Secrets to Winning at Office Politics

between executives and the workforce. probably should, acquiring degrees in psychology, counseling, and management. I was a counselor, trainer, manager, and human resources director. I worked in business, government, and not-for-profit organizations. For a long time, I viewed these experiences as simply a collection of different jobs, the natural result of my desire to always be learning and doing new things. When I decided to return to graduate school to get a Ph.D., I spent some time exploring what I really wanted to do. That was when I realized that the common theme throughout my career has been the connection between people and work. My own purpose, I believe, is to help others find greater rewards in their work and overcome any obstacles that are getting in the way, including their own behavior. During my exploration of various graduate programs, one professor posed an interesting question. If you could accomplish anything with your life, what would it be? he asked. Reflecting back on my career to that point, I replied, Actually, I wish that I could help people understand how organizations operate and help organizations understand how people operate. It seemed like an unrealistic aspiration at the time, but now that's exactly what I do. The Prevalence of Politics Since leaving the employ of others, I have operated my own consulting business, working with a wide variety of organizations. My clients have included companies in telecommunications, retail, food processing, insurance, advertising, accounting, pharmaceuticals, consulting, software, manufacturing, transaction processing, and health care. I have also worked with many government agencies, local, state, and federal, and not-for-profit organizations. Despite the diversity of settings in which I work, the same issues arise with remarkable consistency. Here are a few of the people that I encounter on a regular basis. A confused and anxious employee who is not sure exactly what is expected by management. A tired and angry person who is clearly in the wrong job. A frustrated manager who does not know how to deal with a poorly performing employee. People at all levels who feel that their boss is incompetent, unfair, or unreasonable. Colleagues who have constant disagreements because of drastically different work styles. Entire departments at war with each other because of conflicting roles. Many, many people who feel that they are somehow being treated unfairly. All these unhappy folks are, in one way or another, dealing with political dilemmas. When you view office politics not as a Machiavellian plot, but as a normal aspect of work that needs to be managed, you quickly realize that political ability is a fundamental component of success in any job. Political topics are seldom discussed openly, however. At work, it is usually not appropriate to mention that you are furious with your boss, angling for a promotion, afraid of a colleague, or worried about your future. So people suffer in silence, feeling helpless to deal with their political predicaments and growing increasingly frustrated. The Need for Political Mentoring Through my consulting work, I have helped many employees, managers, and executives figure out how to handle their personal political challenges. My clients are not screw-ups or troublemakers, but competent and successful people wrestling with stressful issues that are difficult to resolve. Simply talking about these problems is often a great relief for them. In our confidential conversations, they can freely express their frustration with dysfunctional bosses, career uncertainties, challenging staff members, derailed projects, or obstructive colleagues.