October 18, 2010 by Ona Lage
“Whatever you are, be a very good one.” “Attitude. To different minds, the same world is a hell and a heaven.” We’ve all heard them ~ quotes on attitudes ~ good and bad attitudes. In today’s society, it’s easy to have a bad attitude if you live your life constantly thinking of the negative that the media hurls out every day ~ mainly the political, economical, and social failure of modern society.
How does this relate to the workplace? Almost everyone is aware of workplace politics. We usually think of politics as being negative or something to be avoided. Usually our tactics for dealing with politics have only made it worse.
But we can improve or even make it better, if we deal with politics differently. Rick Brenner of Chaco Canyon Consulting shares three of ten very good insights on politics that will help you, your team, and your entire organization when dealing with company politics.
1. Politics comes in two flavors: Toxic and Creative
Toxic politics is toxic to relationships and hurts people and organizations. Creative politics helps us come to better solutions and to create innovations. Creative politics is the basis of healthy competitions.
2. Suppressing workplace politics makes it more toxic:
When we try to suppress all politics, even creative politics, we drive it underground, where it can become toxic. Dealing openly and honestly with politics — both creative and toxic — is a safe way to manage it.
3. The problem is never the problem :
Politics — especially toxic politics — often has a point at issue that everyone agrees is the focus of the current tangle. It might be anything from who gets what in a reorg to office assignments. For toxic politics, the problem is never the problem. Almost certainly, something else is going on.
This year, plan something to help the people you work with recognize and address workplace politics. You could do more this October to raise company productivity than all the downsizing, acquisitions, or whatever, you’ve done in the past year alone!
