Office politics is taboo and often rears its ugly head at the most inopportune moment. But there is no denying the fact that office politics is part and parcel of any corporate setting and no employee in the world is immune to it. Office politics need not be feared though. Fortunately, there are ways you can effectively handle office politics before it jeopardizes your career.
Workplace politics, in its most basic form, is about differences between employees. Conflicts of interest, opinions as well as differences are often referred to as office politics and it all boils down to interpersonal relationships. HiCounselor brings you ways you can adopt to handle office politics and emerge a winner in the workplace.
Fight or Flight
Fight or flight are the most common responses to politics at work but instinctive fight reactions can only make it more difficult to accomplish what you want, while instinctive flight reactions can only make you a pushover people will easily take as a given. Both options are not appealing to healthy career growth. When it comes to handling office politics, you must choose how you react to situations because you have the power to choose how you react and feel.
Focus on Business Goals
It's easy to get caught up in tunnel vision when conflicts occur. Instead of focusing on the immediate differences, it is much easier to become absorbed into a narrower vision. This is a self-destructive approach. You'll likely only invite resistance by focusing your attention on the differences between people's opinions or positions.
This can be done without appearing to be fighting for the win in this conflict. Instead, focus on your business goals. Discuss the pros and cons of each option in light of what is best for the company. Everyone wants business success. If the business doesn't win then everyone fails. Position yourself as someone who is interested and able to work together to achieve your goals. You will be appreciated by your boss as someone who can take on bigger responsibilities and doesn’t succumb to petty politics.
Circle of Influence
There are many issues at work that we don't have control over. It is not unusual to see corporate policies, client demands or boss mandates that affect your personal interests. These events are beyond our control and often lead to gossiping or complaining. Think about it. Other than a temporary emotional outlet, what tangible benefit does gossiping really achieve? Most of the time, none.
Instead of being angry and victimized by the situation, you should focus on what you can do to improve it -- your circle of influence. This is an empowering way to overcome feelings of helplessness. This removes victimization and allows others to see you in a different light. While you may not be in a position to alter or change the outcome, you can leave the situation knowing that you did your best.
Avoid Taking Sides
It is possible to get caught between two powerful figures in office politics. It is easy to feel like you are being thrown around by them while they try to outwit each other or defend themselves - all at the cost of your ability to get the job done. They won't agree to a common project decision. And neither one of them wants to be responsible for the issues.
This is what you need to do: focus on the business goals in these cases and do not take sides, even if one is better than the others. You should place them all on the same communication platform. This will ensure that everyone can communicate openly. You can help direct conflict resolution by not being a side-taker. Trust will be built with both sides. This will help keep the engagements constructive while allowing you to focus on your business goals.
Don’t Take it Personally
You're likely to get mad at people in office politics. It happens. You may feel the need to share your thoughts with someone and teach them a lesson. Do not do this. People often remember the humiliating or embarrassing moments they experienced. Even if you win the argument and feel great about it, you will pay the price later when you need this person’s help. In the workplace, it is important to remember that what goes around will come around. You need to have a network of friends and allies in order to win at work. You don't want someone to screw you over in a crisis or a chance.
Your career advancement is another reason to keep your temper under control. Organizations are increasingly using 360-degree reviews to promote people. Even if your performance is stellar, it will be a struggle for your boss to promote you if peers or managers see you as someone difficult to work with. You don't want to make it difficult for your bosses to promote you.
Be Understanding
People feel wronged because they are misunderstood. Instinctively, we want others to understand us more than we are interested in understanding ourselves. This urge has been suppressed by business leaders and managers who are at the top of their game.
Surprisingly, understanding is one of the most disarming techniques. When the other party feels you understand their point of view, they will be less defensive and more open to understanding you. This opens the door to open communication and allows both sides to reach a mutually acceptable solution. It is difficult to find a solution when you don't have this understanding. There's too much second-guessing and little trust.
Think win-win
Conflicting interests are the root cause of political conflict, as we have already mentioned. Maybe it is because of our education that we were taught to believe that winning requires losing.
You must first get to know the perspective of the other side and understand his motivations. Next, consider what it means for you. Try to find a solution that both sides can agree on. This will make sure everyone is committed to the final resolution. No one likes to lose. While you may be able to get away with win-lose strategies once in a while, very soon you will find yourself without any friends at work. Win-win thinking is a long-lasting strategy that builds relationships and helps you win over the long term. From backstabbing bosses and co-workers trying to undermine your work, the workplace is tightly knit. Office politics will affect many of us at one time. A third of workers fear going to work because of their co-workers, while three-quarters of employees consider their boss to be the most stressful aspect of their job.
Be Friendly
You have to be involved in fixing a toxic workplace culture. Research shows that people who feel excluded or marginalized by office politics can have a negative toll on their physical and mental health. If one person is the source of conflict at work, it is best to come together with other co-workers. Bullies can be supported by others and victims are more likely to feel isolated if they are supported. By discussing the behavior of the bully with co-workers, they can control the bully. Bullies lose the power to terrorize and are at risk of becoming isolated. This strategy works well with colleagues who are game-playing - bullies tend to try to isolate victims. The more people you have, the less likely it is that you will be taken advantage of at your job.
On a final note, office politics can be seen as something that can easily be turned into a positive feature. You should strive to create a company culture that values people and discourages any form of abuse. It is best to be kind to others, encourage teamwork and show empathy to co-workers. You can make the workplace more welcoming by encouraging kindness and honesty.
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