Dealing with politics at work
An open communication and a transparent work culture instils an unwreckable sense of pride and loyalty
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About a year ago, in an organisation comprising 100 employees, a high-performing employee who had spent seven years in the company was wrongly fired. The IT team detected a security breach in the system that traced back to his computer. Only after an investigation was it determined that he was framed, and the breach was a ‘planned conspiracy’ in the greed for promotion.
Be it a start-up, SME or an MNC, politics has become an inseparable part of organisational structures. Here's how to deal with the mind games.
It’s time to wise up and dismantle your opposition’s plans. Take a step back. Think of all the times your gut has told you that something was amiss, and you overlooked it assuming it is a minor hiccup.
This is also a great technique to identify the troublemaking influencers of the problem and collaborate to find a solution. Ask yourself: Is it serious? Does it need to be addressed with immediate effect? Can there be a polite way to create a change of mind?
Wouldn’t it have been easier to reason out the occurrence and dissolve it internally by identifying the core pain point of the situation? Focus on creating a win-win situation for all. Consult somebody you trust before you make a decision.
Are your employees happy or is something bothering them?
Can this bothering become a reason for them to be unproductive intentionally?
Could this lead to a bad influence and pose to be a threat to business?
Viciousness often forms a pattern of recurrence. All you need to do is put a tracking mechanism in place. Sensing the pulse of the workplace occasionally is extremely crucial. It helps envision the future.
Losing out on productivity due to the toxic behaviour of a handful few is not tolerable. You may have to take a few harsh decisions. Learn to manage upwards and invest in building deep and wide relationships. True leaders encourage human interaction. Build a team that believes in the company’s vision and strives to take it to greater heights willingly, without any ulterior motives.