Although you might think of “office politics” as a phenomenon beginning in the business world, I believe its origins trace back further. As a leadership coach, I’ve seen that negative behaviors from childhood experiences can play a role in creating office politics and an unhealthy work environment.
If you don’t feel you’re in a positive work environment, below are five steps you can take to navigate your workplace without getting stepped on:
Scope out the playing field.
What does the official organization chart look like? Perhaps, more importantly, what does the “unofficial” organization chart look like? There are figureheads, and then there are the people who really get things done. It pays to know who is who.
Consider how your position fits into the team structure.
Who do you regularly interact with, and how can you build on those relationships? If you’re constantly at loggerheads with a colleague you work with frequently, every day can seem like a battle. Try to understand why the interactions are unproductive and consider the other person’s point of view.
Have the courage to ask a couple of associates whose opinions you trust what improvements you could make in everyday interactions with other employees. If you’re having problems with your interactions with team members, they might be on your end, not the other person’s.
Find common ground.
When you get an assignment you don’t like or have to work with a peer you don’t get along with, don’t immediately start complaining. Instead, spend a bit of time figuring out how to make the assignment a success. Try to find common ground with your peer. There is likely a common denominator to be found that can help defuse the combative urge between you.
Don’t make others look bad.
It might be incredibly tempting to take down the colleague you don’t get along with during an important project meeting, especially if you have them dead to rights. But making them look bad might feel good for a minute, but you likely will have made an enemy for a lifetime. No good can possibly come out of revenge in the workplace.
Make it a win-win situation.
When it comes down to it, our main function at work is to make the company a success. When approaching any new assignment, project or interdepartmental endeavor, ask yourself what would be a “win” for you. Then, take a moment to ask the others on the team what would make it a “win” for them. And most importantly, what would make it a “win” for the organization?
Wishing that your office environment weren’t so political won’t get you anywhere. It’s up to you to create a better environment, adapt to the one that currently exists or plan your exit.
This article has previously been featured on Forbes