Working in an office with a lot of politics can be fun, but it can also be stressful. It’s important not to favor any one person over another or to take sides with a certain group of people. This kind of behavior will only backfire on you. Instead, use your words to your advantage and deal with the situation diplomatically. Here are some tips to help you survive office politics:
Embrace the good kind of office politics:
We all know that office politics are a part of everyday life. They occur when individuals disagree on the way things should be done at work. As human beings, we are wired to react to this dynamic in one of two ways: we either flee or fight. Fortunately, we don’t need to fight or flee to survive at work. In fact, many organizations have learned to embrace the good kind of office politics.
We live in a political world, so why not embrace the good kind? While it can be uncomfortable to work with colleagues who are more political than us, it’s essential to remember that it’s just a part of life. Choosing to ignore office politics may cause you to lose your voice or be swayed by less experienced colleagues. Fortunately, there are a few ways to avoid this problem.
Avoid being identified as a member of one power group:
There are a few things that you can do to avoid being identified as a member of one power team in the workplace. First of all, don’t be afraid to switch teams and work with people who are on the opposite side of your political spectrum. Similarly, you should avoid promoting someone who tries to manipulate others. This type of behavior is often indicative of an underlying behavioral problem or lack of self-awareness.
Another tip is to work on not reacting to political behavior. This way, you’ll be able to discourage others from using the same tactics. Focus on your successes and your accomplishments instead of playing a political game. Show your managers that you can be a successful individual even within constraints. This is important because your boss will appreciate your proactive approach, and it will make them want you to stay.
Transparency in decision-making reduces workplace politics:
One of the best ways to cut down on workplace politics and dealing with workplace politics is to increase the transparency of decision-making processes in the organization. Without transparency, employees can say one thing about the same problem while revealing another. Such a culture is easy for inventive politicians to exploit. Workers can also present themselves as “shock workers,” representing capitalist labor. This culture is also bad for morale and motivation. There are ways to fight against an opaque company culture, though.
In a growing organization, transparency in decision-making processes and policies will help minimize the political dynamics. Leaders need to be transparent and collaborative. Transparency is also essential to reducing office gossip and other negative dealing with workplace politics. Regardless of the type of workplace culture you are trying to avoid, leaders need to practice the behaviors that will help the organization thrive. It is also important to remove obstacles that may cause employees to feel excluded from the organization.
