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Handling ‘Office Politics’ at the Workplace in 5 Ways

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MultiCall Technology
Handling ‘Office Politics’ at the Workplace in 5 Ways

Hearing the words ‘Office Politics’ usually doesn’t sport a good connotation. One would typically associate it with aspects of malintent, backstabbing, currying favor and so on. As a result, you’d prefer to avoid it as much as possible.

But preferred or not, office politics are very much existent, and inevitable in any company. And the interesting part is, it is actually possible to put it to good use without having to compromise your ethical values or those of your team or company.

In fact, being aware of it not only lets you advance your interests as well as your team’s, but also lets you avoid being taken advantage of. Let’s have a look at five ways in which you can handle office politics without compromising behavior or ethics.




1. Be aware of the social networks

With your position in a company, and with time, you get to understand the various superiors, subordinates, and how to create the balance. Once you have this awareness, the next need of the hour is to observe the people's informal interactions and relationships, so that you can be aware of the social networks that run in a company.

With discretion and the due respect, observe who gets along with whom. You can check the kind of bond that makes the connection (An acquaintance? A personal friend? A teammate?). Finally, observe the patter in which influence and information flows between the involved parties, and start making your own network branch!

Related: Plan for a Perfect Networking Call in 8 Steps - MultiCall

 

2. Build Connections

With great networking, comes great connections. At this stage you’d know how on-site relationships work, so you can begin making a network of your own for this! But remember, this goes beyond your main team, and across the hierarchy on all sides.

Get to know them, and build connections that are high-quality, and devoid of flattery and/or “buttering”. Building anything from a wall to a skyscraper requires a good tool. High-quality connections require a communication tool that is nothing less.

MultiCall is a good tool via which this can be executed.  Its Call Scheduling assists in helping set up the meeting, not just in setting the date and time, but with the necessary team members as well.

Related: MultiCall - Everything You Need To Know

 

3. Build your interpersonal skills

Business, politics, and just about any relevant field out there finally comes down to people and their temerity in it. So, developing strong connections comes down to strong interpersonal skills. Introspect with regard to your emotions, understand their triggers and how you handle them.

In simple terms, think before you act. This is the sort of EQ that assists you in detecting the emotions of others, and understand what makes them tick i.e., the approach to help that they prefer or avoid. It’s essential to listen carefully as well, as it helps to focus, and learn more about the network.

Related: MultiCall - Ways to break the ice with your team

 

4. Make the most of your network!

As with a company, you and your team have your own brand; your name, reputation and image to maintain. It’s important to build this throughout the time you are building your relationships. Communicating your achievements to your connections can possibly allow opportunities to stand out for you and your team.

It also can be the bridge between your team and that of other departments and individuals.  MultiCall’s feature of ‘Groups’ and ‘Favorites’ can help you here with the setup of such bridges. You can choose directly from contacts, or add the same from existing groups, or via manual entry of their number.

Once you’ve added who you need, click on “Create”; and your new group is set for whenever you wish to call instantly!

 

5. Minimize negative politics

Not fueling fires when it comes to negative politics would be a step forward in creating a workplace with a positive output. An example of this would be to avoid stating or adding something without due consideration of the source, reliability and potential impact of such remarks. As with personal networks, confidentiality’s reach is only so much. So, choose what “secrets” you reveal at the workplace or while networking as well.

It’s essential to maintain professionalism as well, without taking sides, or getting pulled into arguments. If and when a conflict takes place, remember that it doesn’t have to be a win-lose outcome. A solution satisfying everyone is not impossible. MultiCall comes useful in the above scenario with its Call Monitoring feature, with its features allowing everyone a chance to speak, while ensuring minimal disruption as well.

Related: Call Monitoring – A Useful Feature of MultiCall 

Office politics are a reality to be faced, but not necessarily a sad one. Trying to avoid it raises the possibility of not speaking up, or having an opinion in what is taking place in the business. Harnessed correctly, it can allow people regardless of level in experience, skill or knowledge to have a chance to contribute, and reach more now.

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