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If You Don’t Do Politics, Politics Will Do You

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If You Don’t Do Politics, Politics Will Do You

A Guide to Navigating Office Politics Effectively and Ethically

Niven Postma,

15 min read
8 take-aways
Audio & text

What's inside?

Ignoring office politics won’t make them disappear. Learn how to leverage your influence without compromising your values.

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Editorial Rating

7

getAbstract Rating

  • Applicable
  • For Beginners
  • Engaging

Recommendation

Trying to circumvent office politics is a futile exercise with no upside, says leadership consultant and ex-CEO Niven Postma. All workplaces are inherently political, but you can learn to understand and use influence without compromising who you are. In this practical primer, Postma compiles existing research and draws on her own executive experience to write the book she wished she had read at the beginning of her career. She explains how to engage in “good politics” while building a purpose-driven life that lifts others up along the way. Discover how to expand your influence, sharpen your political intelligence, and align your political strategy with your values.

Summary

Navigating office politics is an inevitable part of working at any organization.

People tend to think of office politics as an ugly business, replete with scheming, backstabbing, gossiping, and other unsavory behaviors. But the dark side of office politics is not the full picture. You can also engage in “good politics”: channeling your power in legitimate ways to influence outcomes. You can’t simply ignore office politics and hope to enjoy a successful career. Power dynamics and unwritten rules exist in every workplace, and you must learn to navigate these forces if you hope to wield influence and accomplish your goals.

According to Kathleen Kelley Reardon, a professor of management and organization, workplaces tend to feature one of four types of political environments:

  1. “Minimally politicized” — In these relaxed workplaces, conflicts are rare, and when they do occur, teams resolve them easily. People sometimes bend the rules or do favors for one another, but always in the spirit of good politics.
  2. “Moderately politicized” — In these environments, the rules serve customer needs rather than the interests of power-seeking...

About the Author

Global adviser and consultant Niven Postma contributes to Harvard Business Review and is a tutor at Cambridge University’s Institute for Sustainability Leadership.

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