Employment Industry News
Mastering Office Politics
June 2009
People say they hate office politics — sometimes even when they are major players themselves. Employees often say they wish politics would go away. But politics are a fact of life, so you might as well learn to play the game` well. Those who can master the art of office politics and create a positive experience can build stronger relationships and greater career opportunities.
John McKee is a business success coach (www.johnmckee.com) who offers a number of tactics for succeeding in even the most highly charged political climate:
Over-Communicate Let others know what you’re working on. If you think withholding information will allow you to surreptitiously gain professional yardage, think twice.
Develop Mentors Mentors don’t need to be insiders, They just need to provide you with new, fresh and completely unbiased perspectives on both your personal style and how your company’s politics are working.
Ask Open-Ended Questions “Ask a lot of questions of different people in different areas of the company, and then shut up,” says McKee. Hearing varied perspectives helps you gain a broader view and may change your opinions.
Seek Constant Feedback Talk about what just took place in that meeting you attended, what the last message from the corporate office really said, how you did in a recent presentation.
Get Buy-In Ensure that everyone who may be influenced by your programs or initiatives feels like they’ve been involved — or at least have had an opportunity to weigh in with their opinions or recommendations.
Give Due Credit Credit those on your team who deserve it, but don’t miss an opportunity to take credit for your own work as well.
Watch Your Style How you present yourself to others will make a big difference in how you’re perceived. Too often we mistakenly think our outward appearance, or use of PowerPoint or our buzzwords and jargon, will be universally accepted. That may not always be the case. Get other opinions.
Other links you may find useful in mastering office politics:
- 9 Ways to Win at Office Politics from CareerBuilder.com
- The Good Guys’ (and Gals’) Guide to Office Politics from Fast Company
- How to Win at Office Politics from BNET business network