Office Politics
May 12th, 2008 | by Simon Rattray
I have just read an interesting article about office politics. The article suggests that based on research from Florida State University, those are who “most adept at office politics” tend to have the best reputations within a company.
I can’t help but think that the professor who came up with this theory, Dr. Pamela Perrewe, has got some differing interpretation as to what office politics entails. To my mind people who get involved in “office politics” are the ones who spread rumour and gossip. I think you can have good politics skills, e.g the power of argument, diplomacy and reason without being good at office politics.
Another interesting remark was “an employee rarely gets promoted without having developed strong political skills.” Is this code for you won’t get anywhere without trampling over everyone else on the way?
What do you think? Do those who engage in office politics climb the greasy pole quicker? Leave us your comments below
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2 Responses to “Office Politics”
By James Jones on May 12, 2008 | Reply
In my opinion, and I am someone that is known as a ‘listener’, is that its true that those best at ‘playing the game’ do better than others.
If I am honest, I hate office politics, but get involved in it in a different way because I get to be the person who people talk to about problems. I deal with it by cajoling them to do it anyway - the thing that they maybe didnt want to do.
That is office politics also - its not all about being a gossip monger, its diplomacy too.