Office politics often involves power struggles and conflicts of opinion. Avoiding politicking in the office requires steering clear of gossip and refraining from nonconstructive criticism of others. A strong work ethic that prioritizes goal achievement helps to create greater integrity in the workplace. Here are some strategies for avoiding office politics.
Focus on the goals of the business or organization. Always remind yourself of your professional goals and role in the organization to keep your thoughts on productive tasks and discussions. Some office politics and gossip result from fear, feelings of boredom or lack of purpose. Staying purposeful decreases the amount of time available for engaging in gossip or analysis of coworkers' behaviors.
Work hard. The best way to ensure a promotion is to perform high-quality work. Some office politics is related to disputes about who deserves a promotion or more power in the workplace. A diligent worker does not need to degrade others or pit people against one another in order to advance, because a good performance speaks for itself.
Observe the unspoken rules of the office. For example, in some work environments, working long hours is a sign of commitment and dedication. In other offices, an employee who consistently stays late may be considered inefficient, needing more time to do tasks that others completely more quickly. Paying attention to these dynamics helps to avoid becoming the target of criticism.
Avoid gossip and backbiting. Discussions about the behaviors, habits, weaknesses and appearance of others can backfire or constitute a waste of time.
Consider the motivations behind the gossip. If a coworker approaches you with a story about another employee's mistake, try to understand the motivations behind the storytelling. The goal may be to belittle another person, chat out of boredom, or to help the coworker. If the intent is to degrade the person, find a way to avoid the topic.
Change the subject. Find ways to change the focus from the weaknesses of others to more productive topics. Some analysis of worker behavior is necessary, but that type of assessment is usually better addressed directly by a supervisor.
Be unavailable for idle chatter. Staying productive and committed to your work tasks will make it easier to be less available for fruitless discussions. A consistent pattern of not engaging in the criticism of others lets people know that you prefer to avoid office politics. It also might increase the trust of coworkers when they realize that you do not spend time discussing them.
Engage in fact finding missions. For example, if approached by another team leader about the negative motivations of the department head, ask for the facts. Determine how the negative conclusions were reached and if there are misinterpretations. If the team leader is referring to a recent memo from the department head, read the memo together. Arrange to meet with the department head to achieve greater understanding.
Observe the behaviors of respected employees and company leaders. For example, managers who treat everyone with respect, speak well of others and show appreciation for tasks well done are positive behavioral examples. These individuals usually avoid office politics by maintaining a positive attitude and dealing truthfully with people.
