Office politics vs Growth

Sakshi Rishi
5 min readJul 9, 2020

‘’If you want to work in corporate, then you should learn to play chess’’.

What do you think of when you hear the word “office politics“?Our life is a field of battle, and the workplace is a monstrous battlefield where we ought to prove our potential day-to-day.

The entire world operates around politics, the fact is that’s how markets function. It is a fated fact of the work culture, we can deal it with practicing remarkable constructive pattern.

It is much mistaken as awful & negative. But it is not as damaging as we anticipate this title.

It helps one tolerate bullshitting and sarcasm skilled to adjust and survive through healthier coping.

I am baffled by this though, being licensed from over a decade, it is unusual to notice people lingering over insecurities and wherewith they cope up with self-doubts furthermore where those uncertainties take them doesn’t benefit them to grow.

As we observe, politics are all about people, so strong Interpersonal Skills will stand you in good stead with building and keeping up your network. One must be strong and satisfied to cope with such spots.

Your impulse may be to maintain a foot away from people who practice “unfavorable” politics.

The expression, “Keep your friends close and your opponents more proximate,” often regards to office politics, we cannot dismiss it. Rather, we can practice with it so it doesn’t affect our emotional health.

Each workplace has some unwritten rules which we have to obey and comply with.

Often even your Mangers will push you in office politics to bring out the competitiveness in their team to stimulate better participation and Manager gets recognized for his better administration/leading skills.

Be alert that some people do it because they feel insecure or uncertain of their abilities and education–this is dysfunctional, for others who can’t cope with this is stressful and you end up mistrusting one and whole.

Why people still do it?

Some people execute it for being popular, some do to show their power, some do to hide their failures.

Some are gossip hounds, they just relish to know everything regarding everyone, and like spreading it like a fire on the bum.

Everyone holds their own reasons, but one thing which leaves me stunned is to see at the Top-level executives playing 80% of the politics whereas they have the greatest influence and assurance.

I have realized some people passing on bogus recognition and applauds to their seniors only to rest in their outstanding books

Sometimes I only wonder if we use the equivalent force on the assigned assignment/job we would have rolled it.

Some behave dumb and aspire to be the voice of the famous club at work. Few are self-centred about their own selves, they just care about their own work. Some like to give their opinions and expect everyone to appraise and follow it. Some like to flatter others and give void regards like a person might look terrible in those Red pants still this human will throw tons of lame compliments.

How can we avoid it next time?

We cannot bypass it but can be cautious about it, by not being part of gossip culture/if you hear something out better not spread it.

Just focus on being competitive and not taking everything too personally.

It’s invariably to keep personal and professional life separate by not taking work stress after office hours and not getting further involved with Co-workers, as there is a thin line which needs to be respected.

Hold a good rapport with your teammates, but don’t get too involved, also network with other crew members

Never be a component of a bullying culture, it is gross, do not encourage such practices. Be brave and bold about your sentiments, but also be aware of when to zip up, when your backside on the right does not shoulder wrong too. Stay neutral wherever workable and choose wisely your words as well as your surroundings.

Attempt to recognize why the other is doing it, and you will get his philosophy, just pity him as some people are poor using their crafts but use their tongue well.

People don’t like to lose one defeat, and this whole earth crashes down for them, and then you are a bigger person and their guardian angel.

How to protect yourself from it?

Follow organizational rules and policies, break no rules regulations.

Always be professional during work hours, it is o.k. to take tiny breaks, but just maintain your distance and be always cautious.

Words spread like a hidden virus in the organisational structure.

Never grumble about anything regarding work or anything linked to your office in front of your Co-workers, no matter how friendly you are with them.

Throw away your frustration in front of someone who is not correlated to your organization.

Share your knowledge only when it is serviceable to others.

Be close to people who are, the bigger players, so you are well cognizant of what’s falling around and nothing comes as a collision to you. Listen much more than you speak.

Be friends with the most toxic person, no matter how much you detest him, buy this at least they will stop targeting you and secondhand you can save other sufferers.

Praise others genuinely and are supportive plus empathic with your fellow workers. Always examine out of each conflict, how your constitution can benefit corporate respects employees who think about their firm first.

Lastly, aspire to be an influence, remain sincere and stay transparent.

Clear communication is key, make sure you are clear about what others have interpreted. Keep your why / how clear.

On that point isn’t any organization where you will not encounter office politics. These people don’t sustain a higher purpose in life, they live in a bubble and you do not examine it and give them a reality check; you are not here to pick the dust. Be decent, even with your opponents/haters. Sometimes there is no harm in sharing credit with someone, simply don’t let others get used to it all the time.

However, always remember the opponent is just a regular human being like you and not any revolutionary who will eventually shoot you if you don’t surrender in front of him. Learn to be a leader and not a follower.

Maintain your self-pride/principles on point at not let anyone intersect your testing limits. Be loyal to your firm and not to people.

Leave everything at your Office doorstep and not carry it along on your household. Always outshine with your work and be decent to people around. This will give a positive impact on others, eventually.

Office politics is not a pleasant thing, only one has to develop certain skills to manage it if has to bear such unpleasant circumstances at work. If you still cannot cope or deal with it, seek some professional guidance or address to your HR.

As nothing should hamper your emotional wellness and mental peace if it does you must end it then itself.

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