No Way to Avoid Office Politics

During my recent radio interview for the Connecticut Public radio show, “The Real Life Survival Guide,” I emphasized the fact that there is no way to avoid office politics. You can’t run and hide.

Office politics are not well understood by most employees. No one teaches people about how to deal with the phenomenon. When I mentor new managers, I spend a lot of time talking about the political mechanisms that they must embrace.

Office politics is another name for human interaction in the workplace. It is the result of complex relationships driven by individual needs, goals, and ambition. When an employee has a strong personality and has “perceived” power in the organization, they often attract those who are “like-minded.” You will not find this group on the corporate org chart.

Some people align politically with others in order to maneuver their way through the organization to accomplish a goal. Others avoid these political movements because they perceive that they are motivated by self-interest. Many times this is true. However, you should never avoid other people in the organization based on their political alignment.

My mantra is to make your “so called” political enemies your friends. Find something in common with them. Set up a meeting and ask advice. Political charged people often have something valuable to share. Tap into their strengths and create a good relationship with them. Although they may appear to be political animals, they are still people. Try not to de-humanize them.

Managing through the politics of the office is not impossible. It takes work and a desire to break through the barriers.