“I thought this was my dream job,” Mark told me as he debated whether it was time to leave his company. “But right now, I hate the office politics.”
Mark’s not alone.
Most of us get annoyed with the crazy junior high dance we call “office politics.”
But rather than shy away (’cause truthfully, they’re not going anywhere), let’s take a look at two things:
- What’s REALLY going on when the power struggles kick up, and
- What we can do to bring out our inner diplomat.
Why Should We Care About Office Politics, Anyway?
So many people have told me they don’t want to get involved in office politics.
Which is a perspective I totally support, except for the fact that it’s almost impossible to do.
Impossible, that is, for anyone that gives a damn about their work or their organization.
Here’s why it matters: politics is all about deciding how we run things.
When you give in, you give up.
Or, as that crazy cat Plato said:
“One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.”
So to be successful in your career and wear your own red cape at work, you’ve got to notice the political surroundings, and take control of your choices as to how to adapt.
YOU can decide to run things differently-—even if you’re not the top dog or big boss. Here’s how.
Step 1: Understand the ongoing political platforms
In my days as a principal in a large human resources consulting firm, I’d run into office politics like this:
- Department A: We’ve got to plan for the big client proposal.
- Department B: Great! I have a lot of ideas about what they need.
- Department A: Thanks, but we’ll let you know when we’re ready for you.
- Department B: But it’s my client, and I should lead the effort.
- Department A: No, thanks, we’ve got it.
- Department B: grrrrrrrrr
Over time, here’s what I discovered.
We could categorize the political conflicts into three different platforms, or areas of the most meaning:
-
- Money (who would be rewarded, and how);
- Recognition (who would be seen as useful); and
- Relationships (who trusted whom—or didn’t.).
- Money (who would be rewarded, and how);
Some really messy conflicts might combine all three.
Once you can see which platform matters to the person you’re dealing with, you can resolve conflict easily.
Here’s an example of how to understand what platform is at play:
- Department A was financially rewarded on the outcome—the win. So they wanted to lead to get credit for the sale.
- Department B was driven by the relationship, especially with ongoing clients. They can’t risk an “outsider” messing the relationship up.
Both departments valued recognition; they wanted their efforts to matter and be noticed.
Getting clear on which platforms are in play makes it easier to have open, honest conversations and help others get to solutions that help them, too.
For example, when Department B reminds Department A that their relationship capital will help finalize the sale, Department A will count them in. When Department A does their homework about the relationship and asks Department B for their insights, Department B loosens their hold.
I’m not saying it’s always easy.
But when we take a moment to recognize the existing political platforms for the players in our companies, we can move forward to find common ground-—and better solutions.
Step 2: Get back to business basics.
I coached a marketing leader who was getting pressure from her senior exec to put a disproportionate amount of time and energy into a new business venture. This pressure caused her team to miss deadlines and sacrifice quality in their existing programs and products.
No good professional likes doing a half-ass job, and these folks were no different.
As we talked, her team told me they felt resigned to just keep doing the new work without question. Not only were they frustrated, but they were creating more problems because the work they were resisting doing now was distracting from other business critical work.
But they hadn’t told the senior exec what was happening.
They’d tried to address it indirectly (“gee, we’re really busy, and the new project this is a lot of work,” etc.)–and hoped the executive would get the message.
That won’t work.
It’s time to get back-to-basics. A business basics conversation goes like this:
” Hey [LEADER’s NAME], I wanted to share some insights with you on how the work on Project X is influencing other business commitments and results.
- As you know, you asked my team to do A, B, and C in support of Project X, which as we know is still in startup mode and not yet generating revenue.
- A, B, and C are now taking 60% of our staff’s time, and we’re losing ground on X, Y, and Z.
- As you know, X, Y, and Z support Project A which creates 80% of our organizations’ revenue.
- Based on our business analysis, we need to either reduce the focus on project X or add new resources if we do not want our revenue to decrease in the next few months.
I’d like your help in creating possible solutions.”
[And then you shut up.]
A business basic conversation overrides politics at work, because it connects back to what’s most important in your organization. It creates common ground about what success looks like in your business.
(Need to say hard things to good people? Find my scripts here.)
Step 3: Don’t get stuck in old thinking.
One of the most powerful tools you have to deal with politics at work is to be open to new approaches.
Maybe you’re actually wrong.
Step 4: Exchange your frustration for empathy.
No matter what you try, there will always be a person whose office politics drives you mad.
When that happens, stop. Breathe.
Remember that you can’t control their choices. You can only control three things:
- What you say,
- What you do, and
- What you think.
(More on these things–the core ways to take control of your career–here.)
So the next time you feel the steam coming out of your ears because of office politics, exchange your frustration for empathy and keep your mind open.
Say (or even just silently think) things like, “It’s too bad Bob can’t see another perspective. I’m sure he’s just coming from a place of habit or maybe even fear.”
Maybe that won’t make the situation disappear, but it will change how you feel about it.
And eliminating a political pity party with yourself is almost as good as eliminating one with someone else.
FAQs
What are the main political “platforms” at work and how can I recognize them?
The main platforms in office politics revolve around Money (who gets rewarded and how), Recognition (who is seen as useful), and Relationships (who is trusted or not). By paying attention to who gains financially, who gets credit, and whose connections matter to ongoing work, you can identify which platform is driving a colleague’s actions and use that insight to have more constructive conversations.
How can I get back to business basics when politics starts to derail our work?
Return to a business basics mindset by clearly showing how current political demands affect core results. Have a candid conversation like: Hey [LEADER’S NAME], I want to share how the work on Project X is affecting other commitments. A, B, and C are taking 60% of our time, and we’re losing ground on X, Y, and Z. We may need to reduce focus on X or add resources. Your help in creating possible solutions would be valuable.
How do I not get stuck in old thinking and how can I stay open to new approaches?
Be open to new approaches because you might be wrong or missing a better path. Being willing to consider different possibilities helps you adapt when politics arise rather than being dragged into dead ends. Keeping an open mind allows you to find fresh, effective ways to move work forward.
How do I convert frustration into empathy when dealing with a difficult colleague?
When someone’s politics frustrates you, pause and breathe. Remember you can’t control their choices, only your responses. You can control what you say, what you do, and what you think. Try saying or thinking, It’s too bad Bob can’t see another perspective; he may be acting from habit or fear. This mindset won’t erase the issue, but it can change how you feel about it and reduce personal tension.
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