8 ways to win at office politics.
| Author | Bartram, Peter |
People often associate office politics with back-stabbing and doing dirty deals behind the watercooler. But, by failing to engage in its more positive aspects, you could be missing out on pay rises, promotions and perks
1 Understand how your organisation really works
On your first day at a new firm, you may be shown a chart of the hierarchy, but what's really important is what lies behind the chart. In any organisation, informal networks develop--and your ability to understand these is the secret of mastering office politics.
If you want to get on, you need to know about the company's structure, its ambitions and where it stands on contentious issues, according to Phil Anderson, who teaches about office politics at Ashridge Business School.
"Find out who the most influential people are and where their priorities lie," he says. You will then know how best to respond in different situations and who is worth having on your radar.
2 Watch out for people who spell danger
Some of these will exist in any sizeable organisation, according to Oliver James, a chartered psychologist and the author of Office Politics: How to Thrive in a World of Lying, Backstabbing and Dirty Tricks (Vermillion, 2013). He says there are three types of people who present particular dangers:
* Psychopaths, who don't have enough empathy to connect with others. They may take risky decisions just for kicks.
* "Machiavels" are schemers, like the princes described by Niccolo Machiavelli, the renowned 16th-century political theorist. They try to manipulate others in ways that serve their own interests.
* Narcissists, who have a hugely inflated opinion of themselves. They believe that they're entitled to everything they have and want to lord it over other people.
Avoid confiding in any of these characters and treat them with caution at all times.
3 Build your own personal network in the organisation
Becoming isolated in an organisation where other people are playing politics--even in their most benign form--can make you vulnerable. You need to build networks with like-minded colleagues and those who have similar objectives to yours.
Start with the people you like, advises Penny Davenport, a career mentor and business coach who has helped many accountants. "Use peers and mentors to suggest good people you can get to know," she says. "But don't set out to build a power base. Instead, build genuine, warm relationships with people across your company."
4 Create a positive image of...
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