It’s not the actual work that is driving you crazy; you like the work. It’s the emotional undercurrents, gossiping and backstabbing thickening the air that you find exhausting

1. Surviving Office PoliticsSurviving Office Politics

2. What is Office Politics?What is Office Politics?
 Communicating indirectly
 Using covert tactics to advance
 Controlling other people through
psychological manipulation
 Being cautious about telling the truth
 Hiding vulnerability
 Currying favor
"Poli" in Latin means "many" and "tics" means "blood-sucking creatures".
Organizational Politics involves intentional acts of
influence to enhance or protect the self-interest of
individuals or groups
Sreeja

3. What Creates Office Politics?
 Scarcity of resources
 A too competitive work environment
 Subjective performance standards
 Unclear job definitions
 Emotional insecurity
"A group of unicorns is called a blessing. A group of owls is called a parliament.”
Sreeja

4. Piranha or Nirvana
 Highly political climate: Score of 90 plus is Piranha
Land.. Wear bullet proof vest
 Risky climate: Scores of more than 50 indicate some
problems
 Zero or negligible politics: Score of 10 or less is
Nirvana… Never leave
“Man is by nature a political animal.”
- Aristotle
Political Climates in Corporate World
Sreeja

5. Dealing with Office Politics
Politics is a necessary evil and often it’s just plain evil. Unfortunately, it’s also how
things get done.”- Mr. Blaine Pardoe, Director, Technology-Education Services, Ernst & Young LLP
It’s not the actual work that is driving
you crazy; you like the work. Even the
long hours are not the problem. It’s the
emotional undercurrents, gossiping and
backstabbing thickening the air that you
find exhausting
Politics are real and unavoidable; Expect
this in all situations. Politics are part of
human reaction.
Sreeja

6. Be known as a producer and not a politician.
“To strive, to seek, to find – NOT to yield” – Live up to it.
 Do your work with dedicated interest and loyalty. Enjoy
the tasks
 Be punctual. Know the time management ways. Finish the tasks within
the expected deadline
 Do your best to observe the rules. There are many ways the same task
can be done. Do it in the way relevant to your role
 Improve your knowledge and professionalism. Continue asking for
superior’s feedback and direction- Do not assume your boss knows all
your accomplishments
 Be the best no matter the size of the job. Always be your own competitor
Sreeja

7. Think before you speak or act
 Learn to separate Gossip from Discussion. When you discuss
somebody, ask yourself if you’d say the same things in their
presence. If you won’t, then it may be unladylike and gossipy.
 Every message you send is being judged. Make sure you don’t bury
the lead in your e-mails. Get to the point quickly and end with a call
to action
 Never discuss your salary with your colleagues. Remember what you
earn is based on what you bargained for when you joined & based
on your last salary at your previous job. If you’re the one who’s in a
position to handle appraisals, you need to justify salaries and
increments- but in a +ve way
 Power of a positive “No” –The way we say and the reason are the
keys. Remember, the no should be for your needs, not against the
person
A sharp tongue sometimes cuts it’s own throat. Sreeja

8. Be Honest and Open
 Honesty is still the best policy. People who never compromise on
their standards and integrity always win in the end and rise
naturally above politics and competition
 If you have a problem or difference in opinion with someone, discuss
the matter openly
 Don’t accuse, Don’t make judgments. If you are at fault, understand
that and say sorry, adding “ how good it was that we talked.”
 Accept your imperfections. Don’t be defeated by criticism, learn from
it. Take any criticism as constructive and let it make you think
rather than defend yourself
Treat everyone with politeness even those who are rude to you, not because they are really nice,
but because you are nice… Sreeja

9. Go beyond the job: Raise your profile
 It is vital to keep yourself updated on happenings. Attend all
meetings, learn about all your company’s projects & be in touch
with as many people as you can
 Join the professional organizations and become active in community
programs. Many times, those in power positions are more likely to
take notice if you are hosting a charity event than if you are back at
the office with your nose to the grindstone
 Engineer your environment by documenting processes, analyzing
activities, writing specifications. Fix the attitude, become a real
asset to your business. Always try to think outside the box
 Find a mentor: someone who can guide and help you develop
professionally. Look for someone with whom you share a common
background, interests and chemistry- who is politically savvy
A diplomat is a person who thinks twice before he says nothing.” - Frederick Sawyer
Sreeja

10. Be a professional
 Attitude plays a vital role. Don’t be emotional in a situation. Never get
into a shouting match
 Don’t underestimate anybody. Try to always give your colleagues and
subordinates a chance to get into the limelight
 Never take sides. While it’s good to have close relationships at work, they
should not interfere with your judgment of others
 Take things light-heartedly. Don’t live in past. Don’t hold grudges or be
vindictive. Never take a problem to the manager without having two or
three solutions for the problem
 Humor is the best antidote. Without being sarcastic, brush off gossip with
a smile and without commenting on it
We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office.”
- Aesop
Sreeja

11. Role of managers
 Seniors must lead by example. Build a positive work environment, which
calls for open communication and teamwork.
 Focus on common interests rather than differences. Build enthusiasm by
appealing to other’s emotionals, ideals or values.
 Clear job definitions. See the work is balanced. Take an interest in their
personal well-being. Show the appreciation for a job well done.
 Always be there. Attend and respond to all mails and chats. Create a
secure atmosphere by being a good listener.
 Be a leader - Find lack of confidence and trust in employees and encourage
them to share their concerns. Lift others up with you and forgive failures.
 Encourage the team to maintain balance in their lives. Trust the team and
help them in using the company’s policies for a perfect work-life balance.
A Boss says – “ Do it” , but a Leader says – “Let’s do it!”. Sreeja

12. Summary of Survival Strategies:
• Know your goals & interests.
• Focus on common ground, not differences.
• Build, nurture personal relationships.
• Be true to yourself.
• Think before you speak.
• Learn to say no to unnecessary topics.
• Be different – not part of whining masses.
• Talk big, outside the box.
• Appear cool under pressure.
• Display good corporate manners.
• Learn new skills and sell them.
• Be a team player
“The hardest thing about any political campaign is how to win without proving that you are unworthy
of winning.” - Adlai Stevenson Sreeja
And most important – Realize it’s ok if we don’t get along withAnd most important – Realize it’s ok if we don’t get along with
a few! There comes the relevance of word ‘compatibility’.a few! There comes the relevance of word ‘compatibility’.
There is no need to please everyone!There is no need to please everyone!

13. Self-Check
Sreeja
Let’s take some time to see- How political you are!
Questionnaire
http://money.cnn.com/quizzes/2006/fortune/office_politics/
"Better to light a candle than curse the darkness."
Chinese Proverb

14. Bibliography
“Copy from one, it’s plagiarism; copy from two, it’s research."
Wilson Mizner
What System Administrators Should Know, Part 2 of 6: Surviving Office Politics – By Leeland
Artra
Swimming with the Sharks – Fisher Graduate School of International Business
Reader’s Digest Joy – 2008 edition
http://www.dalekurow.com
The Power of a Positive No – By William Ury
http://money.cnn.com
All the quotable quotes came from my personal collection gathered from lots of sources.
Sreeja

15. Thank YOU!
Sreeja