Whether you’re a cunning player or a conscientious objector, one thing is certain – office politics is a fact of our working lives.
And while it’s true that many who play the game will happily manipulate their peers for a chance to climb the corporate ladder, there are still plenty of us who fight fair to achieve success. It’s not always a case of dog-eat-dog. Follow our tips to resisting negativity and avoiding conflict while still getting what you want, without any need for moral dilemmas.
Decide what you want to achieve
Do you want the chance to take on a promotion, receive a raise, and be an acclaimed expert in your field? If so, are you willing to step on those around you to get it? Or do you just want to do a good job, stay out of conflict and be recognised for your stoic, professional approach? And if that’s the case, are you willing to watch others step on others while you do it?
Before you can begin to think about how you should react to office politics, it’s important to set your goals. Your desired results will make a difference to how you start to approach the problem.
Observe the people around you
Within any business organisation, there’s already a clear-cut official hierarchy. But what’s not always obvious is the unofficial pecking order. Within teams of peers, there are usually some people with considerable informal influence. It might be the most outspoken team member or the one who’s been working there the longest. It might simply be the worker who has the closest personal relationship with the boss. Take some time to see what’s really going on. Identify the cliques and the alliances, as well as those people who don’t seem to get along or fit in well. With a basic understanding of how the different pieces of your workplace fit together, you can start to see how you can best play a part in what goes on.
Forge relationships based on real trust and measured honesty
When it comes to your interactions with your bosses, colleagues and subordinates, the most prudent thing you can do is listen – a lot. As well as finding out what’s happening, it’s also a way to bite your own tongue, as well as to build trust with your co-workers. That doesn’t mean it’s necessarily a sneaky way of gathering ammunition – unless you decided that was your goal – but it does mean that you can understand and stay friendly with every party involved.
And don’t think that your relationships are limited to your immediate team. Have at least some kind of understanding with people from every level of your organisation – peers and bosses, official authorities, unofficial influencers, and those both below and above you. But don’t just suck up to your superiors with empty flattery. Be a fair, relaxed and approachable person who has a controlled and objective take on things.
Make the most of those relationships
If you’ve managed to successfully play the middle field – keeping all competing sides both friendly and open to you – now’s the time to take advantage of your position. Gather information and opinions as they’re presented to you, but don’t try and force anything from anyone. If one worker spreads gossip about another that you know to be untrue, correct them in the most diplomatic way you can. And when it’s appropriate and natural, let people know about your team’s accomplishments. If you can do it without it looking like bragging, you can make yourself, your team and your boss look good – without drawing too much attention to your efforts.
Identify the bad eggs, but keep them close
In almost every workplace, there’s someone who just wants to get ahead – no matter how they do it. Watch them, talk to them, understand them – but don’t distance yourself from them. At the very least, you might learn how not to act. Or, at best, you might be able to reduce their negative effect on the rest of your team.
And no matter how much you disapprove of their methods, remember to not let things get personal. There might be times when certain people really push your buttons and you might feel inadequate, humiliated or insulted. But if you didn’t want to be an underhanded politician before, then revenge and spite definitely aren’t good reasons to start. You don’t succeed in business by winning personal fights – you succeed by being talented, motivated and professional.
Above all, control yourself
Hopefully, all that listening and observing you’ve been doing has taught you to think before you speak. Don’t spread rumours or gossip when you hear them. Instead, think carefully about the credibility of what you’re about to pass on. And even if things really are unfair or undesirable, don’t be the one who keeps moaning and complaining. Bite your tongue, be observant and play your cards carefully – you might just end up becoming the office favourite.
