Workplace Politics & the jungle rule: “Eat or Be eaten”

Probably workplace politics is the most common organizational killer and biggest reason for talent migration from organizations. This post is intended to shed some light on 3 main aspects:

1. What forms workplace politics.
2. How to survive it.
3. How to eradicate it.

So many employees speak about workplace politics but can’t really define it, here are the top 3 major factors that give birth to workplace politics and strengthen it:

1. Gossip culture.

This is how all workplace politics start! When managers allow employees to start talking about each other as individuals and accept backstabbing under the umbrella of “Reporting bad performance”. There is a very thin line between speaking up about work flaws and about individual gossips. Leaders need to watch out for that thin line.

2. Lack of transparency.

This is when workplace politics start taking a serious turn. Managers share information only to “favorite” groups and in many cases, “favorite” groups get to know key decisions before they are announced to everyone in the organization. This is the stage where employees start forming “power groups” and they will demonstrate this openly to others.

3. Inconsistent management.

When workplace politics mature, the “If-Then” equation exist! This is simply when rules are applied according to your political power in the organization. When a good or bad case is opened, it all depends on whom you are.. “If” you are from the favorite group, “Then” you get recognized (for good cases) or smoothly unpunished (for bad cases). Don’t be surprised if you find some employees being rewarded for bad performance, there will be a good justification for the decision! I know someone who got rewarded for picking up a lock of a confidential cabinet, justifying that by him being keen to recover an important document on time!

How to survive workplace politics:

Here are the top 3 tips to survive workplace politics:

1. Learn how to surf.

This is the cornerstone of jungle survival; “Staying Focused” is key! To avoid sharks, you need to remain on top of the water, and that’s a simple rule. Remain on top of your tasks, performance, and mental shape. This is a major challenge, especially when others are playing around you, and balls possibly crossing your sight. To do this well, always walk with a diary, and a To DO list as well as a Not-To-Do list. Keep visiting this and remind yourself of your key objectives.

2. It’s all about black and white.

Keeping records is a very important rule. Learn how to archive, establish folders for every important event and collect relevant information in written black and white documents. Of course do this without crossing the boundaries of your area of responsibility. Simply don’t lose evidence. You will need it when the storm gets bad.

3. Keep the bridges and use them!

Learn how to “Not burn your bridges”. You will need every connection. Learn how to neutralize your enemies and get people on your side, especially when there is lack of information, collecting small pieces of information from each connection will help. Having several people repeating your story could be a great convincing factor for others across the organization.

How to eradicate workplace politics

As much as learning how to survive workplace politics is important, remember that if you are in a position to stop the whole game, then it is your duty to do so. How to do this? Here are your top 3 priorities:

1. Live the values.

In an earlier research done across several industries, 63% of respondents agreed that leaders were not role model for the values, and that workplace values can be compromised for business outcomes (if you wish to read the detailed post, please view this through the blog “The Truth about work values: https://inspire-coe.com/2017/12/05/the-truth-about-work-values “) . A great number of organizations only mention work values for public funding and organizational marketing reasons rather for actually living the values. I can say that almost 90% of employees I have met in my career did not recall what their organizational values were, or what they actually meant. If you wish to change the game, then establish a values monitoring system and listen to employees feedback about how they perceive work values.

2. Force processes.

No matter how painful it is, Integrity remains the one rule that is considered a “Permission to play” in the field of business …… every business! If you say that you will post every new opening, then do this and walk the process. Don’t pre-select a candidate and then do a lousy process to justify it. Trust your reports, trust your process and leave subjectivity locked up away from the office. Feelings are good only when data is not available or not enough.

3. Walk around and observe your culture.

One of the leadership responsibilities that are hugely missed is simply “walking around”. Signs of workplace politics, disengagement and dissatisfaction are usually clear early enough before they mature. When leaders walk around (active walk around) and interact with employees, they will listen to stories, see how people interact with each others as well as the customers, and feel how they smile, look and behave at the workplace. This is one of the key tools that will help leaders early diagnose any signs of workplace politics and treat them as appropriate.

Enjoy surfing!

Written by:

Engagement Expert, International Speaker & Pragmatic researcher