In this day and age, it is near impossible and nothing short of a minor miracle if you don’t get involved in office politics. There are so many employees who claim that they are not interested in office politics. Make no mistake, you might not be interested in office politics, but office politics are very much interested in you! That is more or less what my position was when I first entered into a corporate environment. My only focus was on performing well for my employers and remaining wary of any controversy. It was naïve and innocuous but I have learnt throughout the years that this is a mistake most newcomers make on their first jobs.
The first reaction that these employees will have, can range from anger, frustration to feelings of betrayal and being backstabbed. A promotion is a pretty sensational affair in the office environment. I felt both pride and grandeur when I received my first promotion. Unknown to me, this had made me a pariah in the eyes of my colleagues and even some of my seniors. My strategy to get ahead in life and my company had worked until now, but I was soon to discover that it has its limitations.
At a certain point during my 8 years at a company, I was up for a VP promotion. My outstanding performances, as well as several leadership roles in multiple successful projects, were ignored and my name was ignored as well. I found out much later that I had completely misunderstood how promotions of this nature work. There’s something more than performance and motivation required, which I lacked considerably. I had failed to nurture my relationships with people who had enormous influence over my career and my position within the company.
It was a hard learnt lesson, but a valuable one. Avoiding office politics can seriously harm and sabotage your career. My initial evaluation of trying to be the best performer was incorrect. Combined with outstanding performances, you need to be a politically astute and savvy within the organization. Not only should you perform well, your seniors should know that you know you’re doing well. Appreciation in terms of promotions and appraisals can only be earned through this invaluable match of tact and skill.
Now, the next question that most people ask is obvious; how to become politically savvy in internal office politics. There are heaps of professional jealousy and corporate resentment around you, from both your colleagues and your bosses. The most important thing is to pay attention. Pay attention to details and be wary of the latest developments within your office. Who’s talking to whom, who’s working on which project, the latest promotions. These are all part of the information that can prove vital in giving you the edge in internal corporate settings.
