Apparently, office politics is becoming a growing problem. According to a study by Accountemps, 18 percent of an administrator's time--or about nine weeks out of every year--is spent resolving employee conflicts.
Employees and managers who must concentrate on the political aspects of work obviously can devote less time being productive in their jobs.
Corporate policies, client demands, or seemingly arbitrary rules may sometimes conflict with your personal interests. But bitching and complaining wastes valuable time and energy in dealing with events you really can't control. It may feel good to let off steam, but bitching rarely accomplishes anything.
Experts advise, rather than feeling victimized and wasting emotional energy about a political situation, you should focus on ways to influence more positive outcomes within your immediate area of work. This can ease the victimized feelings you have, and you'll demonstrate that you have the ability to work within the given boundaries of a political situation.
Another tip for surviving office politics is never to take sides, especially if you find yourself stuck between two power figures that are at odds with each other. If you find yourself being used as a pawn, try to focus on the business objectives and don’t side with either of them, especially if you like one better than the other. By not taking sides, you become a helpful observer instead of an enabler in the conflict. You’ll build trust with both parties and keep the communications constructive and focused on business objectives.
Finally, don't get personal. Office supervisors don't like to be proven wrong, especially in front of others. Even if you win the argument, in office politics, this can be dangerous. You may eventually suffer some payback later should you ever need help from that person. To win the office gamesmanship battle, you'll need to build an ever-widening network of allies that you can draw on during a crisis or an opportunity.
For an additional lighthearted perspective, check out this video:
Alex A. Kecskes has written hundreds of published articles on health/fitness, "green" issues, TV/film entertainment, restaurant reviews and many other topics. As a former Andy/Belding/One Show ad agency copywriter, he also writes web content, ads, brochures, sales letters, mailers and scripts for national B2B and B2C clients. Please see more of his blogs at administrativejobsblog.com and view additional job postings on Nexxt.
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