The Problem of Office Politics
Employee Management Articles
Submit Articles Back to Articles
When we join a new company, we're all hoping for a fresh start and clean
slate. The last thing we want is to get embroiled in political intrigue,
regardless of how petty it might seem. Most of us just want to do our work and
move along with our lives. Even if this were so, which is rarely the case, we
must still deal with "political correctness" as defined by society; we have to
recognize certain protocols in our mannerisms, language, and conduct. So, even
before we get started in a new job, we have to recognize there is going to be
some form of politics, like it or not. I remember visiting a manufacturing
company in the Midwest where a Vice President proudly said to me, "You'll like
this place Tim, there's no politics here whatsoever." And I think he firmly
believed it too. In reality, they had more cutthroat politics than I had ever
seen before.
Whether you are a new employee or a visiting consultant, one of the first
things you have to determine about a company is its pecking order. An
organization chart makes a convenient road map in this regards, but it doesn't
truly define the power structure in a company. For example, a weak manager may
actually draw his strength from a powerful assistant. Nonetheless, it is
important to identify the fiefdoms of the company, who the key players are, and
who the allies and adversaries are. Without such knowledge, you will inevitably
trip into some political dispute or become an unwitting pawn in a power play.
The best advice in the early going is to simply keep your eyes and ears open,
and your mouth shut.
Aside from the power players in an organization, the three most common types
of political animals you will encounter are the Suckup, the Radical, and the
Saboteur. The Suckup (aka "Brown Noser") essentially has no spine and is the
perennial "Yes Man" to the boss. The boss says "Jump" and the Suckup says, "How
High?" But the Suckup has a political agenda of his own which typically is an
advancement through the assistance of the boss. He therefore bends over
backwards to please the boss at the expense of losing the respect of his
coworkers.
The Radical represents "the bull in the China shop" or "loose cannon" and is
best known for revolting against the status quo, not quietly but loudly, and is
not afraid of stepping on a few toes along the way. In many ways he is like
Sherman's march to the sea. Perhaps his mission is correct, and perhaps it
isn't. Regardless, this type of person has a slim chance of succeeding as his
detractors will work overtime to undermine him. When dealing with such a person
you basically have two choices: either join him and hope for the best, or get
the heck out of his way so that you are not run over.
The Saboteur is perhaps the most viscous of the three and can probably best
be characterized as the "conniving weasel" or "backstabber" who schemes to make
the lives of others miserable. He is driven by petty jealousy and wants
desperately to be seen as a power broker in his institution. Since he has no
real life of his own, the Saboteur gets his jollies by undermining anybody that
garners more attention than he does. Whereas the Suckup and the Radical can be
dealt with politically, the Saboteur is a pest that must be exterminated.
Office politics is about loyalty and trust. At some point, you will be asked
to choose sides and this to me is what makes office politics ugly. I might
understand this in government politics, but not in a company where we are all
suppose to be on the same team. Politics is an inherent part of the corporate
culture; some companies deplore it, others thrive on it. I guess it's a matter
of whether a company values the concept of teamwork or rugged individualism. I
have found there is much less politics in companies promoting the former versus
the latter. Either way, my advice to anyone joining a new company, be it a
corporation or nonprofit organization, is actually quite simple: "En Garde!"
Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective
companies.
About the Author
Tim Bryce is the Managing Director of
M. Bryce & Associates
(MBA) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the field.
He can be reached at
timb001@phmainstreet.com
Copyright © 2008 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.
Follow us @Scopulus_News
Article Published/Sorted/Amended on Scopulus 2008-04-02 15:58:08 in Employee Articles
