Are You A Power Player? – What You Need To Know About Office Politics

By Brian Maynor

 

Lying.  Cheating.  Backstabbing.  Gossiping.  Sucking up.  Forming alliances and playing people against each other.  It may sound like your favorite TV show or life in Washington D.C., but sadly it’s part of life in most companies.

The mere thought of office politics make some us cringe and carries with it an immoral undertone but it serves a purpose or it wouldn’t be tolerated.  At its core office politics is a brokerage of power and we all need power, or influence, in order to succeed.  Fortunately there are ways to navigate the landscape efficiently and effectively while staying somewhat clean.  Here are some of my favorite tips picked up in my research of office politics:

1.    Get off the sidelines.  We all know if you want to get something done you need to be able to influence others and that influence is what office politics are all about.  It could be as basic as knowing whom to speak with about opportunities, how to move an initiative through the proper channels or when to be seen and how to make your work relevant.  If you don’t want to be left behind you have to engage and more importantly understand the politics of your company.

2.    Have a plan.  Just like gossiping around the water cooler, office politics can often take on a life of its own and consume time and resources without producing any real benefits.  However, if you have a plan you can feel more confident navigating through the politics by staying focused on your goals and taking action strategically.

3.    Find your voice.  That can be literally learning to speak up and promoting yourself, or finding and agent and/or sponsor to champion you.  Modesty and the inability or unwillingness to self-promote can mean missed opportunities no matter how hard you work or solid your reputation.  Colleagues can act as your agents if you cultivate them to mention you for jobs as they arise.  It’s a win-win because you get the recommendation and they appear selfless for making a stellar reference.

Another option is to find a sponsor.  Ideally that would be a senior-level mentor who is interested and invested in your career going one step farther and aligning their agenda with yours.  This is also a win-win relationship because you’re working together to advance both agendas.

4.    Make politics less personal.  Make no mistake this is very hard to do this when you feel attached, degraded or publicly embarrassed.  At that moment it feels very personal and triggers a fight or flight response.  The next time you find yourself in that situation; struggling to keep your grasp on calm and rational behavior, try avoiding eye contact.  It sounds counterintuitive, especially since eye contact is crucial in many business situations, but here it can help you maintain your control and in return regain control of the situation.  It gives you time to breathe and think but most of all remain calm.

5.    Gird your loins.  No one goes into battle unprotected.  While you might not actually be donning a suit of armor, what you wear can protect you just the same.  If you look and act professional and creditable you can deflect those attacks easier.  On the other hand if you don’t care about or maintain your appearance you essentially give people ammunition to use against you and aid in your own dismissal.  The original and most basic reason we wear clothing is for protection and that hasn’t changed.

 

Whether you love it or hate it no office is free from politics.  It may not be House of Cards level politics but make no mistake where there are people and limited resources there is a game of power and influence that has to be played in order to get things done.

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I am always curious to hear from you and what you see in the workplace.  Send your questions, comments and pet peeves to [email protected].  Also find each of these storyboards at http://brianmaynor.polyvore.com with links to purchase each item.

About Brian Maynor

Brian Maynor has built a reputation as one of the leading style coaches in the Southeast and is quickly expanding his eponymous company, BRIAN MAYNOR and his FIND, FLATTER & FLAUNT line of image consulting services. A professional with a fresh, upbeat and down-to-earth personality and boundless creative energy, he works frequently with with local celebrities; Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations; modeling agencies; fashion designers; production companies; record labels; media and individuals. A regular contributor to various fashion blogs and online communities, Brian Maynor is one of the most trusted and recognized style experts in the region, utilizing his education and training as a broadcast journalist to serve as a style lecturer, emcee, and commentator for over a decade. He has appeared at fashion shows, expos, and charity fundraisers, as well as events with big brands like Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Chico’s and Macy’s. His approach is innovative, creative and fashion-forward, balancing fresh, modern styles with classic pieces to keep one’s look grounded. To learn more, visit http://www.brianmaynor.com.