Office politics are a given in many modern workplaces. Almost everyone
has a coworker who makes them want to tear their hair out. And then
there are those employees who seem favored for doing very little, while
other, hard working employees can never seem to get ahead. Follow the
steps below for advice on how to overcome office politics.
1
Steer clear of office gossip.
While it's tempting to vent about a coworker or a work situation that is
frustrating, know that doing so is a slippery slope, especially when
the gossiping is done at the office. Remember the saying "the walls have
ears," and realize that whomever you're gossiping to may love to gossip
so much that they turn around and share your rant with the next person
to walk into the break room.
Get your information from the
source instead of through the grapevine. If you hear that a coworker
with whom you'll be working on a project has a temper and ignores new
ideas, take the time to engage this coworker in conversation and get to
know him/her before the project begins. This is the more mature route
and it prevents unnecessary anxiety about a person who may or may not
have issues.
Go to your boss if the office
politics directly affect your ability to do your job and inform him/her
of the situation. They may be completely unaware that such issues are
going on in their office and be proactive in finding a workable
solution.
Know when it's time to quit and
find another job. Sometimes office politics are so bad and create such a
dysfunctional workplace that nothing can be done to assuage the
situation except to leave and start afresh in another, healthier
organization.
Seek the advice of a counselor
or therapist if you consider quitting. A mental health professional can
help explore other possible avenues to success at overcoming the office
politics in your current workplace or they can offer support for your
decision to quit and move on to something new.
Tips & Warnings
- Gauge how often you complain about your workplace to your family and friends. If it's almost every day, consider seeking the services of a professional counselor. Counselors are paid to listen to people's complaints and to help them find resolutions, whereas your family and friends may grow tired of your complaints and feel helpless as to how to fix them.
- Focus on yourself and make yourself an expert in your field. While your coworkers are busy gossiping about someone's promotion, you can be taking classes and reading books to help better yourself as an employee, both for your current position and beyond.
