I know that I have mentioned to steer away from office politics previously, but in the event you find yourself that you’re in a place where you have to play it to win (and most likely you will), this post should help you understand the dynamics of office politics.
Office politics refers to the complex social structure of a workplace. It involves employees using their authority, power, and delegation for their personal agenda.
It’s part of any workplace. You have to know how to play the game if you want to get ahead and keep your job.
Office politics can sound like a dirty word, but it's not
It is what happens when people interact with each other at work. They can be good or bad depending on how you look at them, but they're inevitable because we all have different personalities and ways of doing things that make us react differently in certain situations--and those reactions will affect other people's perceptions of us and our relationships with them.
Office politics aren't good or bad, they're just part of the game
Whether you like it or not, they're here to stay. You can't avoid them; you have to learn how to play the game and make sure that you come out on top every time.
It's important to note that office politics aren't good or bad--they just exist in every workplace because everyone has different priorities and opinions about what should happen at work. Some employees care more about advancing their career than getting things done quickly; others want to get their tasks completed as soon as possible so they can spend time with friends or family outside of work hours; still others don't mind doing both! Whatever your reasons may be for being part of an organization (and therefore engaging in some form of office politics), there are ways for everyone involved--from managers down through interns--to navigate this tricky situation successfully while making sure everyone gets along well enough until next year's promotion cycle rolls around again..
Get Better at office politics
No matter what your position is in the office, nobody can avoid corporate politics. They are a fact of life.
You may find the concept intimidating. But learning how to navigate office politics can help you maintain some personal power. All while gaining a better understanding of the system you work in.
Business politics are largely centered on social dynamics:
How you interact with others.
Who you interact with.
When to pick your battles.
Whether you enjoy partaking in office politics or not, they’re an inescapable part of work. Even though they can take on a life of their own, they don't have to can be negative. The flow of information, power, and influence in the workplace can be put to good use, to benefit yourself and others, when the time is right.
Good office politics makes everyone happy
You must understand the company's goals and your own goals. You'll also need to know what everyone else wants out of their work life--your boss, co-workers, and team members; direct reports; peers, or other people who might be in a position to help or hinder you along the way (such as a client).
Bad office politics makes everyone miserable... and probably unemployed
It's easy to get caught up in the drama of office politics and forget that it can be a bad thing. Office politics can make people feel bad about themselves and their work, which leads to them losing their jobs. It can also cause employees to quit their jobs because they feel like they are not part of the team or important enough for management's attention.
You have to know how to play the game, but you don't have to play dirty
The trick is to know when the time is right to play it and when you should walk away from the table. If you choose not to play, then go ahead and walk away from the table, but if there are benefits to playing then by all means do so. Just make sure that whatever move you make will benefit yourself first, and those around you second, not just other people who may have nothing invested in this situation at all (or even worse: someone who wants what's yours).
Office politics are the ways in which people work together as a team
Everyone has their own goals in the workplace, and they all have different ideas on how to achieve those goals. This can lead to disagreements between coworkers, which can result in office conflict if not handled properly.
If you don't understand office politics, you can get taken advantage of by other people who do know what's going on around them--and this could hurt your career or even cost you an opportunity at promotion!
People will act differently around you depending on their level of trust
Trust is a key part of any relationship. It can be built or destroyed in a matter of minutes, though, and it's earned rather than given. If you don't trust someone, you'll be more likely to question their actions and motives--and that means you'll act differently around them as well.
This can have an impact on office politics because if one person doesn't trust another person enough to share information (or even just listen), then communication becomes difficult or impossible. In turn, this can lead them down different paths with respect to projects and goals within the company--and thus introduce more conflict into the workplace environment overall
If you don't understand office politics, you can get taken advantage of
If you don't understand office politics, you can get taken advantage of. You could be manipulated or used as a pawn in someone else's game. You might be left out of important information and decisions that impact your job and career. You might even be passed over for promotions because others are seen as more cooperative than you.
You need to understand how the people around you will react to your actions, and it's important to remember that everyone has their own goals in the workplace too
You need to understand how the people around you will react to your actions, and it's important to remember that everyone has their own goals in the workplace too.
You may be working toward a promotion or trying to get a new client for your company--but so is everyone else! It's important that you understand their motivations and where they stand on issues so that you can work together effectively.
Office politics aren't something to be afraid of; they're just part of life. If you want to get ahead in your career, then it's important that you understand how people are going to react when they see something new from you or hear about something that happened earlier in the day. People will always have their own agendas and goals for working at an office or company so it's up to us as individuals how we plan on dealing with them.
Great insight!
Looking forward to part 2