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Anyone who knew me in the early years of my career knew that while I may have been passionate about national politics, I was lousy at workplace politics. I actually knew it too and often wished I could work someplace where the office political game didn’t exist. Many of you know that I also wish I was taller too!

Regardless of where you stand on the political spectrum: McCain, Obama, Clinton or Nader, you may wish that you too could work in a place where there are no politics. I don’t think that place exists. It makes more sense to figure out how to influence others effectively.

• Can you think of someone you know who is hard working and has been stabbed in the back?
• Do you know someone who while pretentious and mean, has managed to get on the fast track to the top?

I’ve seen it happen many times and I bet you have too.

Why do Things Get Political?
Politics enters the workplace because business is about competition. It can be overt or invisible but almost everyone competes for things: opportunities, money, customers or resources. People compete for promotions, face time with colleagues, prestige, recognition, advancement, and power. The fact that people plot and scheme illustrates the truth about politicking – it works.

Some noble souls refuse to play the game. They focus on their jobs and work hard, hoping to be noticed and rewarded. These are sometimes the folks who are overlooked or ignored. I don’t know anyone who really likes to be overlooked or ignored.

Many try to get ahead and not play the political game. I work with clients in many industries and this is often a topic we explore together. If you can find the right words and actions and influence your colleagues and customers, they may provide you with what you want. But if you think you can succeed with out being political, you need to “’snap out of it.”

Play or Pay
When it comes to the political game, people can be divided into three types:

The Idealist – focused on work. They don’t like politics and they work hard. They may be very good at their job and work honestly, diligently, and sometimes naively. They follow the rules, try to do what is ‘fair’ and ‘right’ and feel frustrated when decisions made are not ‘fair’ or ‘right.’ They are nice people, but sometimes being nice means losing. Since they won’t play politics, they get taken advantage of. They end up sounding like organizational martyrs, griping about how unfair things are but not doing anything about it. They believe that the political means using underhanded tactics and manipulation.

The Schemer – often arrogant, sometimes a bully and always with a clear focus on what is best for them. They climb over others, manipulate, deceive and exploit people and situations to get the upper hand. They are eager to leap up the professional ladder and arrange things to their advantage. Rarely nice, they rarely lose. These folks play the political game frighteningly well. They may sound like a sterotype, but they do exist and almost never look back to see the bodies left behind.

The Pragmatist – respects the rules but gets that the unofficial rules of politics can be more important. They know that decisions are often not ‘fair’ or ‘right’ and that decision makers have both personal and professional buttons that need to be pressed. They may not be the best at what they do but their connections and influence help them climb the career ladder.

Remind Them
I’ve learned both first hand and through observation that politics are not automatically bad. Politicking describes the act of examining business relationships and learning how to influence others more effectively. It means using informal channels as well as the officially approved ones and that isn’t always a bad thing.

Politicking does not have to be selfish. You can use your understanding of politics to influence people and accomplish goals that are good for your organization as well as yourself. Even in the most harmonious and supportive places, people don’t always agree. Having an understanding of politics and knowing how to exert a little influence can help you pull people together and achieve outcomes that are in the firm’s best interest too.

My Dad used to say that ‘what goes around, comes around,’ even though I was not always around to actually see it happen. If you want to manipulate and use people, you will eventually get caught. You might be labeled as being ‘political’ causing others to distrust you. Effective politicking should be as much about give as it about take.

Politics in the workplace is a lot like the national political scene. You can play the game, learn to play it well, or get left behind. It’s completely up to you.

Upcoming Speaking Engagements

06.12.2008
“Effective Interpersonal and Organizational Communication”
Maryland Works, Inc. 10270 Old Columbia Road, Suite 100, Columbia, MD 21046 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
register online

06.24.2008
“Managing Multi-Generational Differences”
Maryland Works, Inc. 10270 Old Columbia Road, Suite 100, Columbia, MD 21046 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
register online

06.26.2008
“Power Tools for Women®”
Mercy Health System. Conshohocken, Pennsylvania  8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.