Whenever you have worked in a company where there is a hierarchy, no matter how small, you are in a Political situation. The ambition of your colleagues, sub-ordinates and superior managers all bounce together and this creates friction. Just doing your job is not enough you must be aware of the Politics of business and handle yourself in the midst of these interactions.
This type of awareness is becoming particularly important in the recession where finding a new career or job is particularly difficult with unemployment rising. Job security is about performance but also about Politics, you read about harassment and discrimination and unfortunately this is something you must actively avoid through purposeful tactics in dealing with your colleagues.
Any personal relationships in a business have an effect when decisions are made. You will encounter people who go out of their way to befriend a senior partner or manager in your business. Often this bears fruit when promotions are handed out, but it can backfire as well with many managers or directors cynical towards this type of behaviour. Walking the tight rope of interpersonal dealings with people and maintaining a professional distance is very difficult, but one that must be mastered.
Talking to colleagues you will hear many of them declare that they avoid politics in their life because they find it unpleasant. If you become isolated this will come back to haunt you when you need the support of others so you must engage with people and help manufacture their opinions of you through your own behaviour. But be careful what you say, most of the time the opportunity to score points to a director or manager will mean more than holding confidence pledged to you in private. A simple rule of thumb is if you do not ever want management finding out something; say nothing to your colleagues.
My decision to enter real life Politics was to learn to function in this type of environment not only to progress within the party I am a member of but to deal with people in a professional way. To succeed in Politics means networking, maintaining and growing new relationships and showing a keen willingness to learn. It also means negotiating when to stand for a position and being able to defeat, but not destroy opponents and still maintain a positive relationship with them. Private resentment may occur, but the best Politicians manage to win through. Too many times in the past I found myself in situations where dislike towards me meant that I had to conceded to myself that I was not playing the Political game well enough.
A fantastic example of this in the real world was the infamous deal made between Tony Blair and Gordon Brown after the death of leader John Smith brought about an impromptu leadership contest in the Labour Party in 1994. Blair managed to keep the support of Brown whilst getting his own way standing without the opposition of Brown who would have made his leadership challenge far more difficult. During his career Tony Blair was renowned as a skilled Politician who negotiated his way to the top with single minded ambition and brilliant handling of the people he needed to help him achieve his goals.
You must remain positive towards others, whilst keeping a professional distance. Colleagues should know you are fair, but ruthless in your pursuit of this fairness. Your private life should stay private and your demeanour personable, however if opponents and allies alike are not aware of your conviction to the cause whether that be towards the business or the next election then this is a mistake on your part. If they know you will make a tough decision, they will not be upset when you make the right choice even if it is a choice that negatively impacts them.
This does not mean that being warm to people is a tactic. My own dealings with people are genuinely friendly and warm at all times. But there is nothing wrong with having an awareness that political beings will seek mutually beneficial secret pacts and cliques. It is human nature to want to be friends and seek allies in situations where you are not secure, in business and political circles security is rare where maintaining authority depends on votes, support and confidence in your abilities. You can be part of these cliques by all means however be aware of where the benefit lies and for whom. The benefit may be yours, if so embrace it!
The difficulty for you in befriending your work colleagues is that most of the time you are interacting only in the business environment where other factors are at work aside from your apparent friendship. This is only found out at key moments where your misguided sense of loyalty from apparent friends may expose you in circumstances where awareness of your true position in terms of politics would give you time to prepare the right defense in the situation. Remember that when personal advancement is available, any consequences to others are generally forgotten or conveniently not considered. I have a high morale code and would not screw people but remember this does not mean that others behaviour towards you will be so honourable.
A healthy dose of friendly cynicism is recommended in all dealings with people. This does not mean you cannot be genuinely warm but remember that trust is earned over time and through actions, but a leopard can change its spots. It is unfortunate that people will seek to step on your own progress to facilitate their own, but you can make it far harder for them by not exposing yourself to such actions. Your own awareness and political manoeuvrings of your own will keep you in control of your own progression through the worlds political minefields.
95% of people you interact with are good honourable people. Make sure that to the rogue 5% of people you are not an easy target. This applies to all areas of life.
Malcolm Clarke is a freelance writer with over 300 published articles online. He is an active member of the Labour Party.
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