Everyone loves a good drama as long as they are not in it. Not every type of office politics is harmful if you know how to manipulate the situation in your favour. Intrigued? Read on about the game of office politics
Even though Game of Thrones is still a year away from its finale, but every day in our real life at the office we see the similar scenes. The brutal backstabbing, the bloody drama is a part of life. Of Course, it all starts with our manager who never stays on his word, an HR who is a sweet talking but equally betraying in all things they promise us and last but not the least colleagues who are looking for an opportunity to push you down at any given time possible.
While the scenes may seem exaggerated to some, but it is undeniable to anyone who ever worked in an office that office politics whether subtle or brutal are an everyday occurrence.
Since politics follow people as long as you are with people there is no safe route or a shortcut you can take to get out of the daily struggles of office life.
No matter if you are an experienced player or fresh graduate, here are tips that will help you navigate the troubled waters of your office environment.
Pro Tip #1: You always have a choice
No matter how hopeless your situation looks and feels, always remember being in that particular situation is always a choice no matter how constricted you feel at that particular moment. As the ever wise and cool Harvey Specter, from Suits, a US TV Series, would say, “What are your choices when someone puts a gun to your head?”
“You take the gun, or you pull out a bigger one. Or, you call their bluff. Or, you do any one of a hundred and forty-six other things.”
Moral of the story: There’s always an exit out for any situation
Pro Tip #2: Know what are your core responsibilities
Most offices are huge spaces with many many people and their associated problems. Once in a while, it is natural to get yourself entangled in any of their problems and those problems will escalate to things which you have never imagined.
The best way to get out of this situation is to remind yourself why you are in the office in the first place — to solve your colleague’s unbelievably mediocre problem or to get ahead in your career.
Moral of the story: Don’t get involved in any other person s problems.
Pro Tip #3: Never ever, ever take sides. Never
Every side of any story will always look like the perfect explanation for a series of what has ever happened. So taking sides not only will alienate you for the other side of the spectrum, it will also brand you as a person of the other side, no matter which side is winning or which side is losing.
Remember, you are not here to make sure democracy succeeds but to make sure you have a decent career not bogged down by unnecessary commitments.
Moral of the story: If you want to take sides, go out and vote during elections. Don’t be a reason for division in office.
Pro Tip #4: Don’t let things get personal
The office starts every day at your starting time in the morning ( or afternoon or night depending on your shift) and ends when you leave your office. Nothing from office ever has a place in your personal life. Even if you have relatives, best friends or even your entire family working there, none of the conversations nor the workings ever have a place in your home.
And also make sure it never affects your personal life.
Moral of the story: Don’t bring office home. And vice versa. Don’t bring your home to office.
Maybe these solutions are not greatest ones ever written to help you solve your biggest office dilemmas, they can always help you to make sure priorities are set straight before you head out to tackle of the never-dying dragon of office politics.
Originally published at Calibr
