Skip to main content

Living Through Office Politics

It can be very difficult to figure out how to survive office politics sometimes. There are so many different types of personalities you will encounter and each person will have unique motives and desires that they can get from the job they do. You have several options, but you generally want to be genuine in the end. Some choose to pander to each different type of person, but that will catch up to them in the end. Besides, you don't want to have to be fake just to please other people do you? That is certainly an option, but it usually comes around and bites you because you will slip up sooner or later.

One of the easiest ways to avoid annoying people and getting under their skin is to ask a lot of questions. When you talk to someone on a coffee break, don't tell them about what you did over the weekend or about that crazy dream you had. They really don't care about that anyway. Ask them questions about what they did and what they've got planned for the rest of the week. By getting people to talk about themselves, you are satisfying their need to be heard and making them feel like you are a good listener. The best part is that they will appreciate your interest and you really didn't have to say much at all.

If the burden is on you to start the conversation then talk about the weather. The weather probably the most neutral topic there is. No one will get offended by any type of talk about the weather, regardless of what type of person they are. Of course, that still leaves open the possibility that someone may decide to gossip/backbite to you about another colleague. So what can you do in that case?

The best thing to do when negative talk about another is going on is to just listen - that's if you can't change the subject or walk away. Just take the time to listen to what they have to say without adding anything; you will have successfully avoided back stabbing another co-worker. This is the best thing to do because no one will accuse you of ever saying anything behind another person's back.

The last tip on how to survive office politics is about avoiding playing favourites. If you are in a position of any sort of power or responsibility, you will have to deal with this type of thing constantly. Just think about it in terms of you protecting your own hide and integrity. Co-workers will know who you like the best, so if you even think about giving them an advantage in the workplace it will be obvious. Avoid this at all costs by giving promotions and praise to those that deserve it. This is a smarter idea anyway because you want the best person for the job doing whatever task is at hand.

So no matter what situation you come across in the office, there is a good way to handle it, and fortunately that sometimes means you just listening to what people have to say. You can get much farther ahead by listening to the concerns of others and not saying anything bad about anyone than you could by joining in and becoming part of the everyday office politics.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Too Much Of Politics Over Policy: 5 Considerations

Is the American system of governing, and political system, wounded, destroyed, weakened, or, merely, undergoing a period, of extreme distress? Those, who have followed politics, and the national news, for decades, realize and recognize, there is widespread apathy, within our electorate, which probably, largely explains, our relatively, low, voter turnout! In addition, many, who vote, do so, based on the empty promises, and rhetoric of political candidates, as well as their perceptions, personal biases, and prejudice, and, rather than hopes and aspirations, focus on self - interest! Unfortunately, we often, witness, far too much emphasis on partisan politics, over, quality policy, and the needs of the American people. With that in mind, this article will attempt to briefly review, examine, and consider, using the mnemonic approach, many of these concerns, and considerations. 1. Political/ personal agenda: Who should, versus, who do, elected officials, actually serve, and represent? T...
Post a Comment
Read more

Political Blogs - How to Write Them Effectively

For years you've probably been hearing about blogs, bloggers, the blogosphere, and all things "bloggy". When most people hear the term blog they might think of some geek in their underwear writing unimportant and pointless stuff for other geeks to read. While many blogs might be like this, political blogs are of a different class. Political blogs can be very informative, enlightening, and funny. If you like politics and think you have what it takes to write a blog on politics, you came to the right place. I'm going to share a few tips with you on how to write a great political blog. Even if you don't know how to write like a journalist it doesn't matter -all you need is passion (and a little knowledge). If you don't have strong political opinions then let me stop you right there and suggest you pick a different topic than politics. In order to write a great blog on politics you have to have politics on the brain, meaning, you have to be a politic...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Best Politically Correct Careers For Caring Citizens

Are you looking for a career path that will allow you to help people, help your country and do it in the most politically correct way. Knowing that you will be going with the flow of society where ever that flow leads, without making waves? If so there are a number of politically correct career paths you can take. And perhaps you should be thinking here. Let's explore some of these most excellent career paths for a moment, and then you can pick one and live happily ever after. Are you ready to begin? Okay here we go: An ACLU Lawyer: These are the lawyers that sue on behalf of politically correct causes and if you work as an ACLU lawyer you will be around your own ilk all the time, and you can become very popular and always be at the center of debate with your name in the news. A Reporter for Major Media: Being a reporter can be hard work, but if you have politically correct leanings, you will do well in the industry as so many others, just like you work for ma...
Post a Comment
Read more