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Office politics is an evil that impacts employees’ performance. It can occur for any reason, be it money, power, status or just for greed. Politics at workplace takes an emotional toll on everyone involved in it.
Arguments, favouritism and differences in opinions become a common sight at workplaces where political games at work exist. Subsequently, political games often turn cubicles and conference rooms into war zones.
Whether it is backstabbing office politics, power misuse, gossiping, diplomacy, manipulating, or sugar coating, workplace politics may take different forms. In addition, people may use finger pointing, giving inaccurate information, idea stealing, or showing passive-aggressive behaviour. These actions influence others and spread negativity to gain advantage in multiple ways.
A study by Fox Business shows that nearly 60% of employees believe political skill is necessary to get ahead of others.
However, this does not mean getting involved in the workplace politics, but understanding what’s working against you and dealing with office politics in a sensible way. Therefore, one must be cautious about the political games and should have basic political intelligence.
Avoiding Office Politics: Can It Be Ignored?
A person can win political battles by avoiding them completely. Hence, staying positive at work, and friendly with everyone around, and focusing less on negative workplace behavior can go a long way.
A survey conducted on workplace politics by Wall Street Journal shows some surprising facts. Out of total surveyed employees, 29% of them prefer staying away from political games completely whereas 54% of employees believe that it’s better to know what’s going on rather than getting involved directly in the politicking.
Another 16% of workers feel interested and intrigued to be a part of politicking as they see it as an opportunity to get ahead of others.
To emphasize, office politics is a cause for stress and poor performance of employees. It has a negative influence as it lowers employee morale, affects team work, reduces workforce productivity, negatively impacts workplace relationships, and takes away peace of mind.
Strategies to Survive Office Politics
Here are few simple strategies to defend oneself and survive office politics without causing damage to one’s self-esteem, while also uncovering the secrets to winning at office politics.
Stay Positive Today and Forever
It can be challenging to stay sane in a workplace where political games have become a trend. Therefore, it is important to demonstrate positive behavior to set a good example for other team members and peers. Build trust within and outside the team, and make efforts for collaboration and teamwork.
Also, involve team members in transparent, consistent and clear interactions to provide feedback on unacceptable behavior. This can help line managers in being more emotionally aware and strengthen work relationships.
Say NO to Workplace Bullying
Whether it’s a corporate work environment or not, politicking often encourages workplace bullying and leaves a negative impact on the person.
Around 30% of employees report being bullied at work, and nearly 60% have witnessed such behavior in the workplace. This highlights the urgent need for effective workplace bullying prevention strategies.
To put it simply, do not support bullying under any circumstances, even if you don’t have the power to bring a change.
Put an End to Gossip
Workplace gossip gives birth to workplace diplomacy, spreading of incorrect information, and influences the thoughts of peers and colleagues. This results into malicious rumors, without an evidence of truth.
If you wish to stay away from the political games, do not get involved in workplace gossip and immediately put an end to it. In fact, take a step ahead to know the truth and be an example for others by not gossiping.
Focus Completely on Work Goals
Taking sides in an argument is not a smart way of dealing with office politics. Either get involved to know the source of the argument and look for a solution, or completely stay away and focus on your work goals.
As a matter of fact, every individual is responsible to contribute towards the company’s success. Office politics takes you nowhere, whereas the goal achievements help you and your organization succeed.
Document Everything That is Important
HR and managers are suggested to document all the happenings, employee behavior and the causes.
This can be helpful in taking an unbiased decision when conflict resolution at workplace arises that require intervention.
Involve HR or Management
It is necessary to involve the HR or management if the workplace tensions continue to escalate or persist. Thus, the upper management can provide mediation, investigate the matter thoroughly and take appropriate actions if required.
Engage in Open Communication
One of the effective ways to handle office politics is by way of having an honest and open communication with the individuals involved. This will reduce misundestandings and hidden agendas. Besides, employees can share their concerns and attempt to find a resolution.
Teams with open communication are up to 25% more productive, while employees who receive timely information are 2.8 times more likely to be engaged.
Identify the Negative Influencers
In a workplace where political games prevail, job designations do not necessarily reflect power and influence.
Identify the stakeholders who really encourage bad office politics and promote negative influence. This may help in addressing the problem and eliminating negative influences from the workplace.
Use the above tips to avoid office politics and negative behavior. Moreover, strengthen professional boundaries at work, encourage workplace diplomacy, and promote a positive work culture. Ultimately, these strategies will help in reducing workplace stress caused by office politics, boosting teamwork, and creating a healthier environment for all.
Conclusion
Dealing with office politics is a difficult but essential part of working in a profession. A healthier and more productive workplace can only be achieved by acknowledging its negative impact, comprehending its causes, and resolving its detrimental effects. Employers and employees can work together to mitigate the negative effects of office politics and foster an open, collaborative, and successful workplace culture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. | What is office politics, and why does it occur? |
| Ans. | Office politics are the unofficial, covert activities people and organizations engage in to exercise control, influence, and power within a company. It happens frequently in order to accomplish individual or collective objectives like resources, promotions, or a competitive edge in the job market. |
Q2. | How to deal with office politics? |
| Ans. | Dealing with office politics requires a strategic approach. Some of the ways by which it can be handled effectively are: 1. Staying calm when confronted with negative behavior 2. Gather information about the situation 3. Reflect on your own behavior and ensure you are not intentionally contributing to the political dynamics 4. Engage in open communication 5. Involve HR or management if workplace conflicts escalate |
Q3. | How can I avoid office politics without hurting my career? |
| Ans. | You can avoid office politics without hurting your career by following a balanced and professional approach. 1. Focus on your work goals 2. Build genuine relationships 3. Set professional boundaries at work 4. Practice workplace diplomacy 5. Stay positive at work 6. Document important matters |
Q4. | How to stay positive at work? |
| Ans. | Some of the practical steps to stay positive at work include: 1. Start your day with the right mindset 2. Focus on solutions, not problems 3. Avoid workplace gossip and negative workplace behavior 4. Build strong workplace relationships 5. Take small breaks during work hours 6. Acknowledge progress, both yours and your team’s, to stay motivated. 7. Set professional boundaries at work 8. Handle conflicts calmly and respectfully |
Q5. | What are effective strategies to handle workplace gossip? |
| Ans. | To deal with workplace gossip, you can lead by example by abstaining from it yourself. Besides this, keep your private life private, refocus the conversation to constructive or neutral subjects, and politely address the gossiper. For a more comprehensive strategy, you can also create a culture of open and constructive communication, set clear rules or a “no-gossip” policy, and deal with problems as soon as they arise. This will subsequently avoid hurt feelings and to create a polite atmosphere. |
Q6. | How can managers prevent negative workplace behavior? |
| Ans. | Managers can prevent negative workplace behavior by promoting open communication, setting professional boundaries, and encouraging workplace diplomacy. Additionally, clear policies, conflict resolution, and recognition of positive actions foster a positive work culture while reducing workplace stress and gossip. |
Q7. | How can I handle toxic colleagues professionally? |
| Ans. | By establishing clear professional boundaries, avoiding office rumors, and concentrating on your own objectives, you may deal with toxic coworkers in a professional manner. In addition to this, remain composed, handle disagreements politely, and involve management or HR if the conduct gets out of control to demonstrate workplace diplomacy. This strategy will in turn preserve a pleasant workplace atmosphere while safeguarding your mental health. |
Q8. | What role does a positive work culture play in reducing politics? |
| Ans. | A positive workplace culture lessens office politics. It further reduces the need for people to use personal power struggles to advance by encouraging justice, openness, and cooperation. The emphasis moves from individual ambition to team accomplishment and goal achievement when employees feel appreciated, heard, and encouraged, and when there are clear expectations and open decision-making procedures. |
Q9. | Can conflict resolution skills reduce workplace politics? |
| Ans. | Yes, conflict resolution skills can significantly reduce workplace politics by fostering a culture of open communication, mutual respect, and constructive problem-solving. People may stop problems from getting worse by addressing disagreements early on, fostering empathy and understanding. By collaborating to find win-win solutions, they can help create a more positive and productive workplace. |
Q10. | How do professional boundaries improve workplace relationships? |
| Ans. | A positive workplace culture lessens office politics. It further reduces the need for people to use personal power struggles Setting professional boundaries at work helps create mutual respect, minimizes conflicts, and supports a healthy, positive environment. These safeguard your well-being by reducing stress and preventing burnout, while also encouraging trust, teamwork, and also helps in improving workplace relationships. |
