In my presentation, Performance Maximizing Leadership, I often refer to an article written in 2008 by Calvin Sun titled 10 Ways to Survive Office Politics.  

The foundation of the presentation is based on the fact that performance-maximizing leaders must become proficient at office politics to be effective in the workplace. In his article Sun writes, “Office politics will never go away. It’s a fact of company life. However, destructive office politics can demoralize an organization, hamper productivity, and increase turnover.”

Office politics is here to stay and can be messy on the best of days.

Get good at office politics

Learn to live at peace

In office politics, leaders who avoid taking sides can often preserve their political capital, regardless of the eventual outcome. Try to focus on what’s best for the organization and the people involved. Avoid unnecessary alignment with the side you think will win.

Peacemakers remain even after the faction leaders are long gone.

Avoid talking out of school

Be the leader who will hold on to confidences by learning to keep some matters to yourself. My grandmother once told me, “A dog that will bring a bone will carry a bone.” When you get new information, hold onto it because sooner or later, the information will get out. Make sure you can say, “I never told anyone.”

Be helpful

Being helpful builds loyalty. Does someone in the office need copies made? Make some copies while you print off some of your own work. Give without expecting anything in return. It builds loyalty. Loyal people will tell you when they have inside information that can do you some good.

Stay away from gossip

Don’t spread gossip – hear the murmurings, but don’t murmur.

You may think people won’t continue to give you information if you never give any in return. Just the opposite; they’ll see themselves as your only source of information and they’ll be happy to resume the role.

Don’t talk down the boss

Everybody, except the very best politicians, complains about the boss. You don’t have to sing their praises but you’re playing with fire if you speak negatively.

What’s an office politician to do?

You have two effective strategies you can follow:

Change the subject

Get out of the discussion as quickly as possible

When any conversation moves in a politically negative direction, move yourself in a politically positive direction. Get out of there and to your next meeting. Even, if that meeting doesn’t start for another three hours.

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These tips, and others are presented in Performance Maximizing Leadership, a presentation that assists organizations in training greatness-manifesting, transformational leaders.