Team Politics - Where You Fit in at Your Work

Organizational politics is disliked by many people. Yet, it is an unavoidable reality for those who wish to get things done within an organization. Here are three tips to help you navigate the team politics of the workplace:

1. Make yourself indispensable
The more that others must rely on you in order to succeed, the stronger your political base is within an organization. Go beyond the requirements of the job, to discover more about your co-workers. What are they attempting to accomplish at work? What are some of their goals outside of the workplace? If you can help them to achieve what they want regularly, you will have more power than those who ignore others' needs. Key players are generally not replaced within an organization, or only with great difficulty. Become one.
2. Choose to back causes selectively
Whenever possible, support only those projects and people who have an excellent chance of succeeding within your organization. You should not ignore those which are likely to fail, but you do want to keep your distance from being associated with losing efforts which will never get the needed political support to succeed. The best way to distinguish between the two? An eye for the fine details helps greatly. Do not just guess-- know (or find out) how others feel about certain causes, and only when necessary discuss your own preferences. Remember, too much disclosure is more likely to hurt than help. Find out how sensitive an issue is, before you commit to an unpopular position.
3. Remain allies with as many people as you possibly can
Allies can help you in tough political battles. These may include both those who work within the business, as well as those who are external, yet have strong influence on the business' decisions. The better your network, the more resources and options you have at your disposal. This provides you with the power and freedom to accomplish more, or to have good exit strategies available, should you need to advance your career by switching to a different firm.

So, when you make yourself a key employee, choose the right causes to support, and keep as many supportive allies as you can, it is much more likely that you will be successful at navigating the politics of your organization, and on your team. This ensures longevity in your own career at a firm, as well as helping you to get your initiatives supported and passed within the business.