How Do You Navigate Office Politics Without Losing Your Cool? Let's Discuss Strategies

Last week, I was traveling with a colleague who is doing quite well and has earned a good reputation for himself. We started discussing what was happening around in the organization when I, in all honesty, expressed that somehow I was not able to stand politics and that it infuriated me to see people indulging in it and many times making talent suffer. He gave a very interesting response. He said that we need to constantly perform with all our talent because that is what the organization demands and accept politics as a natural phenomenon while learning to protect ourselves against it. He gave an example of weather and said that when the temperature changes to high and low degrees, we simply take actions to protect ourselves against it through various means. In situations when no means are available, let's say in the case of sudden rain, we accept it and just pass through it. That's how we need to manage the weather in the organization. We must understand the situation and think about how we can protect ourselves and take necessary actions and precautions.

Great words, indeed! One will have to learn to first accept the fact that politics happens and then learn to handle 'politics,' which has this tendency to show its presence in pockets in any organization. Many times people come together to find solutions for certain issues, but they tend to spend more time discussing people to put the onus for the problem. It's true. So we need to learn to face the weather in the organization too just as we do it with nature. What do you say? Let's discuss.

I agree that politics is somewhat part of human nature. We have to manage it the best way we can while maintaining our own objectives and goals.

No, Pournima, we can always change ourselves and only try to change others without any guarantee. It's the difference between being a nice person or not being a nice person. It's about values. And once you choose to be a nice person who would not like to get manipulated, you will have to choose the consequences also - good or bad. Trust me, none can continue to be bad with you if you continue to be good. Difficult but possible. It's about being professional in real terms. Read "The Professional" by Mr. Subroto Bagchi; you will get many answers. I got some. But finally, it is our choice. Trust me, everyone behaves and acts exactly as per his/her own level of understanding. That's it.

Negative politics is such a waste of time. In professionalism, we talk about time management and resource management. By engaging in politics, we are just wasting our time, money, and much more. Humans make their lives complicated. Good character and good culture could minimize this evil.

Regards, Pratap

Help, please.

Can anyone tell me how to trace the Gmail ID from where the person is sending? For the past few months, I have been receiving very disturbing emails that I can't even talk about. Please help me out, friends.

Regards,
Madhuri

Good post - remember, it is always easier to be 'bulletproof' than to try and dodge bullets. As HR professionals, we 'take it on the chin' sometimes with comments and opinions, but as long as we remain balanced and fair at work and do not get too involved in office politics, we are all the better for it. A wise man once said 'you cannot be walked unless you are lying down'. Remain true to your principles.

Hey Madhuri,

It seems you have posted your message in the wrong forum. However, to guide you:
1. First, do not delete the message sent by the sender for the time being.
2. Take a print-out of the message with the full header and submit the same to your nearest police station. The header will contain the IP address of the sender.
3. The Cyber Police will trace the individual and file a case against him.

Alternatively, you can simply block the email ID using your spam filter.

All the best,
Ukmitra

Good example... Basically, what I believe is politics is bound to creep in when people are together with their different interests of being together. There are two ways of handling it: if you have this talent in you, then jump into it and win; else just avoid it, and don't forget to be focused on what objective of being there.

Precisely, love it or leave it!

Hi!

Politics is omnipresent in today's environment around the globe. We can circumvent the political part in the game and concentrate on learnings/outcomes to keep a check/control by yourself so that you are not drawn again into the vortex of politics. Always keep your seniors in the loop.

Thanks