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Office politics exist in organizations of every size, shape and type, and are part of the cut and thrust of everyday life. Provided you and your team members are happy and productive, office politics should not be any great cause for concern. The following tips are designed to help you understand and manage office politics effectively.
Be Authentic
One of the best ways you can handle office politics is to set a good example yourself. As a manager, particularly if you are new to the role, it is important to be professional at all times, without becoming too authoritarian towards your team, or being sycophantic towards your own boss. It is also important to mean what you say, as hypocritical behavior is a sure-fire way to lose the trust and support of your team members and colleagues.
Develop Mutually Beneficial Relationships
Working collaboratively with others can be a great way of developing your own profile and skills. You can increase your standing in your organization by asking to work with people who are doing good work in a particular field. Remember, though, that you need to be clear about what you can bring to the relationship too. Perhaps this is your own network of contacts, or your technical expertise.
It can also be a good idea to identify and develop relationships with individuals at the center of key groups within your organization. This can give you access to information or resources that you can draw upon for particular projects, as well as providing a source of influence should you need to gain wider support for your ideas.
Be Aware of Other People’s Motives
One of the secrets of successful office politics is to have a positive outlook, while maintaining a healthy dose of cynicism. So if a colleague offers to take on some of your workload out of the blue, or to help supervise a member of your team, it is important to ask yourself why. Are they simply being kind, or do they have an ulterior motive? Trust your instincts, and if something doesn’t seem to add up, take steps to safeguard your own position.
Treat Others Fairly
Your team members will each have their own particular agenda at work. The stronger characters within your team may be particularly vocal about their wants and needs, while others may use more subtle forms of persuasion. It is important to listen to all your employees, and not show preferential treatment to any individual over another. If you are being challenged by a demanding employee, be prepared to have a reasoned debate, but bear in mind the needs and preferences of other team members as well as the overall aims of your department.
Don’t Let Gossip Get Out of Control
Gossiping is grist to the political mill and can often be fairly harmless in nature. As a manager, it is OK to let idle gossip pass, but set a good example to your team by never instigating or perpetuating gossip yourself. If you become aware that gossip is causing distress to any of your team members, though, have a word with those involved. If you suspect that gossiping has turned into bullying or discriminatory behavior within your team, then it is important to take immediate action.
Manage Conflict
Differences of opinion and a sense of competition between team members can be invigorating for your team. You may even wish to introduce certain tasks or activities every so often that draw these particular elements out. It is one thing, however, having an enthusiastic and energized team, and quite another to have one whose team members are at loggerheads on a regular basis. If you are aware of such problems in your team, it is important to speak to those involved – preferably one at a time – to get to the bottom of the cause, and take action accordingly.
Influence Upwards
Managing office politics includes managing upwards. This means understanding how your boss likes to work, what they are trying to achieve, and how you can make life easier for them. Much of this can be established by observing their work style and behavior in the office. Understanding what makes them tick will allow you to communicate better and to work more productively together.
