It is tough coping with office politics especially when you are a
career newbie. Sure, there are a million of other things you need to
consider when dealing with office politics. It is never easy and this
article is not here to say that it is easy. These are merely steps
that have worked before in certain circumstances. You will have to be
the judge as to how you can make these steps work.
That said, I would urge you to try some of these steps no matter how
small. Even if you does not help you to cope with office politics,
these are at their basic level good working attitude and behaviors.
As a career newbie, how do you stay above the office politics? How do
you cope with the politics?
1. Speak Kindly
Coping with office politics is easy if you choose to speak kindly.
What does speaking kindly mean? Speaking kindly means to choose your
words carefully. That is not to say to be pretentious. Be sincere,
nothing will work if you are not sincere. To choose your words
carefully mean do not use scathing remarks or remarks that is of a
personal nature.
Learn to compliment and not criticize. If you have a constructive
comment you need to give, compliment first. Say what is right about
it, then what can be improved. When you learn to compliment more and
give sincere constructive comments, coping with office politics
becomes less stressful. People cannot attack someone who is positive.
2. Help
One way of dealing with the office politics is to do your best in
helping others. Yes, there will be the perception of helping ‘the
other camp’ to contend with. But if you sincerely help someone, you
neutralize the animosity that was created too.
Doing your best to help others entail looking at the welfare of
others. That is not to say you neglect your own welfare. When you take
others welfare into consideration, you think about how does your work
affects others. That’s help at work at its most basic level. Your work
affects another colleague. You should constantly strive to be of
service to the others and make your work better. When you do that, you
are dealing with the office politics in the most positive manner. You
stay above it all and are less prone to attacks.
3. Empathize
Yes, a very often used word in the management world. It is an action
that if you are able to do it well, will help you cope with office
politics. To empathize simply means putting yourself in someone else’s
shoes. Learn not to brush off someone’s opinion just because it
differs from our own. You can speak about your differences but do not
be disrespectful about it. Remember speak kindly?
Remind yourself - there is no one way in doing anything. Sure some
ways maybe better than others. So, discuss and debate. Just do not be
disrespectful. Learn to understand where they are coming from even if
you do not agree. That is one way of coping with office politics.
Firmly disagreeing without being disrespectful.
Sometimes when coping with office politics you need to begin with
yourself. Learn to increase your capacity to connect with others. When
you do, you turn animosity into affinity and negative energy can be
neutralized.
