Office Politics and the Ethics Dilemma
Politics or Ethics?
What are office politics? Wikipedia defines it as "how power gets worked out on a practical, day-to-day basis." This is pretty close description but does not convey the full meaning of it. Yes it is about "power" but it often infers that the power in question is achieved by unethical means or that the power is used in an inappropriate way. Go to work in any organization and you will always find someone who strives to get ahead but doesn't actually work for it. Their goal is purely to be in a more powerful position and not to enhance the organization. Their success may be due to flirting with the boss, manipulating the boss or deviously making themselves look good by inflating their acheivements or demeaning others acheivements.
That low-key individual who keeps the gears turning for the organization rarely gets the recognition they deserve. Yet the loudmouth who is able to sell himself or herself gets the credit and moves up within the organization. How many times have you seen this happen? This is an evolution that becomes a vicious circle. Often the individual who has moved into a more powerful position continues to enable this evolution by promoting their likeness into the position they left, rather than promote someone who might actually challenge their managerial ability. Would you promote someone into a position beneath you if you thought that they might threaten your career?
It takes a good manager to recognize an employees abilities and ensure that they get the recognition they have earned. This manager is intelligent and experienced enough that he/she doesn't have to worry about being displaced. This manager is genuinely concerned about making the right decisions for the organization rather than for themselves. This is where ethics become apparent.
If decisions are based on politics, i.e. not performance related you don't have an ethical organization. A successful organization cannot have politics and ethics co-exist within. It has to make a choice between one or the other. Looking out for one's buddies and making decisions based on friendship or personal relationships is not an ethical way to run an organization and will create a hostile and demoralizing environment eventually.This will in time, wear on the success and efficiency of the organization.So how does one avoid having to deal with office politics? You cannot avoid it but it is important to be aware of it and plan your strategy to deal with it in an ethical manner. You can still maintain your low-key profile and simultaneously highlight your contributions. Keep copies of all emails and use opportunities via email to ensure that your contribution to a project is documented.
Request information from other key individuals or upper management in relation to your projects. This ensures that they know you are actively working on it and are responsible for the success of the project. This also ensures that a co-worker or supervisor cannot take credit for it. If your boss is the only one that knows you are responsible for a successful project it gives him/her an opportunity to "steal your thunder" and take the credit.Interact with as many people as you can within the company and discuss things that you are working on and how you can support them in their endeavours. Building relationships throughout the organization is a very effective way to draw attention to your engagement in the organization. If others see you as supportive and engaged they will often mention positive things to key management individuals about you. When management or upper management continually hears positive things from numerous sources it carries a lot of weight in influencing their decisions.
Be aware of the unethical power seeker and their strategy. Does that individual like to brag about their acheivements? Look for documented ways to prove them wrong. Set up a "lessons learned" meeting with key people to review a project that someone else may have taken credit for. This is your opportunity to promote your knowledge and highlight your contribution and engagement in the project. This is the perfect opportunity for that politician to make a fool of himself or herself and demonstrate their ignorance. Remember that at all times you must be professional and tactful. You can subtely communicate the unethical behaviour of the power seeker by proving them wrong in a professional manner.
Do you suspect that this "politician" undermines your efforts behind your back but praises you to your face? Anytime they praise you to your face and you believe they are really blowing smoke, send them a thank you email for their verbal recognition and copy their manager on the email. Take this opportunity to mention your contribution that warranted this "recognition." This will ensure that they cannot take credit for your success and that your talents are not ignored. You nay not want to play their game but you can beat them at it without ever playing!
