How Can You Master Ethical Office Politics to Fast-Track Your Career Growth?

Why Do Less Talented Colleagues Get Promoted Over You and How Can You Fix It?

Chartered psychologist Rob Yeung challenges the taboo of office politics, arguing that refusing to “play the game” is like running a race without shoes. Learn why political skills are essential for visibility and how to leverage networking, adaptability, and sincerity to secure the promotions you deserve without compromising your integrity.

Stop letting your hard work go unnoticed while others schmooze their way to the top. Continue reading to master the art of “interpersonal adaptability” and learn exactly how to build influence without becoming the office villain.

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Do your colleagues land more plum assignments than you do? Do your talents get overlooked? Are you tired of watching your less-capable co-workers get promoted because they schmooze with the boss? You might loathe the term “office politics,” but maybe it’s time to start playing the game. Chartered psychologist Rob Yeung explains that leveraging office politics doesn’t have to mean using underhanded tactics or backstabbing others to get ahead.

Take-Aways

• Employees who exhibit strong political skills reap personal rewards.
• Networking isn’t necessarily an unethical activity.
• Adaptability is a crucial aspect of office politics.
• Speak and act with sincerity to excel at politicking.

Summary

Employees who exhibit strong political skills reap personal rewards.

Office politics is a divisive topic. While most people view politicking as an underhanded, scheming behavior, a small minority view it as a useful tool for productivity and personal advancement. The minority has a point: Several research studies have proven that the benefits of political maneuvering in the workplace are manifold. An in-depth analysis of the data by Liam Maher at Boise State University, for example, found that subjects who exhibited higher political skills boasted better job performance, lower workplace stress, and more frequent promotions and pay rises.

“Political behavior can be used for mutually beneficial or entirely selfish reasons.”

Political skill is defined as “the ability to understand stakeholders effectively and to use such knowledge to influence them and secure resources in order to achieve organizational and/or personal goals.” This definition doesn’t broach the notion of fairness: Political skills can be used to achieve both altruistic and self-interested goals.

Networking isn’t necessarily an unethical activity.

Many people consider “networking” a dirty word. Networking, a subskill of politicking, means finding opportunities to rub shoulders with higher-ups — managers, decision-makers, and so on.

“There is nothing innately sinister about networking. It merely involves taking the initiative to gain wider exposure to decision-makers and other stakeholders.”

Many companies offer their employees flexible working solutions, including hybrid and fully remote options. While working from home boosts employee productivity, it decreases employee visibility. Consequently, high-achieving remote workers who lack the opportunity to form and strengthen their professional relationships get overlooked. Meanwhile, businesses appreciate individuals who are well-connected to people across departments and who can mobilize support for new initiatives.

Adaptability is a crucial aspect of office politics.

When you travel to a foreign country, you learn about local customs and mores so that you can exhibit cultural sensitivity in your host nation. “Interpersonal adaptability” is about showing that same reverence for the needs of various stakeholders.

“You can be political while being principled.”

For instance, perhaps you have learned that one manager prefers face-to-face conversations to telephone calls, and you adjust your behavior accordingly. There is nothing underhanded about trying to meet a higher-up’s preferences.

Speak and act with sincerity to excel at politicking.

Be authentic in your dealings with others. Don’t portray a false depiction of who you are or behave like a sycophant to please others and get ahead. People generally can see through phoniness. Alas, a minority of individuals fake sincerity for their own selfish ends, but navigating the political sphere at work in an “ethical, well-intentioned way” is entirely possible.

“Refusing to engage in politics would be like running a road race without wearing shoes: You make it much harder for yourself.”

Office politics gets a bad rap. You can opt to leave the politicking to the smarmy, ambitious corporate climbers. But you do so at your own risk. If you fail to improve your political skills, you can expect to feel disgruntled about being overlooked for rewards and opportunities.

About the Author

Rob Yeung is a chartered psychologist and a coach at Talentspace, a leadership consultancy.