Office politics How to navigate office politics and succeed

Office politics How to navigate office politics and succeedOffice politics How to navigate office politics and succeedPolitics are everywhere, evenin the office.When we formrelationships, we create thepotential for differences in opinions and conflicts of interests. This is especially true inworkplaces, where many Americans spend a significant amount of their time. According to Gallup, half of all adults employed full time in the U.S. spend anaverage of 47 hours per week on the job, with about four in 10reporting that they work at least 50 hours a week.There are countless challenging or potentially combustible situations that one can encounter in the workplace.For example, coworkers could disagree about projects, undermine one another, or disengage with the team, which could cause resentment and blame.Competition and a perception of nepotism could create feelings of unfairness and frustration.Office romancescould causedrama and disrupt the office. And, of course, sharing communal wor kplaces - and refrigerators - creates an environment ripe for misunderstandings.Minor incidents and outright battles at work cannegatively affect us - both on the job and off.Office politics couldcause us toget angry, which makes our blood pressure go up. We couldbecomeresentful and think that life isnt fair. It couldalso cause headaches, backaches, and heartburn. We may even dread going in to the office.So what can individualsdo to avoid negative dramaat work?The ability to communicate clearly and appropriately with ones superiors and co-workers is essential.Here aresomecommunication and problem-solving tips thatcan help you navigate office politics.Remember that were all humanTry not to take office politics so personally. No matter how good, fair, or appropriate you are, there will always be others who create conflict.When in doubt, give othersthe benefit of compassion. They may have complications at home or have been through some horrible things earlier in their life that you have no idea about.Pick yourbattles carefullyThis is not to say shut down and choose not to engage at all. But if youre like me, you have plenty of other thingsoutside of work that take up your time and energy- significant othersor spouses, children, aging parents, and community involvement, for example.Most humans have a limited bandwidth, understandably. Ask yourself Is this office issue worth taking on? Will taking this on negatively drain myinternal fuel for myselfand my other responsibilities?Keepan open mindEven if you dont agree with others, its important to have a flexible and open mind andlisten to others points of view.You may learn to appreciate the other persons argument or at least see where theyre coming from. The other person will likely appreciate being heard and may reciprocate by listening to your perspective.Be kindThere will always be office policies or practices we find unfair, people we find annoying, and bosses with unrelenting or unrealistic demands. But we d ont need to make an excessive stink, pout, or whine about it. We also dont need to lash out. Those are unhealthy behaviors for us, for others, and for our work environment.Treat others as youwould like to be treated. This is not to say that you have to like everyone or everything at work. Thats unrealistic. But if you are kind and respectful, youre more likely to help the situation. Plus, theres a greater chance that you can sleep soundly because you kept your integrity and honored someone elses personhood.Propose office guidelinesSome workplaceshave very good office etiquette, and employeesare respectful of themselves and one another. Good for those people If you are not in one of those places, you may consider asking your colleagues if they want to create an office manners document.This would not be used for policing. Rather it could settransparent ground rules that wouldhelp foster productivity. It could include common courtesies and consequences on everything from heating up sme lly fish in the microwave to setting theoffice temperature.Empower yourselfOffice politics exist and can take a negative toll on individuals, teams, and overall work cultures. Learning and practicing good communication and problem-solving skills can help empower us to stay sane and productive.