Whether you’re starting your first job or your tenth, you’ll find that office politics shows up in every company. So how do you get through office politics and still make sure your skills get noticed?
The basic move is to pay attention to how things already work around the office and fit into that rhythm rather than fight it. Steer clear of the pettier side of office politics, and management and your peers will notice fairly quickly. For how this works in practice, read The Fairness of Office Politics … Integrity and Political Motivation!.
Colleagues have their own agendas and may notice some of what you do, while plenty of it will go unnoticed. A consistently positive attitude and reliable follow-through build support and leave a lasting impression on everyone around you.
Don’t take on more than you can handle. Overreaching just makes things harder and makes you look inexperienced. Handle it well, though, and you become a player in the office politics game instead of an outsider looking in.
Playing that game well can bring real benefits to your career. Along with fitting in and getting recognized when the chance comes up, you also need to accept constructive criticism gracefully.
Know your limits, don’t undersell your work, play by the rules, let your skills speak for themselves, and above all, respect yourself and the people around you. Stay low-key, ease into any transition, and make yourself useful. That combination is the simplest way to get through office politics at any company.
None of this changes much between a first job and a tenth: office politics is a constant, and the goal is always the same, staying visible for the right reasons rather than the wrong ones. Steering clear of the pettier side of the game while still engaging with it earns notice from the people who matter. Handled well, office politics becomes an asset to a career rather than a hazard. Further reads include Web Hosting Features, The Cheese Factor and GoPro HD Hero2.