How do you deal with office politics?

[Guada_FN]

Hi everyone,

This has been a problem of money for centuries -- politics in the workplace! How do you deal with them?

Some answers will be compiled in an article to help fellow employees on how to manage this.

Happy sharing!

[shinies]

Unless you have control and unless you are directly involved, stay away from it!

[hedonista]

OMG this is just my predicament now. I googled article articles about office politics kaso frustrating kasi parang sinasabi na we need to be "political savvy" to survive. I do not think so.

Nepotism is real, Minsan puro friends at close ng upper management napopromote even if highly qualified ng ibang applicants. Marami kamag anak - ano ito family business.

It happens. I cannot please everyone and I dont kiss ass also. I am ok with my team and some colleagues. I maintain business only policy, no chit chats. iwas sa chismis. pero nasusuka talaga ako sa mga kiss a$s. Some bridges I burn. I am a good employee and I know I will survive without joining the bandwagon.

[merchee]

I think it is something you can't avoid. Wherever you go, for sure there will be. However, it varies. There will be some companies na hindi ganon ka-evident ang "politics" and some na super talamak.

If you're a veteran na and been working for few years already and worked with different companies and different types of people, you know you'll get by. Sana naman by this time, you know na how to handle such. 

If you're a freshie, my advice to you is to be true to yourself. Kailangan makisama but you don't have to kiss ass. Kailangan matuto but you don't have to return any favor. Wala kang utang na loob sa mga nagturo sayo dahil it "could" be part of their job to knowledge transfer to you. Soon, you'll be the one to share such to your minors and colleagues and don't take it as if they owe you. Because these kinds of "utang na loob" could trigger such things.

Another, be strong. Try to take constructive criticisms. If they say something bad about you, take advantage of that. Try to check yourself. Baka nga naman true yun then change yourself for the better. If not, just show to them the truth. You don't have to please anyone but you don't be mayabang. You don't need to share your whole life to the whole office. They don't need to know na nagaaway sa pera ang pamilya mo, etc. Chismis is real in the office. If you are not comfortable telling the story of your life sa office then don't. You're not obliged. You'll learn a lot when you start working in a corporate environment.

Always apply the golden rule. Be professional. Don't burn bridges. Lastly, you can always leave anytime. If you think it's like a poison that is slowly killing you, then leave. Just make sure that you've done all your best before doing so. Don't be a job hopper. Pangit sa resume.

[rics]

I turn a blind eye, since in reality, there is really nothing I can do to change the situation anyway. There were many, many times that I have attempted to voice out my opinion, open up on the topic during meetings, write something about the issue during year end evaluations, even an attempt to talk to upper management  (I don't trust our VP though - which kept me from doing so). Don't want to stir some feathers, and least I want to be the subject of my boss' rebuttal, I just kept my mouth shut and just go with the flow.

Just recently, positions were re-shuffled in out department, mine included, to accommodate a certain employee who is now enjoying the benefit of travelling to a different region. She, who was a recent rehire and who already had an issue with someone from the department who labeled her a favorite.

But what can I do? I don't have to kiss ass, never been one, just here for the money.  I just focus on the things that needs to be done and at the end of the day, can say am worth more than what I am being paid for and then set an example for others to see.

[cupcakejane]

I would say, to just be mature enough to accept what can't be changed since its really just a way of life in the office.  Most especially those who doesn't have anything better to do.

[Acetylcholine]

Master the art of Deadmatology  If you can't beat them, join them. But don't let them bring you down.