The thought of engaging in office politics may make you cringe. You may think it’s a waste of your precious time to focus on anything other than your already overwhelming work load. But guess what? If you’re ambitious and want to advance your career, paying attention to office politics is critical for your success. And, in fact, ignoring it can sabotage your efforts to get ahead.
The Politics of Promotion
I learned the hard way. I was passed over for a promotion early in my career. After eight years in a company working my way to AVP, a VP position opened up due to a reorganization. I threw my hat in the ring and I believed I was a shoe-in. I was the most qualified candidate in my territory. But I spent all my time out in the field managing my direct reports and expended no time or energy understanding how the decision would be made or nurturing a relationship with my new boss, who I avoided because he was a bully and he intimidated me. In short, I avoided office politics and was blindsided when they brought in someone from outside my territory to assume that VP role.
What lesson did I learn? We may be uncomfortable with office politics and think of it as manipulative and dirty, but we need to reframe it. We need to reframe it to be about developing and nurturing relationships and gathering information about how best to position yourself in a complicated work environment.
Here are 7 reasons to understand office politics:
Because there’s no such thing as a meritocracy. Let’s get real. It takes more than great performance and hard work to get ahead. Decisions about who gets promoted are often based on a combination of your performance and your ability to navigate the work environment
Because unless you’re tuned into the politics, you won’t have any idea about how decisions about your career advancement are made and who will influence those decisions.
To know how best to advocate for yourself and create visibility and credibility for yourself. You need to be savvy to understand your value proposition and how your work benefits the organization, and communicate that to others.
To know what it takes to get ahead. Every organization and often every department within an organization have different criteria for success. Paying attention to office politics helps you learn the best path.
To know how to position yourself for success. Look for female role models, women who have succeeded in your company. What can you learn from them about how to succeed? How do they communicate? What relationships do they have that have led to their success?
To know who has power and influence over your career. We often assume that the organizational chart will be the best indicator of key stakeholders. This may be true. But power and influence are not always hierarchical. Look for the people who not only make decisions but influence those decisions. Building visibility and nurturing relationships with these people is the key to your success.
To understand the unwritten rules. Complying with formal policies is important but paying attention to the unwritten rules is also essential. How do these unwritten rules vary by manager, department? Which of these unwritten rules is sacred? Being politically savvy assures that you won’t step on a landmine that might sabotage your career.
In summary, no career is built in a vacuum. While it’s true that hard work and great performance are essential, they are only one part of the equation of what it takes to get ahead. Understanding office politics, which guides you to position yourself appropriately and navigate the dynamics of the complex workplace today, is critical for your career success.
Bonnie Marcus, M.Ed., is the president of Women’s Success Coaching and author of The Politics of Promotion: How High Achieving Women Get Ahead and Stay Ahead (Wiley). Marcus helps professional women successfully navigate the workplace and position themselves to advance their careers. With 20+ years of sales and management experience, Bonnie has held executive positions in startup companies and Fortune 500 companies. Her passion is now to help other women learn to be sensitive to the culture of their organization, embrace the politics, and actively move their careers forward with a sound strategic plan.