5. Is This the Hill You Want to Die On?

Activism is good. Misplaced activism is bad. Political battles in the office often gain strength like a hurricane : from outside forces. Consider whose battle you are joining, and whether you are jumping in because you want to be accepted or because the issue is important and values-based. When you understand your own motivation and the motivation of others, you will make better decisions about when to fight and when to move on.

6. Know Your Company’s Objectives, and Contribute

As a takeoff from the “nose-to-the-grindstone” theory, do not take your eyes off the goals and objectives of your boss and your organization. Know the mission, vision, and purpose of your company and your unit, and view each political situation through the lens of corporate goals, rather than through the lens of power, domination, and needs. Use your strengths and skills to make a valuable , and visible, contribution.

7. Maintain a Sense of Humor (But Lose the Sarcasm)

Laughter is the very best medicine. Humor at work energizes our relationships, establishes trust, enhances communication, exercises our creativity, and reduces stress. Use your sense of humor to laugh at yourself and your predicament, to lighten a tough moment, or to solidify a team on a subject—but never at the expense of another.

Final Thoughts on Office Politics

Implying that you can “win” at office politics indicates that there is also a loser—and that is not the point of this process. Any time you work with human beings, you are subject to the complexities of various relationships: trust, credibility, communication, turf issues, and the multiple nuances of getting other people to do what you want them to, or to not do what you don’t want them to. The focus, then, is how to leverage office politics as a form of personal influence, avoiding the possible hazard zones that can have negative consequences for you and your career.

Make listening well a major component of your strategy. Listen to the constructive criticism of others. Whether you agree with them or not, the opinions of your work and your style that others have can affect your career in a very real way. Listen, too, for clues as to which departments, projects, or skill sets are getting the most (or least) amount of attention (and funding). If you’re in one of the areas that seem to be singled out as being more expensive or less effective than they should be, it is time to regroup.

Creating a strong political strategy is a method for getting a bigger return on your investment of time and energy, while enhancing your position at work. Let your strategy include collaboration, communication, and honesty; fight your own battles (and choose them carefully ); keep your eyes on the prize; and keep laughing—proven ways to leverage workplace politics.

Concepts to Remember

Understand the distinction between
- Collaboration and conflict
- Collaboration and compromise
- Collaboration and competition
- Power and control
- Power and strength
Avoid committing any of the Seven Deadly Sins of PLOP:
- Persecuting or mistreating others
- Gossip, rumor-mongering, or back stabbing
- Personalizing events or the actions of others
- Saying yes when you really mean no
- Arrogance
- Whining
- Always needing to be right
Set boundaries around those who demonstrate the Seven Deadly Sins toward you.
Work to understand the style and motivation of others.
Practice communicating clearly—not just your intentions, but how what you say is received.
Practice integrity, always.
Always focus on the real issues, not on blame.
Focus, too, on what is best for the future.
When receiving feedback, listen and learn.
When delivering feedback, use the Oreo cookie approach.
Listen up:
- Don’t interrupt.
- Always show respect (even when you disagree ).
- Pay attention to what is being said and how it is being said.
Know your boss’s objectives and your company’s objectives, and make a contribution.
Fight only your own battles , and choose them wisely.