HOW DO I MANAGE WORKPLACE POLITICS AS A WOMAN

Politics is not only synonymous with leadership at federal, state or local government level. In the workplace, there is corporate politics at play, it is therefore important to know how to comport one’s self and prevent being a casualty of workplace politics.

Acting Oblivious of the politics at play in your organisation does not make you immune from its consequences. From my experience, it is important to pay attention to these sets of people listed below and decide the right approach to adopt in achieving your goal.The extent to which this is done may determine how rapid your goals are achieved or how turbulent your stay at the workplace.

KEY PLAYERS IN WORKPLACE POLITICS

1. Individuals who believe they have nothing to do with workplace politics: some of these people are non-partisan by choice while some others are just oblivious to the existence of workplace politics. They are the ‘pawns’ directly or indirectly by the active players.

2. Individuals in position of authority and those who call the shots: These can be two different sets of people, those in positions of authority sometimes are not necessarily the ones who call the shots. It is important out who they are and how they act out their roles.

3. Culture of the work environment: Every work environment is unique, there are norms that guide behaviour in them and unwritten rules that once a person goes against can make you turn over your resignation before you realise what happened. It is also important to see how the workplace participants react to the various political inclinations.

4. Workplace sycophants

5. Hard workers

                                                                                                                                                      

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO IDENTIFY THE KEY PLAYERS IN A WORKPLACE?

You need to work the system in order to get what you want out of it. Ignorance or refusal to acknowledge existence does not serve your purpose.