 When I was about six months into my first job I was ‘invited’ by my boss into his office. “Shut the door,” he said as he motioned me to a chair that caused me to look up to see him.
“You know Christmas is coming up and I just want you to know that no matter what anyone else tells you I do not want a Christmas present.”
“OK, I’ll remember that.” I left his office after that two-sentence interchange believing it the strangest conversation I had ever had.
A week later a department supervisor came to me and covertly described a sum of money needed to buy the boss a Christmas gift. “Let me guess,” he began, “he told you he didn’t want any gift.”
I shook my head numbly.
“Yeah, we all believed that – once. He’s not a happy camper if we forget.” With that I passed on a few bills from my wallet and a gift was purchased and acknowledged (complete with, “You shouldn’t have”) by a happy boss.
Office politics are played at virtually all levels. The challenge is to not only function in this environment, but to thrive. The hard part can be in understanding the maneuvering taking place around you and learning when to keep your mouth closed and what to say when you do speak up.
Beware of friendly co-workers
If you’ve watched much reality television then you know there is wisdom in silence. Sometimes the things you say to a co-worker can and will be used against you. If you talk negatively about the boss to a co-worker you can bet the boss will hear about it when it is not convenient for you. This dynamic isn’t always true, but if your place of employment exists in a state of politics then it may be more likely to be true. You’re a professional – act that way.
Never let them see you sweat
When it comes to office politics there will be those who are just looking for the opportunity to covertly bring up the failings of others. What this means in a practical sense if that you may need to perform tasks you don’t like (and do so with a smile) in order to avoid being the subject of a conversation that may be leaked to the boss.
Be the resident encourager
Office politics often thrive on negative comments coupled with insincere flattery. Try operating from a position of honest encouragement. Pass along genuine words of support. If others see you as a person who genuinely cares about them they may be less inclined to engage in personal backstabbing.
Foster a team approach
Some bosses do not know much about developing a winning team. They simply hire a willing individual and hope they don’t mess things up too much. Sometimes the notion of leadership starts with the actual team. There may be many who are not motivated in the least to develop a team approach, but the truth is by inviting co-workers to help you solve a problem bigger than you it can create a sense that you depend on others to dream big. They may like being a part of a solution you foster.
Help others look good
My dad always told me I should do everything I could to make my boss look good. When the boss succeeds that can often trickle down to the employees. The other side to that is to maintain a self-respect that allows you to make co-workers look good, too. Point out the good things they are doing and promote really good ideas – even when they don’t come from you.
When you put these five tips in place you may find you can avoid the negative aspects of office politics.
We all get uncomfortable when we see someone voted off the island or sent home from the latest television competition. You can take a decidedly different approach in your workplace. Be willing to sacrifice to promote the excellence in others and they will begin to see incredible value that already exists in you.
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