I. Office Politics ABC GCF Retreat Workshop 1 May 2004.
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Transcript of I. Office Politics ABC GCF Retreat Workshop 1 May 2004.
I. Office Politics ABC
GCF Retreat Workshop 1 May 2004
Slide 2I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Outline What is office politics ?Lessons from real cases“Cluelessness Trap”“Escape Map”Escape cluelessness I to X
Slide 3I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
What is office politics ?
Your views, please…
Slide 4I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
“ I wish it (The Ring) need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo.
- The Lord of the Rings : The Fellowship of the Rings -
Slide 5I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Myths about office politics
Myth 1 :
There is no politics in my office or company.
Slide 6I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Myth 2 :Politics is game playing. It is an undignified,
self-serving waste of productive work time.
Slide 7I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Myth 3 :
If I play fair, others will play by the same rules and be fair to me.
Slide 8I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Myth 4 :If you are a good employee, you don’t need
to worry about office politics. Your performance will speak for itself.
Slide 9I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Myth 5 :I don’t need to campaign for my own
career interests. I can depend on others higher in the organisation to recognise & reward my talent & contributions.
Slide 10I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Myth 6 :Chinese and non-Chinese play the same.
Slide 11I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Myth 7 :Good Christians should not play politics.
Slide 12I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
When you talk about office politics, you mean…
Corporate culture / sub-cultureOrganizational ambiguityManagement fadsTribal strife, role conflictsRelationship problemsPerformance vs reward Ethical issues
Slide 13I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Which one or two disturb you the most ?
Corporate culture / sub-cultureOrganizational ambiguityManagement fadsTribal strife, role conflictsRelationship problemsPerformance vs reward Ethical issues
Slide 14I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Politics is… From the Greek word, politikos, which means
Of a citizenPrimary meaning is having practical wisdom, being prudent, shrewd, diplomaticSecondary meaning is being crafty or unscrupulous
- Webster’s New Word Dictionary -
Slide 15I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Office politics is… A fact of organizational life
If you’re in the office, you’re in the game
The way we get things done at work It is individuals & teams competing resources, responsibility, power, position, & privilegesBecause our success is defined by those things, getting them will determine whether or not we are doing a good jobBuilding relationship, being diplomatic, collaborating with others & being an effective team player
Slide 16I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Politics could be… Positive Dirty
Win-win for greater good
Win-lose for self interests
Empowering Power-hungry
Collaborative, productive
Manipulative, destructive
Build, recognise Beat, backstab, trap, flatter
Create credibility Create resentment
Giver Taker
Slide 17I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
“ I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo.
“ So do I,” said Gandalf “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
- The Lord of the Rings : The Fellowship of the Rings -
Slide 18I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Outline What is office politics ?Lessons from real cases“Cluelessness Trap”“Escape Map”Escape cluelessness I to X
Slide 19I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Lessons from the real cases Your own cases are welcome !
Slide 20I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Remember, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves; so be clever as serpents and yet as simple as doves.
- Matthew 10:16 -
The tension of being clever vs being simple
Slide 21I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Case 1 Shortly after you’ve joined a new company,
you find a few old hands (your peers) keep picking your back.
What would you do ?
Slide 22I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Case 2When you’re muscled by an office shark, what would you do ?
Slide 23I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Case 3 When you’ve done a great job but the credit
goes to your rival who got the promotion you’re angling for.
What would you do ?
Slide 24I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Case 4 You, as a school teacher, punished a
student for his inappropriate behaviour. His mother complained to the head-master, threatening to heighten the issue up. The head-master gives in and asks you to apologise.
What would you do ?
Slide 25I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Outline What is office politics ?Lessons from real cases“Cluelessness Trap”“Escape Map”Escape cluelessness I to X
Slide 26I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
“ Cluelessness Trap”Personal Trap
Do not know who we’re
Situational TrapDo not know what’s going on
Spiritual TrapDo not know where we’re going
Slide 27I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Personal TrapNot knowing enough about ourselvesOur actionsOur impact on other people
Slide 28I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Situational TrapBaffled by structures & systemsMystified by culture & symbols Terrified by political games of power & self-interest
Slide 29I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Spiritual TrapNot sure about our beliefs Our values Our life path to follow
Slide 30I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Outline What is office politics ?Lessons from real cases“Cluelessness Trap”“Escape Map”Escape cluelessness I to X
Slide 31I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Escape MapSTOP 1
The murky underworld of politics
To learn how to map political playing fieldTo get enough power to get things done
Slide 32I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Escape MapSTOP 2
The emotional world of people at work
To find ways to improve relationships with others To make a bad job better
Slide 33I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Escape MapSTOP 3
The red-tape land of bureaucracy
To study feudalism – a guided tour of monarchs & serfsTo learn tricks for shaping structure to work for you
Slide 34I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Escape MapSTOP 4
The depths of tribal life at work
To Learn how to decode cultural puzzlesTo pick up some ways to give the workplace a little more excitement & fun
Slide 35I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Escape Map
STOP 5Change & leadership
To grasp ways to survive the endless changes that keep sweeping over youTo learn nudging things in more positive directions
Slide 36I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Escape Map
STOP 6A silent companion at work
To tell yourself what life path you really want to follow
Slide 37I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Outline
What is office politics ?Lessons from real cases“Cluelessness Trap”“Escape Map”Escape cluelessness I to X
Slide 38I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Escape cluelessness I :Face the problem
Work is often confusing & chaoticWe need to understand why we’re clueless & what we can do about itWe’re at risk of 3 forms of cluelessness :
Don’t understand ourselvesDon’t understand what’s going on
Don’t understand where we’re going
Slide 39I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Escape cluelessness II : Map the political terrain
Accept the political realityAssess interest & clout of key players Seek ways to rally allies, lure fence-sitters, & neutralise opponentsKnow when to hold & when to fold
Slide 40I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Map the playing field Who are the key players ?
Who the players are (personality) Where they are (position)Who their friends are (group membership)What are their interests ?
High
Power
Low
Allies Fence-sitters Opponents
Slide 41I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Escape cluelessness III : Get a bigger slice of the pie
Understand 3 forms of power & get the one you needUnderstand 4 approaches to workplace politics and opt one of them Set your agenda & move aheadEmbrace your friends & befriend your enemiesMake win-win deals
Slide 42I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Get the power you need Who you are (personal power)
Characteristics – charm, energyCompetence – knowledge, skill
Credibility - track record, reputation Where you are (positional power)
Job, position, department, organisation, etc
What you have got (resources power)Friends, allies, resources, information, etc
Slide 43I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Choose your stance
(Good for company; bad for you)
Good Soldier
(Best long-term bet)
Pro
(Option for losers)
Victim
(Hit it big, or take on a big hit)
Pol
OrganisationalCommitment
High
Low
Political SavvyLow High
Slide 44I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Make win-win deals Separate people from the problemFocus on interests, not stancesInvent options for mutual gain
Slide 45I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Escape cluelessness IV : Know ourselves
We all suffer from the gaps what we do & what we’re doingBetter relationship begin with knowing ourselvesDecide whether to muddle, exploit or learnWe learn & help others learn through interpersonal feedback
Slide 46I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
“ Why do you see the speck on your neighbor’s eye, but not notice the log in your own ?”
- Matthew 7:3 -
Slide 47I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Johari Window
Public Self Hidden Self
Blind Self Uncharted Self
Known to
Self
Others
Unknown toSelf Others
Slide 48I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
“ Everyone sees what you seem, but few know what you are”
- Machiavelli, The Prince -
Slide 49I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Receive or give feedback… Ask and you shall receiveSay thank youAsk before givingWhen asked, give your bestTell the truth
Slide 50I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Escape cluelessness V : Make or find a better job
Work doesn’t have to be miserableGood workplaces
Hire and retain the right peopleInvest and empower their workforce
Fix your job – or get a new oneFix at yourselfForm a coalitionFight backFind a better job
Slide 51I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Escape cluelessness VI : Understand hierachy
Position shapes behaviorHierachy creates monarchs, lords and serfs in organisationsTo escape feudalism :
Study the systemStop blamingSwim upstream Or step out of the flow
Slide 52I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Escape cluelessness VI : Understand hierarchy (cont’d)
We all want clarity & predictability but hate red tape; effective structure balance efficiency & flexibilityDesign system around customer and reduce cost of bureaucracy
Slide 53I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Escape cluelessness VII : Shape structure to circumstance
Bad structures harm both people & productivityStructure depends on circumstances :
Top-down, vertical control works best for simple tasks in stable environmentsTurbulent, fast-changing situations call for flatter, more fluid structures
Slide 54I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Escape cluelessness VII : Shape structure to circumstance (cont’d)
Improve structures by:Setting clear goals Aligning structure to situationPutting people in the right jobRewarding performanceClarifying relationships
Slide 55I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Escape cluelessness VIII : Crack the cultural code
Every group & organisation creates cultural ways to make sense and give meaning to life & workCultural ways & traditions dictate what people wear, how they speak & what they doUnderstanding culture reduces surprise & stress, increases understanding & confidence
Slide 56I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Escape cluelessness VIII: Crack the cultural code (cont’d)
Study cultural clues :Enlist guidesConnect to the grapevineWatch for spiesForm cabals
Understanding the existential underbelly lets you shape as well as be shaped by culture
Slide 57I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Sometimes we choose change; often someone else choose it for usChange efforts run into 4 universal barriers :
Individual’s resistance to anxiety & feeling incompetentDisruption of established patternsConflict between winners & losersLoss
Escape cluelessness IX : Cope with change and learn to lead
Slide 58I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Change takes leadershipYou can lead from anywhere if :
You know your goalEnlist othersPart the watersMake sure people know their jobDeal with conflictCelebrateLead with focus, passion, wisdom, and courage
Escape cluelessness IX : Cope with change and learn to lead
(cont’d)
Slide 59I. Office Politics ABCMay 2004
Which path are you following ?Fog – you are not sure where you’re headedBog – you are too mired in the muck to get where you want to goPiracy – you’re seeking adventure or treasure, via plunder if necessaryService – in search of a better life or better world
If you’re going no where, or in a wrong direction, find a better path
Escape cluelessness X : Choose a life path
Your feedback / questions, please