Reduce Office Politics

PUSH Mindfulness

Reduce Office Politics

Four words can radically diminish office politics before they begin.

Mundane tasks and lack of pay increases are the usual responses when asking employees what they do not enjoy about their work life. Though, one of the more common responses is office politics. Status, closed-door conversations and deals, department tugs-of-war, and power struggles can damage even the most rewarding organizational missions and visions into a toxic environment that produces unneeded stress—also resulting in a loss of exceptional employees and productivity.

Eliminating office politics from an organization is undoubtedly unattainable. Nevertheless, could we reduce the time, energy, and resources wasted on these plots and ruses? For leaders balancing demanding schedules, the last thing anyone wants to deal with is office politics. An office environment in turmoil can reduce pressure with one simple idea.

Types of office politics

Office politics exist on two levels:

• Chaos created by toxic employees

• Differences in communication, opposing styles, or even performance and strategy.

Many examples involve mostly reasonable and skilled co-workers with different ideas on how a task at hand can be accomplished. However, suppose you are unlucky enough to deal with a challenging personality. In that case, there are methods to protect your future and achieve your objectives while seeking alternative ways to remove yourself from a situation.

While everyday clashes for control can raise your stress levels to new heights, remember that you and your “not-so-favorite” co-worker still have one key thing in common.

One of the best observations about work, separate from other experiences in your personal life, is that it all comes down to a straightforward fact: If your organization is not achieving success and objectives are not met, everyone will be terminated. This means that everyone in an organization wishes to see their goals accomplished. So, you and your adversary may argue about all sorts of other things. Still, you both presumably will want to remain employed and continue to accomplish personal success through promotions and salary increases.

Clear advice would be to use this necessary principle to your benefit. Rather than plotting to drive a stake further between the two of you, think about which of your stances is most likely heading in the right direction to create organizational success. This adjustment will help you look beyond any frustration you may be experiencing. While doing so, discover ways to alter your conflict to make your productivity stand out.

One simple phrase

Yes, yes, I know… You may object to this sound advice as it can be genuinely challenging to take a deep breath and pull off while in the moment. Suppose a colleague is diminishing your efforts or taking credit for your hard work. In that case, it can be a serious test of patience to look beyond your rage and realize that you are working toward the same goals and objectives.

What happens then?

It is at this moment you should break out the magic phrase. Have you ever raised your voice in a meeting or taken fifteen or twenty minutes to draft a two-sentence response to a co-worker? If so, use the following phrase: “Let’s continue this later.”

Feel free to add the following… “I have more to say on the matter,” or “I’m not feeling my best,” or even “I do not think we can solve this today.”

Disagreements cannot be fixed constructively while you are annoyed or in anger. Taking some time away can help us “cool our jets” and allow logic to run its course.

In an office environment and in life, you can avoid most encounters before they create an issue by forcing yourself to step back and take some time before things get heated. As challenging as a co-worker may be, using time to remind yourself that you and your colleague both wish success for your organization may be just the thing that leads to that achievement.