For many companies, the game of office politics is a fact of corporate life. Some groups seem to have the market cornered when it comes to feeding the rumor mill, back-stabbing and manipulation. Do you have to take on the role of villain or mole in order to get ahead? Not always. With a little forethought, you can manage these office antics without losing your integrity or sidestep them altogether.
The Politics in Your Office
When it comes to office politics you have two choices: participate or abstain. Depending upon the dynamic in your office, either course of action could cost you in the end. Start by taking a closer look at how your office and various groups of employees function.
A good place to start is identifying who's getting promotions. If co-workers with mediocre talents are rising faster through the ranks than others, it may partly be because they've played the game of office politics well. In this case, devote some time to observing interactions among the management team as well as managers and their direct reports. Look for ways to align your strengths with what management appears to value. Approaching it this way helps you retain some integrity while find ways to work within the system in your office.
If there's no clear relationship between office politics and what's actually important for your job or career growth, don't participate just for the sake of fitting in. Getting involved for the sake of being part of the group could ultimately backfire on you, especially if the game-playing happens predominantly at a peer level and management seems to pay no mind.
Allies and Enemies
If you're having difficulty understanding what politics are being played and who the key players are, see if you can identify a manager or other senior employee who might serve as a mentor. Ideally, this person should sit at a higher level than you and have been with the company long enough to know what's going on.
Choose someone who not only has intimate knowledge of the company's inner workings, but also has the experience to help you nurture your career. In other words, don't approach a would-be mentor by asking them to teach you what they know about the office. Instead, focus on building a real working relationship with them. If you've chosen wisely, your mentor's likely to give you the inside scoop without your having to ask.
Enemies are more difficult to spot. While some difficult co-workers will confront you without hesitation, others may be more subtle. In fact, your enemy may not say anything to you at all, but use non-verbal cues like eye rolling, deep sighs or finger tapping while you're speaking. While these behaviors may be distracting, don't let them intimidate you. If it takes places in front of other people, diffuse the situation with a little light humor directed at the person in question.
Other office troublemakers may not interact with you at all, but repeat gossip or start rumors to gain favor. You can choose to ignore them or you can be direct and confront the individual privately. Don't be aggressive or threatening, but do be matter of fact and allow for the idea that in their mind, they have a good reason for their behavior. You might even become aware of behaviors of your own that contribute to the problem.
Staying Out of the Fray
You may be on good terms with your co-workers, keep your focus on your own work and stay on the fringes of the politics in your office, but sometimes you'll encounter a co-worker who'll try to tempt you to join in. These behaviors may be deliberate or unconscious, but there are a few ways you can stay out of the fray and not damage the relationship:
Avoiding Gossip
One of the telltale signs of office politics is gossip. Again, you have two choices: excuse yourself from the conversation or change the subject. Be aware that either way, it's likely your co-workers will be taken aback. Once they understand that you're not willing to participate, there's a good chance they won't try to bring you in again.
Managing Conflict
When co-workers argue, it's natural for the individuals involved to want to rally support for their side of the argument. Whenever possible, avoid taking sides in conflict that doesn't involve you. Acknowledge your co-worker's feelings and allow him or her to vent their frustrations, but if you want to rise above office politics, maintain a neutral position. Keep this in mind when the conflict in question directly involves you. Be aware that when you're angry with or simply don't like someone, how easy it is to contradict their statements just because you can. One-upping your co-worker may feel great in the moment, but in the long run, it reinforces the struggle between you and gives the gossips in the office something to talk about.
As challenging as it can be, curb your desire to react defensively. Learn how to listen suggestions instead of focusing on the person doing the suggesting. You just might discover there's some truth what they're saying, even if their delivery is lacking. Likewise, handle defensive co-workers with care. Generally speaking, the more defensive someone is, the more insecure they may be feeling (this applies to you too).
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