4 Tips to Deal with Office Politics

Office politics is an inevitable phenomenon in workplace culture. The need to be on top, the desire to achieve the best, and the greed to earn more money, is what drives us to take part in it, and oftentimes makes us victims of this dirty trend. You cannot avoid office politics altogether, but you can always see yourself around it, and avert the ill consequences it has on your work and personal life. Listed below are 4 quick tips you ought to follow in order to avoid ending up being a victim of office politics:

1. Be neutral

Never ever take sides in an office. You may find yourself in between two power figures that are at loggerheads and each will expect you to take their side in the argument that ensues. You must avoid taking any one side, even if you strongly feel that one party is right while the other is not. In your workplace, you never know when you will require whose help, or upon whom your growth as a professional will eventually depend. Instead of taking sides, focus on an objective resolution of the problem at hand. Be neutral, be diplomatic and try and contribute in a way the issue gets resolved without further tussle.

2. Be professional

Keep a professional attitude at your workplace. If there exists office politics, you are bound to be angry with some person or the other. You are bound to have an opinion about and even feel frustrated with somebody’s attitude or demeanor. You will feel tempted to shout at the person or teach him/her a lesson. But do not do so. Maintain your professional attitude and instead of taking things personally and making things filthier, avoid such minor issues and focus on your own work.

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3. Focus on your goals

You will have your own career goal on which you need to constantly focus. No matter what office politics you are subjected to, as long as you stay focused, you will not feel helpless and victimized. Focusing on your goal will also give you confidence and enthusiasm to find ways to resolve the issue instead of allowing office politics to transcend the core requirement that gives rise to the scuffle in the first place.

4. Do not interfere

Avoid interfering in others’ work even when you see that they are doing it wrong. Interference is something no one likes and everyone loathes the person who interferes. Pay attention to the tasks assigned to you and be accountable for only those tasks. If others are making mistakes, let them do so and do not advise or try to help people when they do not seek it.

As already said, you cannot avoid office politics entirely but following these effective tips will keep you from being majorly targeted in the grimy game of office politics.