3 Common Workplace Politics Traps and Tips to Navigate Them

“Workplace politics” are the unspoken rules that employees must learn and abide by if they are to survive in organizational life. While every company has these “rules,”; it is harder to figure out and abide by them in some company cultures than in others. Top-down hierarchical cultures, family-owned businesses, and tech start-ups are among the places where politics can be harder to decipher.

The “Friends of … ” Trap

The person who no one wants to offend is usually the key power source in an organization. Let’s call that person “Pat.” And let’s say that Pat also has an entourage,” – a group of insider colleagues who hold power because of their relationship with Pat. For example, those Friends of Pat (FOPs) might also expect their colleagues to defer to them. Situations like this exist in many companies (and while they are good for the insiders, they create distrust and fear among everyone else). I once had a client whose boss was afraid of someone he managed because that person had a direct line to the CEO. He was so scared of her that he let her do whatever she wanted, including missing workdays, talking over her colleagues in meetings, and throwing colleagues under the bus to the CEO! FOP situations are not good, but they are common. What to do? If you find yourself in one of those situations, be particularly thoughtful about how you express your opinions and to whom you express your opinions. One misstep could put you in the outhouse. (Pun intended)! You could also work to become an “insider,” but I do not recommend that strategy unless you share their values. Don’t strive to become an insider if you have to sell your soul in the process.

We have the power!

Another common scenario is when certain functions have more power than others. For instance, in tech, it is often the developer group. If that group of technical professionals is positioned as “the smart ones,” it becomes difficult for people outside that group to get support for their ideas about the product. Or, if they offer suggestions about the product, the development team leaders might complain to their bosses, claiming interference. What to do? Success in situations like these may rely upon your ability to clearly identify the idea or point-of-view you want to share and then work with the leaders of your function so they can advocate for your idea to their peer-level leaders. Going it alone will likely backfire because the functional “pecking order” that was in place before you arrived will still be there. You need to work within the system to determine how best to get your needed influence.

Quirky leader at the helm

Sometimes leaders have quirks that others must overlook to get ahead. For example, I once worked in a company where an influential leader was always “too busy!” His “solution” was to multitask during meetings. For example, he often cleaned his shoes while in meetings. Everyone knew this was a power play – his way of showing how busy and important he was. Those of us who watched him do this wished it would stop, but we were afraid to have our names associated with the complaints! Unsurprisingly, this leader had created a strong top-down hierarchy and tolerated little dissent. What to do? The only thing to do in a situation like this is to play to your strengths, focus on the outcomes you want to drive when meeting with the quirky leader, and decide on a long-game strategy for your survival. Will you stay, or will you go? It seldom works to try to change a leader’s quirky behavior.

Some general tips to find your workplace political mojo

• Pay attention: Carefully observe the verbal and nonverbal communications that convey the “rules”,
• Study the power brokers. Try to figure out their “why,”; the reason they do what they do. Sometimes they want more power. Sometimes they are insecure. Sometimes they value loyalty above all else. Once you understand these patterns, you will be able to determine how best to function in “their” sphere of influence. Let politics help you decide how to get the best bang for your influence buck.
• Build a corp of allies. Don’t just focus on building influence with the person at the top of your hierarchy. Build relationships at all levels. Through casual conversations, let everyone with whom you interact know what you are doing, your accomplishments, and what you want. They might become allies.
• Decide what you want and who can help you get it. If you understand the politics, you can use those insights to help you get what you need.

Every organization comes with unique quirks and political norms, and you will always have to understand and adjust to them to succeed. Always start by listening and learning and then use those insights to guide your next steps.