Are You a Political Animal?

I had to do a paper on this topic in college and the consensus from my research was you have to know the political climate of your office and participate in it in order to advance. I think the best way to take the 'high road' and still 'play the game' is to forge relationships with people you like without being afraid to align yourself with the people that can give you a promotion -- and look for positive ways to get one and market yourself.

The other option is to work for a company where politics is minimized and advancement is based on measureable results, but that's hard to find these days. I prefer this option.

I've never liked office politics. Arm yourself with knowledge of your industry, continue to learn whenever the opportunity presents itself, treat others the way you would like to be treated and work hard...... the promotions will come. This, to me, is playing the game to win. Nothing would make me switch sides.

ps. If politics play any kind of significant role within any business, there is an inherent problem within management that cultivates it, and it should be identified and eliminated, if possible.

K,

That's a TALL order. The new voice of office politics that it is a healthy social force if it does not engage in the obvious negative aspects like backstabbing, etc. I can see the point that management can create a negative manipulative political culture, but that is not always the case.

It is a tall order.....to me the very term, "office politics", implies a negative atmosphere and just like political politics, would automatically lend itself to mudslinging, backstabbing, and whatever else it takes to move up the ladder.

It's been a long time since I've worked in an office setting or in management, and maybe "office politics" has morphed into something different than I remember. But, my attitude has always been, work together to reach a common goal.....Hell yes!

Political maneuvering to get up the ladder, i.e., ass kissing, doing things to intentionally make others look bad, etc., not for me.

Don't get me wrong....I have moved up the ladder, while others fell by the wayside and got fired or whatever. But, it was because I was busting my ass and they weren't. And I didn't have to tell on anyone or backstab, I just did my work, and they didn't, these people reveal themselves.

The other problem I see, is that people that work their way up the ladder by playing the political game, turn into managers that encourage the political game. It's unfortunate, but, when this type of attitude is allowed to take root and flourish, it's the truly hard workers that end up getting screwed, because they're not game players.

As in life, no one gets out alive.

Chris

you don't get a choice, if you are working with another person, you are playing the game

choosing not to be involved is a method

you have to interact with other people.

understanding the different motivations people have can help you be as effective as possible, it doesn't matter what the actual task is...

Both the points have their merits and demerits. The problem with the second view is that if you don't play, you become the plaything in the hands of those who play it. After all they need pawns to make their moves. And if you play, you are in it and definitely contributing to unhealthy work environment. What to do? I think in such a catch-22 situation, we should focus on work for which we are paid by the company and leave the rest to take care of itself through Krishna's law of karma: that every good action has a positive reaction and every bad action has a negative reaction for the doer.

What do you say? Have any other way to deal with the situation? Please share.

BB Raina

You have to do both - do your best at work and cover the politics as well.

If not you will find yourself behind the 8 ball all the time as others are defining the game for you.

In 15 years in India I learned a fantastic amount about company politics (speaking of where I worked only). Even today many bosses are there because of time in grade rather than merit - especially in state owned companies. That type is the most dangerous by far.

One thing there, (as with Japanese) decisions need to be setup in advance of a meeting or else things go wrong and/or nothing is decided.

I have watched Americans & Europeans dealing with Indians (in India) and trying to play politics - they are usually screwed before they start as they are not even in the game. After a few years of learning you can make progress.

One thing there, (as with Japanese) decisions need to be setup in advance of a meeting or else things go wrong and/or nothing is decided.

Hey Russ,

I have to ask the question, "What's the point of a meeting?". If decisions are set up in advance, why not just send out a memo?

One thing I would concede, is that game playing and politics, in the context of contract negotiations with outside companies, sales and to a certain extent , marketing, is essential, particularly in contract negotiation.......He that doesn't know how to play the game will surely lose.

Within the internal structure of a company there will always be a certain degree of give and take. This will be the case as long as there is human interaction involved, this, to me, is not politics. There may one person on a team that is a great communicator. There may be another that doesn't like to talk much, but is an analytical work horse.

In my mind, the job of a good manager, is not so much to be, "THE BOSS", as it is to recognize the individual strengths and weaknesses of the team members and to integrate those into a smooth running, ass kicking machine. Everybody plays a role, and everybody is happy to show up to work and do their part.

I know there are individual cases, where political maneuvering within a company has landed a person in the job they have coveted for years.

What I would really be interested in hearing about, is a case where politics and game playing have benefited the company/division as a whole.........

I can almost hear the crickets chirping already.

The Japanese & Indians (from my experience) will not make a decision in a meeting. The entire thing has to be organized in advance. Neither group likes controversy in a meeting.

I am talking about groups I have worked with - I suppose some are different - I just never happened to see them.

Politics can easily set direction of work and have great affect. It is virtually impossible not to be involved and do your job.

I suppose some will not understand what I am talking about. You need to be in a decision making position in at least a small company (few hundred people) for it to really start to matter.

There are usually a hundred ways to accomplish anything - if you want it done your way you need to convince others of why.

Oh yeah, absolutely. If you think you've got best idea and convincing others of that is politics, I agree completely. Any ensuing debate that takes place is a good thing too.

I guess we're in agreement, just defining the term politics a little differently.

Speaking of politics, it seems someone here doesn't like what I'm saying......I'll check in once and have an almost good answer....an hour later, it's gone.

I think I'll stay above the fray, I've got some salmon I need to get in the smoker and a keg of beer to go purchase for an important meeting up in Virginia this weekend.....I can't let the team down!

By politics I mean just doing the job is not enough. You have to organize support for your position as well.

The backside kissing and screw your buddy politics I have zero use for and have sacked people for it.

About time that got sorted;

Enrolling people is not "politics" - it's 101 necessary to achieve anything - including learning, enthusiasm, effort, commitment to a path or goal, or selling a customer "the right shovel for their job".

"Backside kissing and screw your buddy" is "politics".

The "enroller" gets promoted for achieving

The "politician" gets promoted by preventing others achieving.

But The Tough Choice, for "pundits", apparently, is between "should you take it in the 'backside' or go for 'screw'".

I.e. "effective management" is "outside the author/s knowledge/understanding".

Office politics makes me want to vomit, that's what made me leave my last job (about 12 years ago)
I'd like to think I give everyone a fair chance, but I don't appreciate getting kicked, they can kick me once, they can kick me twice but they don't get a third chance.
What sickens me most is meetings where people just won't speak out or tell the truth. What's the point of the meeting?
You could see 'em all back pedalling and heading for the hills with their hands covering their backsides.
The one guy who backed me up left shortly after me, but much to my ammusement has returned to that company as MD (CEO).

I've now work for a smaller company where it is less of a problem.
Del

I my experience (20+ yrs) the key is personal integrity. If you have a reputation of being a person of high integrity (which generally includes a willingness to work hard, be responsible, be honest, and admit errors), you will succeed. People who try to get ahead via office politics eventually get the reputation of being 'douche bags', and wind up being barely tolerated before they get moved to a different group or department.

Mission accomplished!

No politics here, just paving the way to a successful future through the common good.

Hi Everyone on the subject,

I worked in 22 different companies in my working life. the shortests: One lasted just 3 hours and another just more than three months. I quit because both because politic was in operation in the company. However, the working bench was dirty, lab equipment were out of service or unuseable. The communication were filtered by incompetent people. This company just exists. Their products are the worst or close to in the market. Every second batch is rejected and build up garbage by drumming the bad products and the government menaes to close by endangering the area.

I personally only work for an organization because they pay me only for my work and my presence is for money.

If someone wants to play political games and everyone or most people participate to, in what kind of organization you are in? There is no progress in work and individual satisfaction in that political workplace.

I want to protect the real value of my knowledge and name and I succeeded. These are the reason I left from companies with political attitude. There were no reason to work at those places.

All my work was compensated as work and never as political successes. Managers or leaders have a work to accomplish and with politics there are no success for the organization, Gil.