Office politics - a volcano

Office politics has become an integral part of the workplace, irrespective of the size or nature of the organisation. People growing in a world of competition try to outdo each other at every instance, including playing nasty politics to achieve goals. It's more prevalent in organisations where the policy framework is not strong providing the breeding grounds for office politics.

Everybody's and nobody's person

By nature people use reasons to form smaller groups which they are comfortable with and offer them affinity and strength. School, village, sport, club and professions.

These naturally divide people while the organisations do everything possible at huge expenditure to bring people together.

Ensure you don't become a part of any group which is known to garner negative feelings against certain people and other groups. If everyone perceives you as neutral they will leave you alone and you will not risk jeopardising your career.

Be everybody's and nobody's person but be valued by everyone for your positive contribution. The management might also take your views on crucial matters such as people management, key policy changes in the organisation as valuable, impartial and an honest opinion.

Commenting on others

As a leader of the organisation, you will have a better say. Getting into groups, favouring people of similar caste, creed, colour and religion and trying to derail others' careers serves well in the short run but not in the long run.

Be fact-based rather than personality-based when people ask you to comment on people or issues. Respond to what you have been asked about. Dragging conversations can only lead you to complicated and complex territories as people might put words in your mouth to show your support for what they have been campaigning for or against.

And without any reason you will make foes. Your image might even take a beating as a politicking employee. Let curiosity not get the better of you. Avoid giving your opinion on people or personal issues unless you have a management responsibility to do so.

You can become a victim of Chinese whispers and a friend might turn into a foe only due to your weakness of not resisting a chat around the water cooler. People twist and turn statements to make it spicier and gossip worthy.

Exaggerations are normal in such situations and developing a lot of negative energy which leads to people forgetting their main purpose of coming to office - work.

Gossip mongers

Always remember your larger goals in life. The priority for you while in office is work that provides the platform to achieve goals. Stay focused and you will ward off negative energies and influences if any.

Focused, committed and busy people tend to bore gossip mongers. They are least interested in people who don't contribute to their gossip and purpose. For you, it's the ideal situation. You can work in peace and reap the benefits of hard work. People who while away their time in unproductive things can come up with destructive ideas on how to spoil the office environment.

Cost

They never work, nor will they let you work. People involving themselves in politics have to do so to cover their drawbacks as employees. It is best to keep a safe distance from them and strive at achieving your goals.

Politics not only affects commercial organisations but any type of organisation where working together is the basic demand for success.

It causes waste of time, de-motivation, lower productivity and effectiveness.

Dealing with office politics is a critical leadership need in our culture and a lot depends on the local leader's attitudes - sad to say some leaders breed office politics for their own survival. For employees promoting office politics can potentially cost the job.