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How to Navigate office PoliticsYour Guide to GettinG AheAd
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Introduction ...................................................................................1
MasteringWorkplaceDiplomacy.............................................2
OfficePoliticians:AFieldGuide..............................................4
Managers:TipsonAvoidingPoliticalFallouts.......................6
Conclusion.....................................................................................7
AboutRobertHalf........................................................................7
How to Navigate office Politics
TABLEOFCONTENTS
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1
INTRODuCTION
How to Navigate office Politics
Whetheryouworkforamajormultinationalcorporation,midsizefirmorsmallstartup,there’slikelysomedegreeofpoliticsatplaywithinyourorganization.Whilemostpeopledon’trelishofficepolitics,makingtheefforttounderstandyourcompany’spoliticallandscapecanbeanimportantstepinyourcareer.
Infact,amajority(62percent)ofNorthAmericanworkersinterviewedbyRobertHalfsaidinvolvementinofficepoliticsisatleastsomewhatnecessarytogetaheadtoday.Thekeytoavoidingpoliticalfalloutistoremainattunedtoworkplace
dynamicswithoutgettingdrawnintopowerstrugglesorplayingpettygames.Thistipsheetexploreshowtotactfullytraversethetreacherouswatersofofficepoliticswithoutdamagingyourreputation,professionalrelationshipsorcareer.
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1Avoid smear campaigns.Playitsafeanddon’tsayanythingaboutcolleaguesthatyouwouldn’tsaydirectlytothem.AsthenotedhumoristWillRogersonceadvised:“Liveinsuchawaythatyouwouldnotbeashamedtosellyourparrottothetowngossip.”Criticizingorwhisperingbehindbacksisonlyguaranteedtohurtoneperson’scredibility:yours.
2Keep tabs on political undercurrents.Separatetabloid-stylegossip(e.g.,“juicy”hearsayaboutthenewhire’sweekendexploits)fromnewsthatcouldaffectyourcareer.Forinstance,ifyouhearrumblingsofjobcutsorgetwordthatanappealingnewroleisopeningup,youcangetajumponupdatingyourresume.It’sfinetotuneintothegrapevineaslongasyoudon’tfeedit.
3 Build a broad coalition of support.Inanefforttoimpressthecompanybigwigs,manyambitiousbutshortsightedprofessionalsenduptarnishingtheirrelationshipswithpeersbystealingcreditforsuccessfulprojectsorpointingfingersatotherswheninitiativesgoawry.Aimtobuildsolidconnectionswithcolleaguesatalllevelsandinallcornersofyourorganization–notjustthoseatthetop.Payitforwardbysharingcreditforpositiveoutcomes,deliveringonpromises,andpitchinginwhenanextrahandisneeded.Youneverknowwhosehelporsupportyou’llneedinthefuture.
MASTERINGWORkPLACEDIPLOMACY
RuMORHASIT… Psst...haveyouheardthelatestnewsaboutofficepolitics?
Don’ttellanyone,butaccordingtoworkerspolled,gossipisthemostcommonformofofficepolitics:
Source: Robert Half survey of more than 700 North American workers 18 years of age or older and employed in an office environment. Responses represent nearly 400 employees who cited office politics in their workplace.
7%Other
2%
17%
54%20%
Gossipingorspreadingrumors
Gainingfavorbyflatteringtheboss
Takingcreditforothers’work
Sabotagingcoworkers’projects
How to Navigate office Politics
Successfullynavigatingofficepoliticsrequiresfinesseandflexibility.Whileit’sanunfortunatetruththattherearepeoplewhowilldoanythingtoadvancetheircareers,it’spossibletoriseabovethefrayandclimbthroughtheranks.Followingaresevenstrategies:
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4 Pay attention to grassroots movements.Noteveryguideline,policyandprocedureisoutlinedinthecompanyhandbook.Avoidstickysituationsbyremainingawareofandsensitivetothetacitrulesthatofteninfluenceemployeebehavioratyourfirm.(Forinstance,doeseveryonegooutoftheirwaytostayonthegoodsideofaparticularlyinfluentialexecutiveassistant?)Carefulobservationcankeepyoufrominadvertentlysteppingontoesorbreakinganunspokenchainofcommand.
5 Connect with your constituencies.Interactingsmoothlywithamixofpersonalitiesischallenging.Gainanedgebytakingnoteofhowpeopleinyourofficeprefertocommunicate.Whilesomecoworkersvaluefrank,cut-to-the-chasefeedback,othersmightrespondbesttoa“first-the-good-news”styleofdelivery.Workapproachesvary,too.Onemanagermightappreciatefrequentstatusupdates,whileanothersupervisormayonlybeinterestedintheendresults.Youcan’tbeallthingstoallpeople,butbeingastuteandadaptablewillonlyenhanceyoureffectiveness.
6 eliminate wedge issues.Smallsquabblescanquicklyturnintorancorousrivalries,butdon’tletconflictfester.Whenyou’reupsetorfrustratedwithacoworker,takesometimetocooloff,butthenexpressyourconcernsdirectly.Bestraightforwardbuttactful,focusingonfacts,notfeelings.Likewise,whenyoumakeamistake,immediatelyacknowledgeitandmakeamends.Youdon’tneedtobebuddieswitheveryoneintheoffice,butyoudoneedtobeabletoworktogether.
7remember, all politics is local.Here’sasimplesolution:Befriendly.Smalltalkismoreimportantthanmanypeoplethink.Sure,talentandastrongworkethicarepivotaltoadvancing,butinterpersonalskillsmatter,too.Occasionallytakingbreaks
POLITICALIMPERATIvE? Whetheryou’rerunningforofficeorjustworkinginone,
itpaystobeagoodpolitician.Sixty-twopercentofworkerssaidofficepoliticsissomewhatorverynecessarytoadvanceone’scareer:
Source: Robert Half survey of more than 700 North American workers 18 years of age or older and employed in an office environment.
45%
17%
35%
3%
VERY NECESSARY TO GET AHEAD
SOMEWHAT NECESSARY TO GET AHEAD
NOT AT ALL NECESSARY TO GET AHEAD
DON’T KNOW/NO ANSWER
3How to Navigate office Politics
MASTERINGWORkPLACEDIPLOMACY
toexpressaninterestinyourcoworkers’livesortosimplyshootthebreezeaboutpopculturecanhelpyouconnectonabasiclevel,diffusetensionorfirmupcollegialfriendships.
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Althoughit’swisetobeawareofofficepolitics,somepeopletakethisinvolvementtoanextreme.Here’safieldguidetoidentifyingsomeofthemostprevalentpoliticalplayersinyouroffice,alongwithtipsforworkingwiththem:
THEGOSSIPHOuNDTothisrabidrumormonger,thewatercoolerisn’tjustaplacetohydrate,it’sasecondhome.Frequentlyfoundspeakinginhushedtones,theGossipHoundlovesspeculatingabouteverythingandeveryone.Whilethispersonmayprovideaccurateorrelevantinformationonoccasion,don’tallowyourselftogetpulledintocorrosiveconversations.
THECREDITTHIEFThere’san“I”inteam,accordingtothisself-servingspotlightstealer.Thispersonconsistentlyclaimsfullcreditforcollaborativeefforts,buttakesnoneoftheresponsibilitywhenthingsgowrong.ProtectyourselffromtheCreditThiefbykeepingawrittenrecordofyourcontributionsandaccomplishments.Whennecessary,don’thesitatetocorrectmisperceptionsaboutwhodidwhat.
THESYCOPHANTThisself-seekingflatterershamelesslytriestostroketheegoofanyoneperceivedtobeinapositionofpower,butcouldn’tcarelessaboutpeers.BewarywhentheSycophantdisplaysasuddenshiftinattitudetowardyou.Heorshecouldbebutteringyouupforafavor,whichlikelywon’tbereturned.
THESABOTEuRRatherthanrelyingonhardworktomakeapositiveimpression,thispersontriestolookgoodbymakingeveryoneelselookbad.TheSaboteur,whooperateslikeacontestanton“Survivor,”delightsinpittingpeopleagainsteachother.keepyourdistance–andyourguardup–whendealingwiththismastermanipulator.
OFFICEPOLITICIANS:AFIELDGuIDE
4How to Navigate office Politics
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THELOBBYISTTheLobbyistispassionateabouthisorherprojectsandwaysofdoingthings.Thisindividualadvocatesstronglyforsupport,butisoftenunreceptivetooutsidepointsofview.WhencollaboratingwiththeLobbyistonprojects,beawareoftheagendabeingpushed,andbewillingtostandupforyourideas.
THEADvISERTheoffice’smostinfluentialpeoplearen’talwaysthemosthigh-rankingorhigh-profileemployees.TheAdviser,forinstance,iscloselyalignedwithacompany’sleadershipandservesastheir“eyesandears.”Becausethewell-connectedAdviserwieldssignificantpowerbehindthescenes,developagoodrapportwithhimorher.
‘OCCASSIONALvOTER’OR‘ACTIvECAMPAIGNER’?
Workerssharetheirdegreeofinvolvementinofficepolitics:
Source: Robert Half survey of more than 700 North American workers 18 years of age or older and employed in an office environment.
40%
14%
39%
7%
ACTIVE CAMPAIGNER: I HAVE TO PLAYTHE GAME TO GET AHEAD
OCCASIONAL VOTER: I GET INVOLVEDWHEN ISSUES ARE IMPORTANT TO ME
A NEUTRAL PARTY: I STAY COMPLETELYOUT OF THE FRAY
DON’T KNOW/NO ANSWER
SAvvy Self-PRomotioNDo you wince whenever you hear the term ‘self-promotion’? Don’t worry, you don’t need to be a blustering braggart to raise your visibility and get the credit and kudos you deserve. tactfully toot your own horn by periodically apprising your manager of your successes. Add context and muscle to your status updates by quantifying your contributions, linking your efforts to the positive impact they’ve had on the bottom line.
5How to Navigate office Politics
OFFICEPOLITICIANS:AFIELDGuIDE
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Mostorganizationsaren’timmunetoofficepolitics,anditcanposechallengesformanagers.Ifleftunchecked,apoliticallychargedworkenvironmentcanhinderproductivity,erodetrustandleadtomoraleandretentionissues.Herearetipstomitigatepoliticalproblems:
Conduct straw polls.Maintainanopen-doorpolicyandencourageemployeestoreachouttoyouwhenconcernsarise.Butdon’talwayswaitforstafftomakethefirstmove.Beproactiveandcheckinwithteammembersfromtimetotime.Informalchatsallowyoutomonitormoraleandidentifythecurrentclimate.
don’t embargo information.Frequentlyprovidingclearandcandidcommunicationisagoodwaytokeepthegossipgrapevinefromgrowing.Speculationtendstospikewhenchangesareclearlyafootbutmanagementhasn’tprovidedadequateinformation.
don’t play favorites.Acknowledginggroupsuccessesreinforcestheimportanceofcollaboration.Insteadoflavishingpraiseonanyoneperson,makeapointtorecognizethecontributionsofthewholeteam.Andbeforeyourewardorpubliclysingleoutsomeoneforstandoutwork,makesureyouaren’tslightinganyunsungheroes.
Set a clear agenda.Turfwarsaremorelikelytobreakoutwhenprioritiesandrolesaren’tclearlydefined.Preventterritorialtiffsandincreaseefficiencybyassigningdutiesatthestartofbigprojects.Tellpeoplewhattheyareresponsibleforandhowtheyfitintothebigpicture.
Build a unified coalition.Takeactionswiftlyandassertivelyifyounoticethatinfighting(oronebadapple)isgettingthebestofyourteam.Yourwillingnesstoaddressdisharmonyearlyonandhead-onwillgoalongwaytowardmaintainingahealthyenvironment.
Walk the talk.Youremployeeswilltaketheirattitudinalcuesfromyou,sopracticewhatyoupreach.Don’tengageingossip,playfavoritesoropenlycriticizethedecisionsofthoseaboveyou.Inshort,emphasizeintegrity.
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MANAGERS:TIPSONAvOIDINGPOLITICALFALLOuTS
How to Navigate office Politics
Source: Robert Half surveys of more than 700 North American workers 18 years of age or older and employed in an office environment, and more than 5,000 North American executives.
POLITICALDIFFERENCESRobertHalfaskedworkersandexecutivesthesamequestion:“Onascaleofoneto10,with10being‘verypolitical’andonebeing‘notatallpolitical,’howpoliticalwouldyourateyourworkenvironment?”
Workers Executives
More political: 6 or higher 39% 27%Less political: 5 or lower 61% 73%
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Howyouhandlesensitiveworkplacedynamicscanmakeorbreakyourprofessionalprospects.Butitisn’treallyallthatcomplex.Navigatingofficepoliticsinvolvescommonsense,courtesyandcompromise.Showcaseyoursavvybycarefullyobservingyourofficeenvironmentwithoutgettingmiredinthepoliticalpitfallshighlightedinthisguide.
for a humorous look at office politics, check out Robert Half’s ongoing career bloopers video series, Don’t let this Happen to you, at roberthalf.com/bloopers.
Foundedin1948,RobertHalfInternational,theworld’sfirstandlargestspecializedstaffingfirm,isarecognizedleaderinprofessionalstaffingservices.Thecompany’sspecializedstaffingdivisionsincludeAccountemps®,RobertHalf®Finance&AccountingandRobertHalf®ManagementResources,fortemporary,full-timeandsenior-levelprojectprofessionals,respectively,inthefieldsofaccountingandfinance;OfficeTeam®,forhighlyskilledofficeandadministrativesupportprofessionals;RobertHalf®Technology,forprojectandfull-timetechnologyprofessionals;RobertHalf®Legal,forprojectandfull-timestaffingoflawyers,paralegalsandlegalsupportpersonnel;andTheCreativeGroup®,forinteractive,designandmarketingprofessionals.RobertHalfInternationalhasstaffingoperationsinmorethan350locationsworldwide.FormoreinformationaboutthespecializedstaffingandrecruitmentdivisionsofRobertHalf,visitroberthalf.com.
How to Navigate office Politics
CONCLuSION ABOuTROBERTHALF
“THEPROMOTION”