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What is the purpose of office politics and do you think it's fair? |
What is the purpose of office politics and do you think it's fair? All your life you will have to deal with politics of one kind or another, and things that are terribly unfair...you just have to handle it, we all do. You can get another job, of course, and things might be better, but no job is ideal and all have someone or something that will drive you crazy if you let it. The more focused you are on your own work, the less time you have to be distracted or involved in politics. There is no purpose of office politics, it's just human nature that happens when placed in that situation that's why it's universally everywhere. Is it fair? I'd love to tell you you didn't have to play by the rules of society and human nature but you do. Were those rules made fairly... NO. Can you do anything about it?? NO. Your only option is to do your best playing by the rules. Let me answer your second part of the question first. NO I don't think that office politics is fair FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT ON THE RECEIVING END! Those on the 'giving' end think that the process is fair, and they use it to their advantage. Now, let's look at the first part of the question. There are three purposes for office politics... 1. So management can test the flow of information and 'weed out' any breeches of security. 2. To test the 'scuttlebutt' factor of office gossip in order to plant or spread rumors to control or manipulate employee/staff behavior. 3. To see which employees will play the game once the pressure is applied, and which will not. Another reason: To build cases against employees...even honest employees...who no longer wish to serve at the dictates of management policies, EVEN if management policies are dishonest, dangerous, and have disasterous implications. How to BEAT office poltics is quite easy: First, make friends in a BROAD number of departments...and BUILD your own information system. Second, remove those things from your office or cube that serve as a 'dead' giveaway about you. Pictures of family, degrees, awards, etc. NOT everything belongs on your wall EXCEPT those things that will present what YOU want presented. Believe it or not, there ARE people who are on the cleaning/maintenance crew who are a part of the 'spy' or 'black bag' ops for higher ups who do MONITOR what certain people have in their offices. PLUS, there are some higher ups who are jealous of people who have 'hot' wives' or 'hot' husbands (yes people, in our 'enlightened' age, WOMEN DO practice sexual harrassment and jealousy!) Best advice I learned was from Harry Truman and TD Jakes: If you want a friend, buy a dog! --Truman You go to work to get a check, NOT to get a family --Jakes When in doubt, keep your mouth SHUT because the WALLS DO HAVE EARS...and keep a shredder in your office and USE it...because there are folk who DO go through your trash. Sign me Shredhead! Life Experience As An Old Fart! Welcome to the real world. It is not fair. You are responsible for yourself. There are no excuses. You have to work hard. The more thinking a person has to do on a job, the less time there is for chit-chat. I got out of the clerical pool for that reason and the fact that I work better by myself anyway which I found reduced the office drama. Usually when an employee just works and remains cordial to all, then the chances of getting involved in politics are minimal. It's easier said but it works in the long run. The only employer I've had that did not appreciate that attitude was the Los Angeles School District where certain adminstrators even acted like teenagers when it came to spreading gossip and unfair speculations on those who could not defend themselves. |
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