Analyzing the Power Struggle and Office Politics by Anne M. Bachrach
Office politics can get messy. Make no mistake about it: no matter where you go in the world, you will always find political turmoil. This is simply human nature. Man and womankind are ego-driven creatures and will typically fight viciously when threatened. What can you do as an innocent bystander? You have to find a compromise between playing the politician (which is always a risky game) and being a perfectly docile worker (who is frequently taken advantage of). By now you are aware of some of the most common characteristics of politicking opponents. They speak smoothly and always with a purpose. They seek power in every situation, and carefully take note of their opponent’s strengths and weaknesses. They tend to browbeat weaker opponents either with direct criticism or with a barrage of intellectual rhetoric showcasing their knowledge. Now that they have intimidated everyone else into compliance, it may be your turn to bow in respect. Will you do it? Will you even notice what is happening in this political game?
To Control or Not to Control…
In learning how to survive office politics, it’s best to learn how smart people rise to power. You may understand how they campaign, but how do they actually get the position they crave? The short answer is that they always strive to be in control, and since they do, they are perceived as natural leaders. Dominating weak-minded people is the easy part. The challenge comes in the politician controlling other strong-minded opponents. When the dominant personality senses there is resistance they go into full battle mode. They may try to subtly disparage you in private or even publicly if they feel that confident. They will look for your weaknesses and any tidbit of information that they can use to damage your reputation.
If they feel that you have robbed him of some attention, then they will seek to gain it back. They may keep up their usual antics or try something very dramatic if they feel the timing is right. The intent here is to surprise you and to shake your confidence. Don’t be surprised to see some rather desperate tactics including throwing temper tantrums (i.e. pounding on a desk or shouting) or making personal attacks. One well- known trick that they use to regain control is the old “rush away” at the first sign of conflict. Not only does this end the argument, saving the politician from having to defend themselves, they also attempt to break your confidence by abruptly interrupting your statement.
The politician is not the same thing as an office bully. Bullies are actually much easier to thwart because they have no strategy besides aggression. The politician is wise enough to know not to get into a power struggle if they are tired, if they are outmatched in expertise, or if you have more friends than they do. Always anticipate the friendship gesture (usually offered when they suspects that you’re on to him) and pay careful attention to their eyes and facial expressions. Have you ever read that people “smile” with their eyes? You may be able to pick up on their true feelings if you look closely into their eyes.
The most important directive of the politician is to “never lose”, they being a creature of intense competition. They would sooner walk away then lose an argument. Once you lose an argument, especially in public, then you have lost a measurable amount of control and influence. If you can’t handle a public debate with an experienced talker, don’t even try to argue.
Telling People What They Want to Hear
The politician is an expert at telling people what they want to hear, whether they are selling themselves, selling others on their ideas or merely trying to influence someone to follow their lead and take action. They are extremely talented at remembering information and taking mental notes about their opponents. So be careful about sharing too much information with someone that you know cannot be trusted. The politician counts on other people coming to their defense so be aware if some alliances are being formed. Some workers have found that respectfully approaching other co-workers (particularly if there’s a problem) brings the best results and actually strengthens relationships. About now, you should be relieved that you have worked so hard to make friends out of your other co-workers! Last but not least, the politician may resort to a pity party if they feel that they is losing control. Play this one by ear…it never hurts to be sympathetic, but it always pays to be smart about common manipulation tactics.
Politics are just a part of life inside any community. The best scenario is that you avoid blatantly campaigning for power or intentionally injuring anyone else’s reputation. (Karma can be cruel in that respect) However, the more you learn about the different types of personalities in the workplace, the more you realize that some psychometric education can help you even this early in your career. If you successfully manage to handle the politician, as opposed to making them a permanent enemy, then you may eventually impress management with your people skills.
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© 2013 Anne M. Bachrach. All rights reserved. Anne M. Bachrach is known as The Accountability Coach™. She has 23 years of experience training and coaching. Business owners and entrepreneurs who utilize Anne’s proven systems and processes work less, make more money, and have a more balanced and successful life. Anne is the author of the books, Excuses Don’t Count; Results Rule!, and Live Life with No Regrets; How the Choices We Make Impact Our Lives, and The Work Life Balance Emergency Kit. Go to http://www.accountabilitycoach.com/Achieve.Your.Goals.Free.Gifts.Now/ and get 3 FREE gifts including a special report on 10 Power Tips for Getting Focused, Organized, and Achieving Your Goals Now. Join the FREE Silver Inner Circle Membership today and receive 10% off on all products and services, in addition to having access to assessments and resources to help you achieve your goals so you can experience a more balanced and successful life (http://www.accountabilitycoach.com/coaching-store/inner-circle-store/).