I. Office Politics ABC GCF Retreat Workshop 1 May 2004

I. Office Politics ABC

GCF Retreat Workshop 1 May 2004

I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004

Outline What is office politics ?Lessons from real cases“Cluelessness Trap”“Escape Map”Escape cluelessness I to X

What is office politics ?

Your views, please…

“ I wish it (The Ring) need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo.

- The Lord of the Rings : The Fellowship of the Rings -

Myths about office politics

Myth 1 :

There is no politics in my office or company.

Myth 2 :Politics is game playing. It is an undignified,

self-serving waste of productive work time.

Myth 3 :

If I play fair, others will play by the same rules and be fair to me.

Myth 4 :If you are a good employee, you don’t need

to worry about office politics. Your performance will speak for itself.

Myth 5 :I don’t need to campaign for my own

career interests. I can depend on others higher in the organisation to recognise & reward my talent & contributions.

Myth 6 :Chinese and non-Chinese play the same.

Myth 7 :Good Christians should not play politics.

When you talk about office politics, you mean…

Corporate culture / sub-cultureOrganizational ambiguityManagement fadsTribal strife, role conflictsRelationship problemsPerformance vs reward Ethical issues

Which one or two disturb you the most ?

Corporate culture / sub-cultureOrganizational ambiguityManagement fadsTribal strife, role conflictsRelationship problemsPerformance vs reward Ethical issues

Politics is… From the Greek word, politikos, which means

Of a citizenPrimary meaning is having practical wisdom, being prudent, shrewd, diplomaticSecondary meaning is being crafty or unscrupulous

- Webster’s New Word Dictionary -

Office politics is… A fact of organizational life

If you’re in the office, you’re in the game

The way we get things done at work It is individuals & teams competing resources, responsibility, power, position, & privilegesBecause our success is defined by those things, getting them will determine whether or not we are doing a good jobBuilding relationship, being diplomatic, collaborating with others & being an effective team player

Politics could be… Positive Dirty

Win-win for greater good

Win-lose for self interests

Empowering Power-hungry

Collaborative, productive

Manipulative, destructive

Build, recognise Beat, backstab, trap, flatter

Create credibility Create resentment

Giver Taker

“ I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo.

“ So do I,” said Gandalf “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

- The Lord of the Rings : The Fellowship of the Rings -

Lessons from the real cases Your own cases are welcome !

Remember, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves; so be clever as serpents and yet as simple as doves.

- Matthew 10:16 -

The tension of being clever vs being simple

Case 1 Shortly after you’ve joined a new company,

you find a few old hands (your peers) keep picking your back.

What would you do ?

Case 2When you’re muscled by an office shark, what would you do ?

Case 3 When you’ve done a great job but the credit

goes to your rival who got the promotion you’re angling for.

What would you do ?

Case 4 You, as a school teacher, punished a

student for his inappropriate behaviour. His mother complained to the head-master, threatening to heighten the issue up. The head-master gives in and asks you to apologise.

What would you do ?

“ Cluelessness Trap”Personal Trap

Do not know who we’re

Situational TrapDo not know what’s going on

Spiritual TrapDo not know where we’re going

Personal TrapNot knowing enough about ourselvesOur actionsOur impact on other people

Situational TrapBaffled by structures & systemsMystified by culture & symbols Terrified by political games of power & self-interest

Spiritual TrapNot sure about our beliefs Our values Our life path to follow

Escape MapSTOP 1

The murky underworld of politics

To learn how to map political playing fieldTo get enough power to get things done

Escape MapSTOP 2

The emotional world of people at work

To find ways to improve relationships with others To make a bad job better

Escape MapSTOP 3

The red-tape land of bureaucracy

To study feudalism – a guided tour of monarchs & serfsTo learn tricks for shaping structure to work for you

Escape MapSTOP 4

The depths of tribal life at work

To Learn how to decode cultural puzzlesTo pick up some ways to give the workplace a little more excitement & fun

Escape Map

STOP 5Change & leadership

To grasp ways to survive the endless changes that keep sweeping over youTo learn nudging things in more positive directions

Escape Map

STOP 6A silent companion at work

To tell yourself what life path you really want to follow

Outline

What is office politics ?Lessons from real cases“Cluelessness Trap”“Escape Map”Escape cluelessness I to X

Escape cluelessness I :Face the problem

Work is often confusing & chaoticWe need to understand why we’re clueless & what we can do about itWe’re at risk of 3 forms of cluelessness :

Don’t understand ourselvesDon’t understand what’s going on

Don’t understand where we’re going

Escape cluelessness II : Map the political terrain

Accept the political realityAssess interest & clout of key players Seek ways to rally allies, lure fence-sitters, & neutralise opponentsKnow when to hold & when to fold

Map the playing field Who are the key players ?

Who the players are (personality) Where they are (position)Who their friends are (group membership)What are their interests ?

Allies Fence-sitters Opponents

Escape cluelessness III : Get a bigger slice of the pie

Understand 3 forms of power & get the one you needUnderstand 4 approaches to workplace politics and opt one of them Set your agenda & move aheadEmbrace your friends & befriend your enemiesMake win-win deals

Get the power you need Who you are (personal power)

Characteristics – charm, energyCompetence – knowledge, skill

Credibility - track record, reputation Where you are (positional power)

Job, position, department, organisation, etc

What you have got (resources power)Friends, allies, resources, information, etc

Choose your stance

(Good for company; bad for you)

Good Soldier

(Best long-term bet)

(Option for losers)

Victim

(Hit it big, or take on a big hit)

OrganisationalCommitment

Political SavvyLow High

Make win-win deals Separate people from the problemFocus on interests, not stancesInvent options for mutual gain

Escape cluelessness IV : Know ourselves

We all suffer from the gaps what we do & what we’re doingBetter relationship begin with knowing ourselvesDecide whether to muddle, exploit or learnWe learn & help others learn through interpersonal feedback

“ Why do you see the speck on your neighbor’s eye, but not notice the log in your own ?”

- Matthew 7:3 -

Johari Window

Public Self Hidden Self

Blind Self Uncharted Self

Known to

Others

Unknown toSelf Others

“ Everyone sees what you seem, but few know what you are”

- Machiavelli, The Prince -

Receive or give feedback… Ask and you shall receiveSay thank youAsk before givingWhen asked, give your bestTell the truth

Escape cluelessness V : Make or find a better job

Work doesn’t have to be miserableGood workplaces

Hire and retain the right peopleInvest and empower their workforce

Fix your job – or get a new oneFix at yourselfForm a coalitionFight backFind a better job

Escape cluelessness VI : Understand hierachy

Position shapes behaviorHierachy creates monarchs, lords and serfs in organisationsTo escape feudalism :

Study the systemStop blamingSwim upstream Or step out of the flow

Escape cluelessness VI : Understand hierarchy (cont’d)

We all want clarity & predictability but hate red tape; effective structure balance efficiency & flexibilityDesign system around customer and reduce cost of bureaucracy

Escape cluelessness VII : Shape structure to circumstance

Bad structures harm both people & productivityStructure depends on circumstances :

Top-down, vertical control works best for simple tasks in stable environmentsTurbulent, fast-changing situations call for flatter, more fluid structures

Escape cluelessness VII : Shape structure to circumstance (cont’d)

Improve structures by:Setting clear goals Aligning structure to situationPutting people in the right jobRewarding performanceClarifying relationships

Escape cluelessness VIII : Crack the cultural code

Every group & organisation creates cultural ways to make sense and give meaning to life & workCultural ways & traditions dictate what people wear, how they speak & what they doUnderstanding culture reduces surprise & stress, increases understanding & confidence

Escape cluelessness VIII: Crack the cultural code (cont’d)

Study cultural clues :Enlist guidesConnect to the grapevineWatch for spiesForm cabals

Understanding the existential underbelly lets you shape as well as be shaped by culture

Sometimes we choose change; often someone else choose it for usChange efforts run into 4 universal barriers :

Individual’s resistance to anxiety & feeling incompetentDisruption of established patternsConflict between winners & losersLoss

Escape cluelessness IX : Cope with change and learn to lead

Change takes leadershipYou can lead from anywhere if :

You know your goalEnlist othersPart the watersMake sure people know their jobDeal with conflictCelebrateLead with focus, passion, wisdom, and courage

Escape cluelessness IX : Cope with change and learn to lead

(cont’d)

Which path are you following ?Fog – you are not sure where you’re headedBog – you are too mired in the muck to get where you want to goPiracy – you’re seeking adventure or treasure, via plunder if necessaryService – in search of a better life or better world

If you’re going no where, or in a wrong direction, find a better path

Escape cluelessness X : Choose a life path

Your feedback / questions, please

I. Office Politics ABC GCF Retreat Workshop 1 May 2004

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