How to Navigate Office Politics: A Simple Guide

In any work environment, there is always going to be a blend of people that hold different titles and positions. This complex and varied group of people that makes up a company environment will typically have differing opinions, attitudes, mindsets, and perspectives on a number of workplace and non-workplace topics, which summed up in a nutshell, refers to office politics.

Working with others that have conflicting positions of power and authority, as well as different beliefs on a variety of subjects can be overwhelming, isolating, and distracting. If you’re someone that is unsure of how to navigate the world of office politics, here are five ways you can do so!

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What Are Office Politics?

Put simply, office politics, also known as workplace politics, is a term used to describe workplace dynamics between people that typically involve some degree of varying authority or power among workers. According to Better Up, “Office politics refers to the complex social structure of a workplace. It involves employees using their authority, power, and delegation for their personal agenda.”

Navigating the complex and nuanced world of office politics can be tricky, but these five tips will definitely give you some help!

5 Ways to Navigate Office Politics

1. Develop an Understanding of Formal vs. Informal Networks: In the office world, there are two types of networks: formal and informal. The term formal network refers to the specific title or position an employee may have, which can include but is not limited to: intern, office manager, vice president, CEO, etc. Informal network refers to the socialization between workers, which is usually influenced by their specific job position or authority within the workplace. Differentiating the two can be confusing, but once you have a grasp of these network variations, interacting with different coworkers and employees will become a lot more seamless. A post by Indeed notes, “Understanding how these social networks operate can help you work efficiently with team members and avoid unnecessary conflicts.”

2. Work on Your Soft Skills: Soft skills are an essential quality to have in any job position, and if you have strong soft skills, it can help you navigate office politics with confidence. Soft skills are typically your “people skills” or skills that involve your ability to interact with people at work, which can include your ability to: communicate, listen, work with a team, be patient, balance your time, etc. When you have strong soft skills, handling office problems, navigating workplace politics, and engaging with people of varying job titles and positions of power is less overwhelming and much easier to do.

3. Help Create a Positive Work Environment: It goes without saying that some days at work can be stressful, overwhelming, or downright miserable. Perhaps a phone call didn’t go the way you wanted it to, or a co-worker failed to do a task in a timely manner- regardless of how situations like this occur, it is important to create and maintain a positive work environment. Of course, the responsibility does not solely fall onto you, but your attitude can affect the atmosphere in a positive or negative way depending on how you decide to handle it. Embrace concerns with empathy, encourage healthy communication among coworkers, and offer solutions to problems when they occur.

4. Remain Neutral During Conflicts: When an office problem or issue occurs, it can be easy to follow your emotions, share your honest feelings, and even side with a group of coworkers. While it may feel natural to do so, fight the urge and do your best to remain natural in these situations. Set an example by communicating your values and avoid talking about controversial subjects like politics, and instead divert the tension by introducing conversation starters like the weather, a locally supported sports team, a newly released movie, or even what everyone brought for lunch. This can help everyone cool off, let go of the heated discussion, and connect on topics that don’t revolve around work.

5. Facilitate Communication and Collaboration: In any work environment, people are driven by their individual motives and goals, which can lead to a competitive and cutthroat workplace. This can be lessened by encouraging communication and collaboration among workers of different positions and titles. Heather Smith of Flimp Communications explained to Forbes, “Often it can be as simple as inclusion and collaboration. A willingness to share your ideas, bounce ideas off others and ask for others’ opinions tends to lead to less adverse politics.” Team-building activities, group-oriented tasks, or even an office lunch/dinner can all be great opportunities to get people to talk to one another, collaborate on new ideas, and hear different perspectives.

Any office or work environment has a variety of job titles, opinions, voices, and perspectives, which can often clash among those with strong personalities. Navigating office politics doesn’t have to be difficult, however, if you follow these tips!