Office politics is when someone within your organization uses their position (or assumed position) to acquire advantages beyond which they are entitled.
These "advantages" may be "hard" (access to company property) or "soft" (dating the boss).
You can't avoid it...
You have to face it...
Here are 20 rules for keeping the inevitable office politics civil...
1.
Keep it professional at all times.
2.
Play the game being played; not the one you want or think should be played.
3.
Don't make enemies.
Don't burn bridges.
4.
Don't whine and complain.
5.
Don't intimidate superiors.
Try to avoid going over your superior's head.
6.
Don't make others look bad.
7.
Don't criticize employees or bosses.
8.
Couch criticism in terms of employer's interests, not personal.
9.
Help others get what they want and they will in turn help you get what you want.
10.
Establish affiliations of mutual advantage with important people.
11.
Find common ground with others.
12.
Don't discuss personal problems.
13.
Selectively self-disclose.
14.
Don't assume anything will stay secret.
15.
Create win/win solutions.
16.
Keep employer's perspective in mind.
17.
Cultivate a positive, simple, accurate image.
18.
Force yourself to do difficult, uncomfortable or scary things.
19.
Be pleasant.
Laugh and smile.
20.
Be assertive and tough when required, not aggressive.
You have to know the "rules" in business in order to succeed.
Office politics can have the most complicated "rules" of any business protocol.
The risks of losing in office politics carries the possibility of losing your job.
Success at office politics can carry promotion.
Before you tread in this unspoken office behavior, make sure you're on the right side of the tracks.
Play fair and good luck!