How To Navigate Workplace Politics

Does managing office politics drain you?

If you were to have asked me this question a few months ago, I would have replied with a resounding yes and described office politics as:

• Having to ‘play the game’

• Feeling the pressure to fit in

• Not feeling able to speak up out of fear of repercussions

• Having to pretend or sell out in order to feel accepted, get ahead or feel safe

• Reserved for those who rely on working the system to land their next role rather than merits of their work

• Often uncomfortable and unjust

All these things violated many of my values and added to my distaste for office politics. It was so strong that it formed part of my why for entering the world of professional development. I saw office politics as a problem that needed to be solved.

Then something changed.

While these statements still ring true for me, my perspective on the subject has shifted and what I’ve come to realise is that there is a critical distinction between ‘playing politics’ and being politically astute.

Being politically astute is about recognising that politics is an unavoidable part of any social system. We must engage with it. It is our ability to read and anticipate situations that allows us to prepare, adapt and tailor our behaviour based on the people and conditions around us. Fighting or resisting its existence is futile. The wiser approach is to embrace and learn to work with it.

The good news is that to be politically astute, you don’t need to compromise your integrity. This realisation that you could be both political and value-driven was a real game-changer for me. It requires you to understand that your work alone will not get you promoted. Relationships matter. And, you can get yourself and your ideas noticed in a way that aligns with your value system.

How do you cultivate political astuteness?

Here are four key pillars to consider:

1. Self-Awareness: Know what you stand for

If I was to ask you to tell me your top 5 most important values right now, could you do it? In my experience, most people don’t know their values. But you should. Your values are the things that are most important to you. By knowing your values, your aspirations also become clear, which is a critical step in being able to determine what the best course of action is when faced with a political dilemma. Your values also help you to recognise when you’re out of alignment with yourself. Should you be faced with a challenging situation at work that causes internal tension, there is a good chance one of your values are not being honoured.

2. Self-Reflection: Grow your aptitude

Self-reflection is essential to our personal and professional development. As we grow and collect more experiences, we construct a richer meaning of ourselves, our relationships and the world within which we live. By reflecting on our experiences, we become increasingly exposed to the ‘moments of choice’. The more we reflect on the choices we make when faced with workplace politics, the more informed we can be on how best to navigate through similar situations should they arise in the future. Powerful questions to consider include:

• What can I learn from this?

• What part of this can I take responsibility for?

• What could I do differently next time?

3. Self-Regulation: Manage your emotions

Building relationships within the workplace is essential. You have to be able to manage your emotions to do this successfully. In the words of Dale Carnegie, “When dealing with people, remember you are not dealing with creatures of logic but creatures of emotions”. By developing your ability to regulate your emotions and understand the emotions of others, you’re more likely to produce win-win outcomes within the workplace. The bottom line is, if you don’t develop emotional intelligence, you won’t thrive – no matter how skilled or talented you are.

4. Self-Acceptance: Find where you belong

In the workplace, there is a clear distinction between fitting in and belonging. A toxic work culture demands you to fit in. A psychologically safe culture empowers you to be yourself. In Brené Brown’s book ‘Braving the Wilderness’, she explains the difference as “Belonging is being somewhere where you want to be, and they want you. Fitting in is being somewhere where you want to be, but they don’t care one way or the other. Belonging is being accepted for you. Fitting in is being accepted for being like everyone else”. Finding a culture in which you belong can create the climate for you to better engage with the positive aspects of office politics rather than feeling like you need to hustle for your worth.

By cultivating self-awareness, self-reflection, self-regulation and self-acceptance, we can enhance our capacity, competence and confidence when it comes to skilfully navigating workplace politics and producing high integrity winning outcomes. Why not try it next time you’re faced with managing politics in the workplace.

If you would like to learn more about how I can support you in thriving at work and in life, book a free discovery call with me. I’d love to connect with you!