Office politics is about the concepts of people influencing each other in the workplace and interacting with each other. According to Harvard Review, 85% of managers' successes in their careers are due to their ability to interact with people, and the other 15% are due to business skills.
So what I want to say now is that a manager does not just work with machines; You have to work with people. So what do you want to be and what you want to achieve? You need to communicate with your co-workers. And it's not just the subordinates. Senior Officer also have to talk to people from other departments. If we can make good use of Office Politics, we will benefit a lot.
There are three purposes for this note.
- To understand what Office Politics is.
- To deal with different personalities of people.
- To get the help you need; to build a good network.
1. New Employees
The first thing I want to talk about is new employees. No doubt that you have experienced yourself as a new employee at some point. When new employees come to their new job, they may be happy to get a new job. They may be worried that things will not work out that way. So as a manager, it is important to be able to communicate well with your new team members.
Company Value
I think the HR department will probably do the company orientation. But as a line manager, you should introduce new employees to the core values that are universally accepted in your business. Letting them know is the first step in introducing them. What do you value in your business? It is very important to tell them what to follow.
Building Relationships
When a new employee comes to your department, it is important to build good relationships. You must have been a new employee. When you get a new job, you may not be able to find the right person to take care of you. So what are your responsibilities as a new employee? He should explain what his responsibilities are. Then he will know who is doing what and how he can contact you if he has any questions.
Encourage Respect
Another piece of advice for new employees is mutual respect. You need to value respect and encourage new employees. Everyone in the workplace has their own personal secrets. There may be different perspectives. There may be different ideas and beliefs. You should also explain that you have different personalities and that you should be able to understand and respect each other's differences without being an enemy.
Establish Basic Rules
You also need to explain the basic rules that you and your new employee must agree on. It's not easy to stop him when he does not tell you. So he should tell you what he should know in advance. What to wear in the workplace What behaviors do you accept? Explain what behaviors are unacceptable. He should also know who to report to, called the Chain of Command, when he has some advice. When this is not understood, it can lead to gossip and unwanted misunderstandings. And what will he accomplish? You also want them available to answer your questions when you are feeling uncertain about your suit.
2. It's About Reciprocity And Influence
In fact, office politics is all about dialogue and influence. Let me repeat this to make you understand.
Dealing with Different Personalities
People in your body may have different personalities. According to their patterns, they have different strengths and weaknesses. There will be advantages. These different weaknesses, You need to know the strengths. Assignments are based on these factors. You will be able to do the right thing to work together.
Establishing a Culture of Collaboration
It is important to help each other when working. Cooperation as a manager, We need to be able to build You need to listen and observe what your employees are saying. Do not force yourself to do what you want to do. You have to be smart. Talk about private matters to individuals. Instead of trying to recover, they wallow in their sadness and thus, experience more failure. Live professionally.
Good on Everyone, not Just Those Who Can Help You
As a manager, you need to be impartial. Gossip in the workplace. Do not get involved in bullying. Be aware of the red flag precautions regarding employee behavior and speech. Always pay attention to the way you approach employees and how you assign them.
Live as a Team Player
It's good to be one with your teammates. Encourage your team members. Show empathy. Be open with each member.
3. Rumors. Gossip Dealing with Half-Truths
From now on, rumors about the workplace. I would like to tell you how a manager should deal with gossip and half-truths.
This Can Affect People's Morale
These kinds of things can upset people in the workplace. People who are employed in this way are often afraid to come to work. It can also lead to conflicts between employees.
Strengthen the Truth with Facts
Which is right? Do not just talk about what is wrong; We need to talk with facts. If something happens, discuss it with your teammates. Most importantly, open the way for communication. Meetings should be held weekly to resolve "discussions about the office" regarding grievances.
Don't Participate
Rumors Gossip If you hear half-truths, do not share them with others. Have a big wall so that everything you hear ends up with you. If not, it will be negative.
Handle Immediately
If there is a problem with the half-truths, it needs to be addressed as soon as possible. The faster you clear it, the better. Also, check back later to see if the issues that have been resolved have been resolved. Hold meetings if necessary.
4. Office Personalities
Everyone has unique abilities and looks. This means that everyone has different personalities in the workplace and as a manager you need to understand the different styles and know how to interact in the workplace.
Complainer
A grievance in the workplace is usually an employee who is always looking for something to complain about at work. Their working hours; the responsibilities given to them; the last type of coffee in the living room is always arguing over something. They want to spread bad news. They also want to talk to others about their frustrations. They may look like exemplary employees, but there may be occasional confrontations with colleagues or negative feedback from superiors.
Here are some tips to help you deal with resentment:
- Try to take their point of view as a perspective.
- Guide them also into the good behaviors and to avoid displaying some profane ones.
- Instead of listening to their opinions, think for yourself.
- Do not let their negative attitude overwhelm your work ethic.
Gossiper
The main job of a gossip worker is to get to know and share the latest news from work. Even if they do not know, they will tell their story. They want to be perceived as important and to hold on to the key to the best information possible. The gossiper will find people who want to pay attention to what they are saying. They believe that this kind of behavior makes them more popular and visible, but in reality it can have the opposite effect. It can make you feel insecure and unreliable.
Here are some tips to help you deal with gossip's personality:
- Do not dwell on their gossip or gossip.
- Express that you are not interested in what they have to say.
- Do not pass on the information they tell you to others.
- Do not discuss personal matters with them unless you want the whole job to be known.
Bully
People who bully others in the workplace come in all shapes and sizes. Despite their differences in behavior, their behavior is generally the same. They try to dominate and control the workplace. They often insult or demean their colleagues. Bullies typically have their own ‘pride’ in order to intimidate employees and obey them. They will only be happy if they feel controlled and powerful.
Here are some tips to help you deal with bullying:
- Do not try to challenge them. Doing so encourages their bullying.
- Do not take their comments for granted. It is often not intended to be about you.
- Do not try to satisfy them. They are usually not easily satisfied.
- When talking about their behavior, keep quiet in private.
Negative Ned and Nancy
People who are pessimistic do not trust anyone in authority. They have a tendency to say, "They want to attack me." They always believe they are right, but when they do not say what they think and say something wrong, they say, "I told you so." This kind of personality always looks at the negative in any situation.
Here are some things to keep in mind when dealing with a pessimistic person:
- Be positive. But be realistic.
- Avoid trying to find an easy answer. They will reject it.
- Hold on to the facts.
- Arguing with them; Avoid trying to fix them.
Some traits can adversely affect co-workers and managers as well as the workplace as a whole. Here I would like to talk about the types of personalities a manager might encounter and ways to deal with them in the workplace.
Information Keepers
People who want to hold on to information are like know-it-alls, except that they keep it to themselves, rather than displaying it throughout the workplace. They know the information they need and are waiting for others to come and ask.
They are often successful in gathering information on issues and departments, even if they are not actively involved.
Here are some tips to help you get started:
- It is good to ask for their help. But do not let them control the situation.
- Do not try to correct them or change your mind.
- Focus on the present. Do not turn to other categories.
- Do not try to compete with them.