OFFICE POLITICS: UNDERSTANDING THE GAME

KNOWING THE RULES 

By: Thomas Chiedozie Williams.

We all have come to that point where we are stock in the middle, and some of our colleagues whom just got into the organization not quite long have made their way to the top level, while others get away with certain things, like first hand info, bonuses, always with the top notch of the organization, this people know how to maneuver their way into any position or office in the organization.

"Office politics" are the strategies that people play to gain advantage, personally or for a cause they support. The term often has a negative connotation, in that it refers to strategies people use to seek advantage at the expense of others or the greater good. In this context, it often adversely affects the working environment and relationships within it. Good "office politics", on the other hand, help you fairly promote yourself and your cause, and is more often called networking and stakeholder management.

It is a heart breaking scene to see people step on others to achieve their goal, and also to see someone you are better off being recommended by your superior when it's supposed to be you, because of the relationship they have with them.

The bottom line is Office politics is something  you must get yourself involve in other to survive in the game, those who play office politics, knows exactly how to get what they want and how to get on." Whether you hate it, admire it, practice it or avoid it, office politics is a fact of life in any organization. And, like it or not, it's something that you need to understand and master to be sure of your own success

Where i work i have witness a series of office politics taken place, some years ago a group of young vibrant men came into the organization, this individuals changed everything because they where smart, they knew the odds and what kinds of game needed to be played, gained the trust of the CEO, this young individuals overthrew the current big shots and decision makers, brought in their own team, people who speak the same language with them,(people they are familiar with and trust) the older crew decided to form a team and watch, few years latter the table turned. i tagged this event as the Game of Thrones, where everyone is fighting to rule and remain on top.

In this kind of scenario you must be careful so you remain on the winning team you don't want to loose to both sides you must learn to maneuver your way through both teams, and influential individuals.

Understanding the kind of politics being played in your organization and knowing how to participate is key.

"Perhaps due to the negative connotation, many people see office politics as something very much to be avoided. But the truth is, to ensure your own success and that of your projects, you must navigate the minefield of Office Politics. If you deny the 'bad politics' that may be going on around you, and avoid dealing with them, you may needlessly suffer whilst others take unfair advantage. And if you avoid practising 'good politics', you miss the opportunities to properly further your own interests, and those of your team and your cause" (Quote: mindtools )

To deal effectively with office politics and use it yourself in a positive way, you must first accept the reality of it. Once you've done this, you then need to develop strategies to deal with the political behavior that is going on around you. The best way to do this is to be a good observer and then use the information you gather to build yourself a strong network to operate in.