Are you shooting the messenger?
How many times in the past month have you found yourself thinking or saying something like:
Corporate politics is sleazy, underhanded, deceitful.
It’s all about people’s egos.
It’s about who you backstab or sleep with to get ahead.
It doesn’t matter how good your work is if you don’t play the game.
The winner is the one who’s best at playing the game, not the one doing the best work.
If it’s more than once — yes, more than just once — you believe the fundamental misconception of corporate life, and you’re shooting an innocent messenger.
I’ve heard all of these things and more in my work helping people with corporate politics. I’ve had clients who almost refused to work with me because they were offended when I said that politics can be fun, and that it certainly could co-exist with their values and integrity. Happily, they chose not to shoot the messenger, and have seen their careers and their career satisfaction grow as a result.
Politics is the science and art of human interaction.
My college political science professors tried to teach me that politics are part of human nature. I didn’t believe them then, but they were right. (Are you reading this, guys? You’d be proud of me now!)
Politics is the science and art of human interaction.
That’s all.
Science can heal or harm.
Art can beautify or sell junk food.
Corporate politics can build communication and create progress, or it can be manipulative and slimy.
It’s a tool, so it simply can’t be good or bad all by itself. Yes, I know there are times when your hammer just leaps out of your hand to smash your thumb. But after you finish calling it names, you and I both know, however much we hate to admit it, that it was bad aim, not evil intent, that left your — or my — poor thumb bruised. The hammer isn’t at fault, and neither is politics. It’s all in how it’s aimed.
Okay, I’m willing to consider that politics is a tool I can learn to use with integrity. Now what?
Start by exploring a more detailed definition of what politics really is, and identifying ways you may be allowing your career to be held hostage. Sign up for my free workbook “The Five Deadly Shoulds of Office Politics that Maul, Mangle, and Murder Careers (and what to do about them).”
You’ll also receive my biweekly newsletter with articles containing thought-provoking, practical ways to start practicing politics with integrity.
You can also take a look at the one-on-one services I offer, read some past newsletter articles or listen to some of the classes and interviews I’ve recorded.
Or find out more about me.
Got questions I’ve not answered here? By all means, contact me — I generally respond within 24 hours (or less).