Playing "Office" Politics...

Hello Friends!

Emmanuel had always liked the easy way out of things, he’s an expert in the game of manipulation and intimidation especially when it comes to achieving any set goal.

A lot of staff had to resign from the Firm because Emmanuel blackmailed, lied against or out rightly bullied anyone that crossed his path to success as he puts it...

Politics emphasizes the expediency or prudence in looking out for one’s own interest, using power and the ability to influence decisions thus knowing how to treat people of different cultures/backgrounds and on different occasions.

Painfully, most of us do not view Politics in this light. What comes to mind is Manipulation, Intimidation, Insincerity, Deceit, Self centeredness & Bootlicking ( I particularly find Bootlicking extremely interesting and amusing). This kind of Politics is practiced in most Polity of the world and has however found it’s way into the office setting.

In as much as the above opinion can be true, it clearly expresses the act of playing dirty office Politics.

Interestingly, dirty office Politics is usually confused with Diplomacy. This should not be at all as Diplomacy, explains the smoothness and skill in handling others usually in such a way as to attain one’s own ends and yet avoid unpleasantness or negative opposition.

In a bid to climb the Corporate ladder of promotion, people tend to leave a lot of Casualties in their wake. Desperate want to – bees are so bent on attaining their selfish goals that they do not care who is burnt in the process. Dirty office Politicians are consistent bootlickers, always wanting to please the boss and eager for him to see them when they are working. What they do when the boss is not around, is something entirely different. They are smooth operators in the art of manipulation.

Most of us have come in contact with people like Emmanuel in our Professional lives and we handled it differently – some of us resigned, while few of us fought back by playing politics but spicing it with a lot of Diplomacy.

Politics in the office/business setting, can be so much fun and positive. It should be played with all sincerity and a desire to carry others along through the journey of change and growth. You influence decisions for the general good.  In so doing, when you eventually climb that ladder of promotion and growth, you must have acquired relevant supporters and friends and not enemies.

I have assisted a former Senator of this Country under the Late Sanni Abacha’s administration so I guess I understand the difference between dirty office politics and clean diplomatic office politics.

Conclusively, from personal experience and from senior colleagues, I have noted that there are 5 Strategies in dealing with office politics:

• Identify Power Brokers:  Ensure that you don't go against those that wield great Political, Governmental or Financial power, unless you can clearly demonstrate its better for the company. Be for your organization not against them.
• Make People Need You:  Ensure that you excel at something specific that others need. It is usually best if your contribution fills a gap someone else is not filling. That way, you are not competing or challenging another person's performance.
• Your Company's interests should be first (be diplomatic, not sentimental): Never tell your boss that "they are out to get me", put organizational interests and reputation above your own. If possible, you could say "A colleague undermined me to our clients". Painfully, never expect the top management guys to intervene on matters of principle because your feelings are hurt...Learn to deal with it professionally.
• Never Defeat Gossip with Gossip: You are worth more than you think...Be smarter.
• Never go toe-to-toe with a manipulator: It would pay you better to study the manipulator and figure out his/her weak points...Always think/ act steps ahead of them...

I am still learning though...

XOXO

Simply Cheska.