Guest Blog Post by Katrina Robinson – Surviving the corporate world is a tough task. But for you to be able to successfully take on office politics, you need to be proactive. No good will come from hoping that office politics will just go away—the issue needs to be tackled head-on. Try the following tips to better survive—and thrive during—office politics.
1. Be Self-Aware
Like it or not, the way that others perceive you has a lot to do with how you are able to manage office politics. This means that you should do your best to fit in with the office atmosphere requirements including dress code, office hours, and communication styles. Does your superior require that you submit vacation requests through e-mail? Don’t talk to him or her about it face-to-face—instead, follow his or her direction! Throughout your daily office routines, ask yourself how others perceive you—your goal is to make a positive impression on everyone around you.
2. Go Directly to the Source
Don’t believe office rumors. Does Bill down the hall say that your department is taking a major budget cut? Don’t stress out and worry about this rumor. Instead, if you need validation regarding a specific rumor going around the office, go straight to the source. In this case, you would approach your department head and ask him or her directly about rumored budget cuts. This way, you’re sure to get the truth.
3. Get a Mentor
It can help to have a mentor, especially if you are new to the company or the industry. You don’t have to seek out a role model in the office; if you have an outside contact that has great business ethics and experience, turn to him or her. A good mentor can offer counsel, advice, and be a sounding board for when you need to vent about negative situations. It’s crucial for your survival in office politics to have an objective, professional point of view handy, and a mentor can provide you with just that.
4. Network
Those who thrive with office politics are able to do so because they’re able to build meaningful relationships with their professional peers. Building an inner circle is necessary, as you’ll have a large variety of people in your network to be able to depend on when you are in a difficult situation or need advice. In order to build a circle of people you can trust, value and respect everyone.
5. Don’t Become Emotional
In any sort of relationship, it’s easy to let emotions get out of control. Maybe someone says something that hits you the wrong way, or maybe their ideas about
approaching a certain issue are completely opposite of yours. To survive office politics, it’s essential that you don’t let yourself get emotional. Approach everything with a professional attitude and let old grudges or arguments go.
Katrina Robinson is a guest writer and blogger for eDrugstore.MD, a safe U.S. medication facilitator since 2001 where customers can buy Viagra online & safely order Cialis in the convenience of their own home.
Article by Fernando
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