With all the media attention being given to the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary, it struck me that there is a similarity between trying to win your party's nomination for the 2008 election and surviving office politics.
Believe me, I'm no fan of office politics. In fact, there were times during my 25 years in corporate America that I flat detested them. But I also learned that if I chose to ignore the political process at work, it would come back to bite me in the end (not unlike some other candidate becoming President).
Effectively navigating within office politics does not necessarily mean you have to lie, cheat, sling mud, or suck up to someone. It does mean there are actions that will help you not only survive but maybe even thrive. Here are a few examples of strategies I've seen be successful for me and others;
* Decide what you want to accomplish now and in the future. Then tie your work activities and the relationships you build accordingly.
* Forge your alliances with people who are well thought of at work and support your ideas and ambitions. This may be peers, support staff, bosses, and others. Don't hang out with those people who are seen as unproductive and misfits for the company.
* Determine how you can make deposits with these new alliances before you ask them for favors. Do that by having a one-on-one with them and ask about their goals at work and even how you might help them at times.
* Try not to take personally what others might say about you or even attempt to block your success. Stay "on message" as the candidates say and keep thinking about your overall plan.
* Focus on being the best performer you can be. Reach out for new projects and ask your boss how you can be of more value to the firm.
How did you survive office politics? Any other ideas for us?
Posted: Jan 2, 08 6:48am
As I mentioned in an earlier post, I am surrounded at work by staunch neo-cons who never miss an opportunity to plead their case. For several years this bothered me a great deal until I realized that my attitude was thwarting my success and having no effect on them. As these people are the ones holding the purse strings, I changed my attitude and the way I reacted to them. I agree with all your tips and can say it has definitely worked for me. In a year that saw few profits, I was one of the few employees to get a raise this year and my superiors praised me by saying I'd had my "best year ever". Perception is sometimes more effective than truth!
Posted: Jan 2, 08 6:57am
These are very useful tips and I thank you for suggestions that are easily implemented. I'm wondering how you feel about workplace friendships. I find myself developing close, personal relationships with people I am on some level supervising. In previous jobs I have had to let such "friends" go and it made me determine never to let working relationships go past a certain point. Should I keep these women at arms length knowing I might have to play the "you work for me" card someday?
Posted: Jan 2, 08 7:24am
Oliva,
I found it extremely difficult to supervise close, personal friends at work. It was hard for me to stay objective and businesslike with them. The fact is, I was being paid to make the best possible decisions for the company, not for me and my friends.
Gordon
Posted: Jan 2, 08 7:33am
Of course, I agree. It seems my boss adheres to this philosophy with almost everyone in the office and as a result she is not well liked at all. She takes it to the extreme I think. She is quite standoffish and sometimes rather mean to those below her. But as you said, her goal is not to be well liked. She is under tremendous pressure to produce.
Posted: Jan 2, 08 7:48am
I agree. Some bosses take it to an extreme. I think there is a balance that works for most people involved.
Posted: Feb 1, 08 3:14pm
I recently worked for a friend in a corporation. Prior to being hired, we vowed that we would not let the job interfere with our friendship. It didn't work out. She became "quite standoffish" and often mean. I worked extremely hard and tried to do whatever she asked, but she was frequently uncommunicative and my best never seemed to be enough. I really don't know what happened. It was as if she became another person, or maybe I didn't know her as well as I thought. I don't believe I ever took advantage of our former friendship, but in my last weeks there, I was hurt very deeply when she told me that I took advantage of her and used our friendship. She would not elaborate. When I told her I thought it was time for me to turn in my resignation, she set up a meeting with Human Resources and presented me with a laundry list of my failings, most of which were half-truths or twisted in some way. I did not defend myself, because it seemed she was ready for me to leave and I didn't want to stay where I was no longer wanted.. I was "terminated" a few weeks later. In 30+ years of employment, I had never been written up, never been terminated and, in fact, had letters of recommendation from most former employees. I wish I knew what went wrong.
Posted: Jan 2, 08 8:57am
Gordon--I wish I'd had access to this resource a long time ago. My experience as a corporate person has been mixed. I have always been in some kind of sales, and I have been consistently recognized as a leader and producer.
The problem I've had is that, since I'm not particularly political and tend to focus on doing my job, I've been blindsided from time to time by people who may have been envious. I didn't really know their motivations.
One of the issues with being a woman in a corporate situation is that I'm not in a position to go out and "hit a few balls" with so-and-so.
I've always been in the field making calls, away from the "buzz" that I hate, but might have been able to protect myself against had I known.
Any thoughts from your experience?
Posted: Jan 2, 08 10:24am
vwomack,
Are you still in the sales role? How much are you out of the office?
Gordon
Posted: Jan 10, 08 4:16am
What a great topic, especially after my day yesterday. There the drama is literal, though not always political. A designer becomes irate over too many changes to staff meetings times and expresses her anger in the hallway by her cubes. An admin jumps in to try and explain why it keeps happening from the perspective of her boss. Meanwhile, designer and writer whisper about the situation later, two cubes down from mine. Their own dislike for the director has been evident for months and I try to stay out of it. I have to work with them all everyday, all day. Meanwhile, yet another writer IMs me that "all this nonsense makes him want to look for another job."
Posted: Jan 10, 08 6:33pm
Great strategic tips.
I also take note of the unspoken roles that people seem to find themselves in: The management bashers, The brown nosers, the users and the manipulators and the floormats. Of course this list is not exhaustive and it helps to know who the unspoken leaders are. My struggle is to stop being the floor mat. In many positions in the past, I've helped others to get promoted at my own expense. One of my new years resolutions involves no longer helping others that have no desire to reciprocate.
Posted: May 11, 08 7:20am
Useful comment. Can you tell me what is a brown noser?
Posted: May 11, 08 7:25am
This is a discreetly-orientated site Carmen!
Posted: May 11, 08 7:49am
I do not understand why you reply that. Maybe if I knew what it meant then I would be embarrased to ask???? Again, what do you meanp (in a nice way?) ? I guess it is a colloquial use of English that I dont know?
I am just trying to chart my office with those categories but I still have people that have not been categorized.
Posted: May 11, 08 8:04am
See my private message to you Carmen.
Posted: Feb 11, 08 11:07pm
This article reminds me of a book I read - Ford and the American Dream by Clifton Lambreth
Posted: Mar 3, 08 1:06am
I have learned to trust no one. Make sure that I get credit for any work I do and stay out of everyone's personal life.
It's easy to start bashing the management and those who don't produce.
What is working for me this time around is that there are so few people willing to go the distance to help out management instead of what the workers deserve that it is easy to look good.
I now have a supervisor who listens to me. (What a concept) I asked if I could create a new job for me that would let others focus on the immediate stuff and I could work on the many thankless projects that need to be done and no one else wants to do is able to do. This actually makes it easier for me to work with other depts. and gives everyone a better understanding what the other depts. do All in all so far it's been a win-win situation. Also, I won't have to work with the public as much.
The biggest fly in the ointment is the office backstabber. That's why I first said trust no one. These are your best friend and supporter to your face and will rip you to shreds to any manager who will listen to them. I treat them like the big stinky pile of cow**** they are! I don't initiate any kind of conversation with them. I only give a superficial professional courtesy they don't deserve.
Posted: Mar 3, 08 4:00am
Been in the same situations as NoF8alist and Mellow3535 at work.
Co-workers have used my work for promotions or been backstabbed repeatedly. As long as the workers was 'politically correct', i.e., marital status and social/economic background that the current management wanted to project these workers were 'their kind of people'.
When these people do fall, they fall hard. New management will come in and clean the old crew out and replace with competent employees.
Note of caution on your "ignore the misfits". Sometimes it is better being the misfit when others use dishonest means to advance. The course of action has actually helped me keep my job when the 'in crowd' received termination notices.
Posted: Apr 3, 08 5:24pm
Enjoying my work and working hard did make me a target for workplace bullying. It has gone on for too long. Today I have another offer in hand. Managers who supported our program have already moved on. The bullies have to themselves what is left of our fine program.