Above the Influence
By Linda Sasser
You might not follow the banter in Washington, D.C., but if you work in any kind of organization with more than a handful of employees, you deal with your fair share of politics.
What are politics at work?
- Jockeying for positions
- Not showing all your cards until the other person reveals theirs
- Twisting the truth
- Seeking the spotlight
- Exposing others' weaknesses for your benefit
- Striving to get ahead at all costs
- Manipulation
What are the results of politics?
- Silos and alliances
- "Us vs. Them" mentality
- Guarded communication
- Paranoia and suspicion
- Low trust and low morale
When do political people see you as a threat?
- When you are making them work harder
- When you are exposing things they don't want to show
- When they are bothered because you don't want to "play the game"
- When they view your talent/expertise as a threat to their own professional aspirations
You can't completely avoid politics when it's part of the corporate culture. However, you don't have to be a political person. Over time, you can initiate change when people begin to see that there is a better, healthier way to achieve success -- both personally and as an organization.
Points to remember when dealing with politics:
- Be yourself.
- Don't twist anything. The truth is always best.
- Know your boundaries and values. Don't cross those lines.
- Pace yourself. Do what's right at a cadence that others won't find intimidating.
- Influence, don't force. Influence takes time.
- Don't rush to make a difference.
- Be relational. Let people see your authentic desire to serve the company, not self-prosper.
Rise above the influence of office politics - practical strategies
If you're struggling with how to deal with politics, here are eight actions that will help you maintain your productivity, your integrity, and your ability to influence others in a positive way:
- Don't fight politics. If you do, you may very well lose your job. Instead, be aware of the landmines and respectfully state your opinion and how you feel, so others know where you stand.
- Give the benefit of the doubt. Try to assume everyone's intentions are good, regardless of how you feel about what they are saying or doing. Have the mindset of working "with" people instead of "against" them.
- Share information. Knowledge is not power, and hoarding information is not powerful. It's foolish and petty. If you don't share your information, then your teammates can't work effectively. Sharing your knowledge and allowing others to do their jobs better is a form of influence because you are serving. Influence and serving others is power.
- Do your research. The more you know about the project, the industry, the goals and so on, the better you are able to bring the group back to the facts and the right context if people begin to put one side against the other or spin the truth.
- Remember silence = agreement. Not speaking up might keep you safe and get you out of the meeting faster, but keep in mind you are communicating that you agree.
- Get things done. Nothing bugs political people more than a productive teammate!
- Build relationships with everyone. Our role is to serve one another, and when we see ourselves in that role, it's harder to let politics take over. The better we know and understand people, the better we're able to serve them.
- Ask questions. When you don't agree with an agenda, ask good questions as a way to help you understand or as a way to get other ideas into the mix. Don't question the decision; that can be seen as disrespectful. Instead, have a positive mindset in seeking understanding, and ask questions like:
- How can my division support this effort?
- How do you see it changing our culture?
- What concerns do you have with employees that I could help with?
- What happened to make this decision become a reality?
About Linda Sasser
Impacting Leaders
Linda Sasser is the CEO of Impacting Leaders, a firm focused on helping companies with their leadership development and organizational effectiveness needs. Linda has over 25 years' experience in developing businesses, leading teams, and directing sales programs, which include stewarding the John Maxwell corporate leadership development brand. Connect with Linda and Impacting Leaders on their website at www.impactingleaders.com, on Linda's leadership blog at www.leadershipwithsass.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/ILHappyHour or on Twitter at twitter.com/impactingleadrs.
