How to tackle and manage office politics?
77First of all, I would like to introduce myself to you. My name is Amit Luthra and I am working full-time in import company for the last 10 years and also working part-time as a DJ. This is my first hub today at hubpages in which I will share my personal experience with all of you on how to tackle office politics. Read on…
The most common problem almost present in majority of offices and other workplaces is office politics. Every person who is from the working class experiences this problem, some from the first day in their office and some after a few days. Whenever you will complete your studies and go ahead for a job, from the day of the interview to the day of your first paycheck, you have to face this problem. It is everywhere because it is human nature especially jealousy is the most important trait.
Just relax and think patiently
If you will leave the present company to have some other job, is there any guarantee that we will work tension free in the new atmosphere, so lets try to tackle the whole situation in a cool way. This is a part of our daily routine. First of all make yourself busy in your work and never argue and discuss this openly in your office. Think deeply and see if you have some shortcomings in you too. If you have, then try to get rid of them. Don't do loose talks in the office pyemesis among your fellows and subordinates. As I have mentioned above in my intro, I have been in a private company for the last 10 years and from the very first day, I have experienced office politics at my workplace. What I did is that I changed myself according to the situation and successfully passed 10 years with all types of coworkers. The problem looks small, but the situation this problem creates is big, but do not get depressed because this is called STRUGGLE. I think now the first question, which is coming to your mind, will be how to manage myself in this situation and also without leaving my years old job.
I have identified, categorized, and detailed out some popular types found in every workplace and I am really sure that one or other from them will be causing a problem to you today or in the future.
Back Stabbers
The first and most important types of gamers who play office politics are back stabbers and these are also the most dangerous types. A back stabber in your office will stab you on your back very hard and really fast with a hidden sweet knife. A back stabber can be your old friend, your new colleague, or your senior or junior. In front of you, a back stabber will try to show you by his ways that he is your best mate but at your back and when you are not there, he will change everything exactly opposite of what he will be showing in front of you. He will make you seem lazy, untrustworthy, and incompetent. A back stabber will do that in a way that everyone else will believe to what he/she is saying.
My counter attack for back stabbers
According to me, the best rule to confront back stabbers, is to tell them what you know about him/her but in a private place and not in public and he/she will stop doing that.
Politicians at workplace
The second most important types involved in office politics are politicians. This breed of politicians is not only found in government offices but also in private ones. I have got a hand-to-hand experience tackling with them. A politician in an office environment will make the right noise at the most suited moment. He will do the backstabbing. He will also compliment the boss and will do the work for him. A politician will always say good things for the superior management and your immediate boss in his/her presence, will never give you credit for the work done, and will place other coworkers in opposition to each other to stay on top of them and you.
Counter attack for politicians at workplace
Being diplomatic is the first tip in dealing with office politicians. Always try to keep yourself 5 feet away from them. Don’t disclose your personal and professional matters to them, even matters which are related to your immediate boss and you. Keep a very close eye on politicians and do not get yourself involved in politics. In the office premesis, have open communication with your coworkers and colleagues to be updated of his/her upcoming deeds. The key to tackle a politician in a better manner is to be well informed about his/her games.
Blamers
The third one in the category is a blamer. A blamer will always thrive to blame on someone or other the mistakes he/she has done. Learning why they do this is very important. According to me, they do this in order to put their leg on your shoulders and climb the ladder of success leaving you behind.
Counter attack for blamers
What is do for blamers is that I keep a record of blamer’s mistakes for a period of time so that I can expose him in front of the boss and other staff members but this should be done secretly. This is the best solution and has worked for me. Investigate, check, and counter check to be sure that you are not framed in the game.
Credit Stealers
The next one in the category comes a credit stealer. He can be your coworker or your boss. A credit stealer knows your potential and will involve you into some type of teamwork to do a certain task. He will motivate you by saying that yes WE can do this thing and YOU have got the potential but when the task will be completed and you will be waiting for receive the appreciation and credit for the work done, you will be astonished to see that he will take all the credit by saying one simple thing that I have worked very hard on this assignment or project and it took me so many hours to get the work done. Your face will be red and you will feel pity on your situation.
Counter attacking credit stealers:
The best way to tackle credit stealers is first of all work with him/her in the team and when the time comes for presentation, tell your senior boss that how much time it took for you to complete this assignment and what efforts you have put into it. The top notch boss will know about your work and achievements beforehand and you can avoid your credit to be stolen.
The above are some techniques I use in my day-to-day office life and you can use them to but shhhhhh. Do not tell them to anyone.
Best of luck.
Read live interviews and questions and answers on office politics below
- How to deal with a dismissive, disrespectful and arrogant employee?
Dear Office Politics, As a director of marketing, I manage a great team of nine in a large organization. Lately I’m experiencing some challenges from a senior member of the team (let’s call her Sharon). Based on her proven and potential ability, I have sent Sharon on a major conference, provided financial recognition for work [...] - 2 months ago
- My sister is making my work life miserable
My sister "Katty" got the job. Fast forward, Katty works here and has been making my work life miserable ever since. She constantly says inappropriate things in the office." Franke James, Inventor of The Office-Politics Game responds: "Clearly your problem is not just office politics, it's family politics too. Unfortunately, family politics can be even worse because it can last a lifetime... Let's look at your options. You've said you're prepared to lay down an ultimatum to HR. Either Katty leaves the company or you do. It sounds logical and decisive but is it smart politically? - 11 months ago
- How do I get my loudmouth coworkers to be quiet?
Dear Office Politics, I work as a Graphic Designer and while I love my job, I hate my work environment. I occupy a cubicle at the back of a large area and my problem is the people all the way on the other side of the room. They scream constantly and tend to get very personal, they are always yelling my name out and trying to involve me in conversations that have nothing to do with me. My job involves a lot of focus so I need a professional atmosphere. It's a mother/daughter team and you hear conversations from what's for dinner to who they don't like. I complained once and the person told them everything that I said and it created a lot of drama and stress for me. I'm at the end of my rope so I need advice on how to handle this very delicate but frustrating situation. - 12 months ago
- I have one BIG problem in my new job: I have NO idea what I’m doing
Dear Office-Politics, ...I have one big problem in my new job: I have no idea what I'm doing, and no one will answer my questions. I have found myself in an unfortunate pickle. In my haste to get a job after moving to a new city, I took a job that seemed perfect at the time. I had been in residential real state for 3 and a half years, and an investment banker with a small staff hired me to work on a special project that would make use of my skills in residential property evaluation, to aid him in the pricing and acquisition of mortgage loans. I was excited to learn a little more about finance. Well, the project never took off and while I am grateful that he has kept me on staff, I am doing nothing but making cold calls regarding commercial real estate loans all day long. - 12 months ago
- My coworker humiliates me…
Dear Office-Politics, I am hoping for some advice. I am a high school librarian. I left my previous position for a position that offered $20,000 more a year. The extra income is a big deal for me. I am a single parent and I have struggled to provide for my child. I was at my previous job for 6 years. I left with a good reputation, an excellent work record, and an offer to come back. I love my work!! I love turning kids on to books!! This new position was fine in the beginning. - 13 months ago
- The Office Crab Criticizes Everyone!
Dear Office-Politics, I am writing on behalf of a group of diverse and hardworking coworkers among whom morale is at an all time low. Our often bumbling managers have a history of granting knee jerk behind the doors promotions, creating new positions without posting them and making surprise staffing changes. Some of us have had four different supervisors in five months. After a recent escalation of this behavior the office crab complained that these job changes were never posted. Alas, when a management job opened up, this time upper management briefly posted the job but quickly gave it to the complainer. - 13 months ago
- Tactics to compete with difficult coworker?
Dear Office-Politics, I am writing on behalf of a close friend, "Jane," who has asked me to help her find tactics to compete with a difficult coworker. Jane has been in her current job a bit over two years. For the first year, she felt valued and generally satisfied with her position. Then another woman, "Laura," joined Jane's department. Jane's work life has been deteriorating ever since. Laura is something of an overachiever and, by what I hear from Jane (I do not work with them), a consummate politicker. Laura has ingratiated herself to their mutual superior, is chummy with many of their colleagues and appears helpful to and liked by all -- except Jane. - 16 months ago
- I thought I had an OK work relationship but
Dear Office Politics, I have worked in a high-stress but free-wheeling media office for more than 20 years, and am good at my job, have OK people skills and am generally respected. I received a promotion about a year ago. However, since moving into a particular department (mostly other women) about 10 years ago, I've apparently stepped on a few toes because I don't quite fit in with the group and have, on a couple of occasions, voiced my opinions on ethical issues that have cropped up. As a result, a couple of co-workers are cool to me, rarely speak to me and exclude me from non-work conversations. A couple more who are close to those two are also quite cool. The rest are neutral (or so I thought). - 16 months ago
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Hi Amit. Thank you so much for sharing such an incredible information on office politics and the counter attacks are brilliant.
How you manage politics and problems in your office is really great. I am impressed with such a good info.
Office politics is ubiquitous any invariably difficult to deal with. Your analysis is very accurate and realistic. Often it comes down to this dilemma: Put up with it or leave the job. The longer one is on the job the more difficult it becomes to walk out on good pay, seniority and security. It's the old pschological dilemma: Fight or run.
Excellent first hub with some very valuable info!
i just started my carrer and these experience of yours will definitely help me...discuss something abt how to tackle a rude boss
1• By knowing who to talk to, clearly communicating how your ideas will benefit them and by keeping your word to others it's the part of Growthfull.
2• By currying favor, suppressing other opposing ideas and taking credit for the ideas of your staff.
I think we can agree that the first example would be fine, while the second would be an example of the dirty politics that people don't like.
Wow Mr. luthar its Great I am being depressed by such backstabber and they are ruining my effort by taking self praise.The same even has oocured with me too many times and am I facing regularly it eventhough having a lot of work credit goes to them.
They snake in grass and somtimes they become your fast friend and take knowledge easily by putting u emotinal.
Tackling office boy;
I am working in a company where the office boy makes friendship with Managers and tells them secrets of each and everyone. But, he keeps commenting me a lot infront of me in the name of someone else. I am from a different region speaking different language. He is annoying me a lot. I have complained this to our CEO. But, it is continuing after a break. Please help me in this situation.
Very interesting hub. I seem to be very naive about workplaces and how to survive. I find it all very tiring having to watch out for the backstabber, the office gossip, the credit stealer and the jealous worker. It's all just too much for me to have to be so guarded for 8 to 9 hours a day because one out of 50 people has some dysfunctional emotional baggage that they want to dump on some one. I go to work to do a job but it seems these days one needs a psychology degree to survive even the most basic of workplaces.
great job buddy......
Dear Mr Amit, First half is really awsom, accurate and more than that, its really valuable asset u r sharing. I may not follow the blog but I would definatly follow ur formula...thnks n keep writing on the same in details, we frustreted ppl will always be eager to have helping hands..thnks n nic to read ur blog.
soni2006 Level 4 Commenter 2 years ago
Wow. You are a great hubber Mr. Luthra and you have shown this with your very first hub. Office politics is a problem in every office whether it is government or private. The solutions of the problems and counterattacks for backstabbing, complainers, blamers, credit stealers, and politicians you have mentioned are brilliant. You have written a nice comprehensive hub. I am really impressed. I will use your tactics in managing office politics in my own office, yes it is everywhere. No one is spared from this. I will take a printout, bookmark, and publish a blog, and email this useful hub to all my friends who are working or going to start their career. Best of luck for your future hubs and online endeavors.
Here are some tips from my side for creating better hubs.
Tip #1. Whenever you create a hub, blog, or web page, always keep the title and url same for example, in this hub, the title you have mentioned is how to manage office politics? and the url is tackle office politics now you cannot change the url once it is published but you can change the title to how to tackle office politics?
Tip #2. Join all the site in the SHARE IT BUTTON like digg, facebook, stumbleupon, blogger, etc. and whenever you publish a new hub, update your blog via the SHARE IT button. It will increase your visitors and your friends will be notified of your new online updates.
Tip #3. Go to http://pingoat.com and ping your hub after publishing and whenever you update or add new content, pics, videos, anything on your hub.
Tip #4. Surf the hubpages to find like-minded people and become their fan and in return they will give you a favor by becoming your fan too.
Tip #5. You write great that is proved but in order to increase your visitor count you can also send your hub via email to your friends and business partners or colleagues.
Tip #6: Join blogger and create a skeleton blog for your hub when ever you publish a new one.
P.S.: I have done this all for you for this hub not because you are my old friend but because you have written an awesome hub which is really exciting and useful for the working class.