josie
New User
Joined: 30 Jun 2007
Posts: 10
Career Advice: +0/-0
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 Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 3:13 am Post subject: office politics |
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I will be writing some articles on this forum for you to enjoy!
Office Politics
When working in an office with other people, it is difficult to keep minds on more than just work. Gossip, irritations, and relationships can become more important than what is supposed to be important: work. The politics of an office environment can become more prevalent than any other characteristic and sometimes stop productive work flow. Simply put, everything is more important than what should be.
It is in human nature to be social animals. Sometimes this can be a benefit while other times a hindrance, and working environments are no exception. Working together in a close group and focusing can create optimal results. Office politics and the gossip mill do the opposite. It is difficult to refrain in the temptaion of being social at work in all aspects, but the smart employee knows how to separate work and play, gossip and work chatter.
One key point to remember is that anything you say can and most likely will be repeated at a later time. And most likely will not even be close to what was originally said. The gossip mill can be a good thing or a bad thing: great when you are trying to find out details about a promotion or the boss' birthday party, but bad if it puts employees against each other, causes tension, or hurts someone. Any opinions, criticisms, off-color comments, or personal attacks will almost certainly find their way home. When they do, the hurt and conflict caused can damage the work environment and some personal relationships contained within. The best thing is to not say something negative if you do not want to deal with the rammifications later.
Keeping personal feelings and work feelings separate from each other is a good idea. While you may not appreciate the secretary's inability to keep from personal, obnoxious calls, remember that she is the one who always pulls together the things you cannot seem to find right before the big meetings. Working with someone and liking them are two separate entities; two people can work together and dislike each other just the same without it hindering their performance. The important part of the work relationship should focus on completing the tasks at hand, not at being best friends. If two people can be good friends in addition to that, all the better. But adults have jobs, and adults can (should) work together towards a common goal without lots of problems.
Each office tends to have their stereotypical characters, just like on a TV sitcom or a bad movie: the boss is mean, the secretary is gossipy, and there's always a couple of people caught up in the romance cycle and are either fighting or making everyone nauseated. Either being one of these people or having to deal with one of these characters can be an experience. Basic rules include sharing, keeping bad comments to self, and self-control. Almost like being in grade school again. The person who is stressing you and causing difficulties should be treated with the same care as a clingy co-worker: tolerated and with patience. It is difficult to remain composure at all times, but realising the human component in every person and trying to connect or understand can be somewhat beneficial when dealing with a difficult or annoying co-worker. When unable to do so, walking away in silence is a lot easier to shrug off later than trying to retract something that should not have been said. Again, being careful about conduct can go far when maintaining a good work image.
Learning to get along with others and refrain from engaging in unwise and childish behavior may sound simple but can be difficult to achieve and maintain. Practicing self control in all areas of the work environment can be a wise career move. Listening to the workplace chatter but choosing to not gossip, engaging in work, practicing self control, and filling your duties are essential. Saving the networking and chit-chat for an after hours gathering is a savvy way to socialize and not hinder the work environment. Save it for after the time clock. And when in doubt, be quiet.
http://www.cvtips.com/survive_office_politics.html
http://www.cvtips.com/types_of_difficult_people.html
http://www.cvtips.com/effective_communication_skills.html |
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