12 Jun 2013 ... years of age or older and employed in an office environment. 62% of workers
said involvement in office politics is necessary to get ahead ...
Can You Avoid Office Politics? “In our age there is no such thing as ‘keeping out of politics.’” – George Orwell, English novelist and journalist
Office Politics: a ‘Political’ Imperative?
62% of workers said involvement in office politics is necessary to get ahead
Source: Robert Half survey of more than 700 North American workers 18 years of age or older and employed in an office environment.
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‘Occasional Voter’ or ‘Active Campaigner’?
Workers share their degree of involvement in office politics.
Source: Robert Half survey of more than 700 North American workers 18 years of age or older and employed in an office environment.
Charting Your Course
What We’ll Cover Today
The truth about office politics Political lessons for professionals Politicos to avoid Tips for managers
Office Politics = Relationships The best employees understand – and capitalize on – organizational dynamics Is your work environment more ) • • • •
Competitive or supportive? Traditional or innovative? Results- or process-oriented? Team- or individual-oriented?
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Know the Key Players Your manager Your manager’s assistant C-level executives and their assistants Tech support, others who can help you be more effective
Know Their Work Styles
How do they like to communicate? What are their hot buttons?
How often do they want updates? What do they need from you?
Office Politics Becomes More Important as You Move up the Ranks As you move up in your career, success becomes less on individual performance, more on how you influence those around you
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Political Lessons For Professionals
5 Tips to Guide You
Political Lessons For Professionals
★1★ ★ Avoid Smear Campaigns
Political Lessons For Professionals
★2★ ★ Keep tabs on office news, not gossip
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Political Lessons For Professionals
★3★ ★ Don’t neglect grassroots movements Pay attention to your workplace landscape and decide when you should get involved and when to just leave things alone.
Political Lessons For Professionals
★4★ ★ Resolve conflicts quickly
Settle small squabbles before they escalate. Focus on facts, not feelings.
Political Lessons For Professionals
★5★ ★ Use small talk to win big
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How Do You Navigate Office Politics?
When Office Politics Go Awry
Gossip leads most common ‘political’ activities in the workplace
Source: Robert Half survey of more than 700 North American workers 18 years of age or older and employed in an office environment. Responses represent nearly 400 workers who indicated a political activity in their office.
The Gossip Hound
Avoid conversations around sensitive issues. Don’t say anything you wouldn’t say to someone directly.
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The Credit Thief
Protect yourself: Keep written records of your contributions. Correct misperceptions when necessary.
The Sycophant “A man like you I’d follow into combat blindfolded, and I wouldn’t be the first. Am I right, buddy?” – Mad Men’s Pete Campbell to boss Don Draper Most managers can see right through the Sycophant’s fulsome flattery. Give kudos to deserving individuals.
The Saboteur
Limit your interaction with this master manipulator. Don’t avoid confrontation.
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The Debater My Way or the Highway
Be wary of the agenda being pushed by the Debater. Don’t be strongarmed by hardsell tactics. Stand up for your own ideas.
“I’m not saying you’re wrong. You’re just not right.”
Managers’ How-to: Avoid Political Fallouts
Which lead to )
Overly competitive work environment
Trust, morale, retention issues
Reduced productivity
Political Differences “How political is your work environment?” (10-point scale, 10 being ‘very political’)
More political: 6 or higher Less political: 5 or lower
Workers
Executives
39% 61%
27% 73%
Source: Robert Half survey of more than 700 North American workers 18 years of age or older and employed in an office environment and more than 5,000 North American executives.
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Helping Your Staff Navigate Office Politics Be Accessible: Maintain an open-door policy
YOU THEM
Helping Your Staff Navigate Office Politics Give them the information they need • Communication preferences • Critical objectives • Unwritten “rules”
Hold the “meeting before the meeting”
Helping Your Staff Navigate Office Politics Prevent turf wars
Tip: Assign duties at the start of a project and identify who will be responsible for what.
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Helping Your Staff Navigate Office Politics
Build a unified coalition
Be willing to address political infighting among staff head-on. Early intervention helps maintain a healthy work environment.
Helping Your Staff Navigate Office Politics Lead by Example Walk the talk. Voice support for business strategies and leaders. Set a positive tone for your office by showing you value your team.
