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    Survive Office Politics: How to overcome problems, dramas and conflicts at work
    Survive Office Politics: How to overcome problems, dramas and conflicts at work
    Survive Office Politics: How to overcome problems, dramas and conflicts at work
    Ebook98 pages1 hour

    Survive Office Politics: How to overcome problems, dramas and conflicts at work

    By Bloomsbury Publishing

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    About this ebook

    A practical guide to office politics, including step-by-step advice on how to navigate difficult situations, work out who is doing what and why, and how to keep cool under pressure.

    All workplaces, whether in person or remote, are affected by the intrigues of office politics. Survive Office Politics is full of practical advice on how to cope with difficult situations and people and get on with your job.

    This book offers practical help on how to keep cool under pressure, watch out for danger signs, deal with a difficult situation, and work out who is doing what and why. It features step-by-step guidance, top tips, common mistakes and advice on how to avoid them, summaries of key points, and lists of handy books and weblinks.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBloomsbury Publishing
    Release dateFeb 16, 2023
    ISBN9781399405775
    Survive Office Politics: How to overcome problems, dramas and conflicts at work

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      Book preview

      Survive Office Politics - Bloomsbury Publishing

      Bloomsbury%20NY-L-ND-S_US.epsBloomsbury%20NY-L-ND-S_US.eps

      Contents

      How well do you handle office politics?

      1 Understanding internal politics

      2 Handling office politics

      3 Coping with a difficult boss

      4 Using non-verbal communication

      5 Managing others’ perceptions

      6 Networking for success

      7 Dealing with office romances

      8 Managing office politics in meetings

      Where to find more help

      Index

      How well do you handle office politics?

      Answer the questions and work out your political profile, then read the guidance points.

      When you started your job, how long did it take you to learn about the office politics?

      a) 10 months b) 5 months c) 1 month

      Complete the following statement: ‘You get ahead at work by . . . ’

      a. Doing your job well, and doing it by the rules.

      b. Putting the needs and goals of the team ahead of your own.

      c. Watching your back and pushing hard to achieve personal goals.

      How often do you gossip?

      a) Hardly ever b) Fairly regularly c) All the time!

      How much does who you know count in your office?

      a. I don’t know. Everyone keeps to themselves.

      b. Not much. I have to perform well and achieve high results to get rewards.

      c. A lot. Getting on well with my managers and doing a favour or two for some people will get me a long way.

      How well do you get on with your boss?

      a. OK. I don’t really have much contact with them.

      b. Very well. We complement each other.

      c. Terribly – it’s a complete clash of personalities.

      How many trusted allies do you have at work?

      a) 1 to 3 b) 4 to 7 c) 8 or more

      Do you feel able to ‘be yourself’ in the office?

      a) No b) Not completely c) Yes

      How often do you socialize with colleagues?

      a) Very seldom b) Fairly regularly c) Very regularly

      To what extent do you ‘network’?

      a. Not at all. I feel awkward about ‘using’ people.

      b. Fairly regularly. It depends if I have a definite need and can see an opportunity.

      c. Whenever I can, in case I ever need a favour.

      How often do office politics get in the way of work?

      a) Never b) Sometimes c) Regularly

      How often do you think about non-verbal ways of communicating?

      a. Non-what?

      b. Quite often. Especially if I’m dealing with difficult people and think it might help to build rapport.

      c. All the time. I try to copy the way people talk and behave.

      a = 1, b = 2 and c = 3. Now add up your scores.

      12–19: Either you work in an extremely relaxed and open work culture, or you’re unwilling to get involved in office politics. Chapters 1 and 2 argue that it’s important to accept that politics are necessary and unavoidable, and that a certain amount of political nous can be healthy, helping you to get ahead in your career and contribute to the success of the organization – it’s all about effective communication. Pay attention to non-verbal signs (Chapter 4) and start making a stronger impression on colleagues (Chapter 5).

      20–27: You appear to have a healthy attitude towards the political environment at work, but be wary of being drawn into the culture of gossiping that exists in most offices – don’t be tempted into politicking! Get advice on how to advance your career by successful networking (Chapter 6) and by making a great impression on colleagues and managers (Chapter 5).

      28–33: You’re at risk of becoming unhealthily embroiled in office politics. Too much gossip is dangerous and unprofessional, and can lose you friends – and your job. Instead of getting involved in negative political manoeuvring, try to expose it. If a difficult relationship with your boss is making office life hard, read Chapter 3. Sometimes relationships with colleagues can turn sour; read Chapter 7 for advice on managing office romances, and Chapters 4 and 5 to help polish your influencing and communication skills. There’s advice on dealing with the politics of meetings in Chapter 8.

      1

      Understanding internal politics

      by Kathleen Kelley Reardon

      Professor of Management and Organization at the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business

      Many of the hurdles managers must face and overcome have little to do with technical competence. Rather, they have to do with politics. Internal politics is a fact of life in organizations, yet many managers and CEOs will tell you their success is largely due to allowing ‘no politics’ in their firms. They’ll regale you with stories of how they use and encourage ‘people skills’ to create a desired environment and accomplish organizational goals. What they’re really talking about is how they use politics.

      Step one: Accept that politics is a part of office life

      In common vernacular, ‘politics’ is used to describe what people do to influence decision-makers, accomplish hidden agendas and surreptitiously advance their careers, often to the detriment of others. But politics is not always so sinister. By its very nature, politics involves going outside the usual, formally sanctioned channels to

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