While many businesses have strong corporate rules regarding healthy competition in the office, the chances of running into issues down the line are improbable.
A study revealed that nearly 60% of employees believe that office politics “is somewhat necessary to get ahead.” While some consider it “a necessary evil,” it’s not healthy, and can affect productivity.
So, how can you deal with office politics when it happens in your company? Read on below to find out the best way to manage controversy and problems in the office without affecting your relationship with co-workers and your attitude towards work.
It’s not you, it’s the issue
Do not attack the problem personally, as issues related to office politics are often not about a single person, but a process in the business that some people do not agree on. It’s best to approach the problem with a solution rather than getting too personal. It’s always best to avoid naysayers and instead try and offer constructive suggestions on how management may be able to resolve the issue quickly and effectively.
You should always be approachable at work, easy to work with and never lose your temper as traits like this can go in your favor when looking to climb the corporate ladder.
Don’t take sides
The best way to avoid being a target of office politics is by refusing to take sides when fractions happen. Learn how to approach situations professionally and work with others without having to join arguments because of personal reasons.
However, it can be easier said than done. Even in journalism, leading news websites have reported biased opinions without doing the correct due diligence. What this says, is only have input if you are 100% certain what you are suggested is for the betterment of the company or situation as well being factually correct.
The aforementioned example involved an oil and gas company operating in the Middle East that was wrongfully accused of corruption without the publication in question fact-checking. If you go into an argument without knowing the full story, you can facze repercussions, damage relations, and worse case you could face disciplinary actions. Always approach a situation with an unbiased view and take into consideration there is always two sides to a story.
Consider win-win
It’s human nature to be competitive, as early education has taught us that the only way to survive in the big wide world is by succeeding – although, this doesn’t have to be the case in the office, all the time. Remember that the workforce are all working for the benefit of the company, which is the common goal of many businesses, but getting distracted by office politics can ruin this goal. Creating a win-win solution can help everybody focus on the corporate goal rather than their own personal goals, which in the long run should help everybody in their advancing in their careers.