An employee spends a majority of one’s waking hours at his place of work. Politicking, for some comes naturally and, some others it develops over the period of time out of necessity for personal growth like self recognition, promotions, increments et al. You can not wish it away! Can you? Whatever be the case, the fact remains that this is not something alien to the working atmosphere alone. Most of us get used to it right from school and college. The same attitudes are carried to the workplace as individuals grow up and join organizations.

An individual who spends eight or ten hours a day in a working group tends to develop a subculture of their which can take different forms.

From an employee’s point of view:

The most common playing fields for gossiping during the office hours are canteens which are the hub of such politicking, where discussions about organizational movements (hiring/firing), higher management, gossips about affairs, delicate issues, problems et al are discussed and disseminated.

Technology also contributes its bit to the gossip network in an organization. The practice of sending emails containing transfers, personal matters, and tiny miny organizational details are mass distributed via such media, which can cause acute embarrassment or a legal headache.

From an employer’s point of view:

As a manager your opinion may differ significantly from those whom you supervise. There are people who are placed across all levels in an organization spy on the activities of the employees and keep management updated about it. The policy of Britishers i.e. DARP (Divide and Rule Policy) is also brought to practice to safeguard a corporate interest.

While it is impossible to say which perception is more valid, you can benefit as a manager by paying close attention to the political undercurrents in your department.

Keeping office politicking at a low level would be the safest bet; whether from employers or from an employee’s point of view. But how real is the necessity to be part of office politics? And how can the negative elements be mitigated. Here are a few tips that can help manage the issues of office politics. People looking out for jobs in India or abroad believe that office politics is a sensitive issue and must be dealt with a great care.

Try to avoid high profile, closed-door meetings whenever possible as they can lead to unhealthy atmosphere. Instead, try to keep your employees abreast with the latest happenings. The more you can remove any sense of mystery from office the better it would be.

Avoid comparisons:

Unnecessary comparisons with co-workers sitting at the same level can be divisive at job. A level of competition which can discourage your employees should not be undertaken though in some cases it can be a strong motivator. Try to know the people better through active communication.

Team spirit:

Praising the team as a whole and rewarding not just a single person but the entire team can boost the morale of the employees. A feeling of team spirit should be always encouraged in employees.

Non-partial behavior:

Favoring just a particular person intentionally or unintentionally can corrupt the office atmosphere. Make sure the rules of business ethics are followed by one and all. When it comes to work, make sure that the team gets all your support. Do not be partial in giving your support.

Equal distribution:

Keep your employees’ workload at reasonable levels to ensure that assignments are evenly distributed. This will not only speed up the work but also help meet the deadlines.

The humorous touch:

Try to break down complex situations into simpler ones by incorporating an element of humor in it. Beating stress by cracking non-personal jokes can change the mood significantly.

Effective communication:

Clear cut two-way communication can help identify and diffuse potentially serious conflicts. Understanding the problems of employees and helping them in times of need can ultimately lead to higher staff productivity and commitment.

Thus, this type of awareness will help you take action to reduce workplace tensions, while you probably won’t be able to eliminate internal struggles entirely; you can open lines of communication and create a more supportive work environment.

This cannot happen by just ignoring the presence of politics, but by being keenly aware of it and in some instance being a part of it.

So, try to maintain healthy political environment while on the job.