1. The Head of the organization is political

It all starts from the head. If the head promotes office politics then the politics will thrive. How do heads promote politics?

• Tolerating innuendo
• Pitting people against each other secretly
• Openly promoting those who "stroke their egos" the most
• Continuously threatening people
• Rewarding bad behavior and calling it "clever"

If you have ever had a political leader then you know there is no way the culture in the organization can end until the leader either changes or leaves.

2. People are not qualified for their current jobs and feel insecure

If a professional is clearly not qualified and they are not working towards the qualification, sometimes the insecurity can lead to politics and back stabbing. Anyone who is perceived as a threat is always under attack

A Politician smiles at you but is plotting a coup against you.

However, being unqualified for a job does not make one a politician, sometimes it can be the perceived threat that makes one act in such a way.

3. Entitlement

When a person thinks they have "arrived", in other words they think this is the pinnacle of their achievement, sometimes they can guard their jobs to such an extent that they are willing to bring anyone down who they think is a threat to their pinnacle.

Politicians may never delegate, or invite you to high level meetings, or allow you to assist for high level meetings.

Entitlement is probably the most dangerous of the reasons why office politics exist because some people will go as far as to harm you physically.

Entitlement can be as petty as "Why did you sit on my chair in the board room". Obviously no one owns a chair at the work place, worse still in the board room but once one thinks the position they always sit in is theirs, then, there comes trouble.

4. Lack of Emotional Intelligence

Personal conflicts occur when people personalize company decisions such that they think its an attack on their person. This lack of Emotional Intelligence (E.I.) makes it "very" hard to work with the person in a peaceful way. Attitude and personal attacks are galore in such an environment. If you are always having to tip toe on someone's emotions when making a company decision, you are in a political environment.

One thing I can say about E.I. is that no person should be promoted to a senior or management position in the absence of proper managerial training. Companies should have regulars sessions to remind each other on the fact that this is work.

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5. Relationships beyond work

Some people hire their clan or kinsman such that the work place is no longer just a work place but their source of relationship strength. They band together and fight on each other's side. Politics start occurring when they no longer look for the good of the company but the sustenance of their relationship.

Giving each other opportunities where one is clearly qualified can occur, however do we know where to draw the line?

My Experience in Work Place Politics

Simply put, work politics can cause one to restart their career, to move countries, to move cities, to lose opportunities and to lose hope in people. If you are in a place full of politics, get a mentor or someone with experience who can assist you to navigate the toxicity of it. Though, do remember, one day you need to leave this "work place".

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