Turf Wars: Two powerful people are fighting to win control of your function -- and you are caught in the middle
In any organisation there are powerful people. Most seek to acquire more power and influence. As their power grows, someone else loses power. People compete to acquire more resources, more control -- and anything else they can get their hands on -- to become more influential. Their motive may be authentic and have integrity – but it is natural to seek more territory. The arrival of the matrix structure means we see Turf Wars more often. Many of us now have two -– or more – bosses which makes this dilemma more likely. If our bosses are competing with each other, we are Read MoreExercise: Understanding the Politics at Work
Organisations are full of people who are attempting to play politics at work as they try to influence each other. Some are seeking to help people, while others are driven by self-interest. Although the tactics are often the same, the level of honesty and integrity will make the difference between a healthy organisation and one rife with harmful office politics. Whatever your experience or position, it helps to become aware of what is going on around you so you can make clear decisions to improve things and protect your integrity and success.
To help you understand more about this topic, take a look at a summary of influencing tactics (or dirty tricks/office politics) which our research has identified as being common in many large organisations, and then complete the exercise below. Read More
Dirty Tricks and Office Politics
If you feel bad about office politics that go on around you, you are certainly not alone. In any group of more than one, people will be trying to influence each other and some people use less savoury tactics or dirty tricks, in order to get their way.
Here are some of the more common dirty tricks which people use. Many of them were featured in our best-selling book, 21 Dirty Tricks at Work: How to Win the Game of Office Politics. These are shared here not as a game tip sheet, but rather a preparation for recognising them for what they are (office politics) and then learning how to overcome them with honesty, integrity and a fair degree of assertion.
My Hands Are Tied
Pretending to be helpless due to the influence of a higher authority or process when, under the same circumstances but with a different person, there would be a different outcome. “Sorry, Ben, but the policy is…”
Email to the Gods
Using email to shame or coerce another. This is usually an email arriving from a colleague (which includes either true or false information), levelling accusations of blame, which are also copied on to bosses, directors, customers, suppliers, etc. Read MoreHow to Manage the Politics
Politics is an inevitable feature of organisational life when you realise that the various definitions all lead to the behaviours people use when they seek to influence. These definitions are neutral when it comes to intent or agenda, so those with the best interests of the organisation at the core of their being will be political, as well as the more Machiavellian characters. The actual difference in the way it plays out is in the level of deceit and damage caused to those around. So, unless you work in an organisation where nobody is trying to influence people, you’ll need to come to terms with how politics works and how you can engage proactively (and hopefully authentically) so you can protect your Influencing Goal.
Time does not permit us to do other than cover the basic principles, but the Resources section will point you to more specific coverage Read More