Last week, while revisiting my favorite animated show All Hail King Julien on Netflix, I found myself paying closer attention to the storyline and the characters. There was a particular episode that captured the essence of workplace politics in a surprisingly relatable way. In it, King Julien, tasked with providing clean and safe water for his subjects, uses the media to promote his achievements—even stretching the truth.
However, his plan backfires when a journalist questions his honesty and authority, forcing him to face accountability publicly. As his efforts to repair his reputation fail, he is eventually compelled to make real changes, though his subjects are unimpressed.
Watching this reminded me of the often silent but pervasive culture known as "politics at work." People define it in various ways, but in essence, it’s the manipulation of workplace dynamics to gain influence and favor—often without making meaningful contributions to the company's goals. My experiences with workplace politics have been diverse, but one stands out.
In a recent consultancy session, a manager expressed frustration over a particular "blue-eyed" employee, a cleaner with no relevant qualifications who wielded undue influence. He could hire and fire among other things . The manager felt that this cleaner's ability to sway decisions and curry favor with those in power made it difficult to achieve real progress and even led him to resign.
What is "Politics at Work"?
In the simplest terms, workplace politics involves playing or manipulating those in authority to gain their trust and favor, often at the expense of actual productivity or team cohesion. Individuals engaging in workplace politics strive to appear better than their colleagues, sometimes bending or breaking rules intended to help the company move forward. This behavior can be inadvertently encouraged by leaders who place certain "favorites" in strategic positions, who then use their influence to become “politicians” within the workplace.
Long-term Repercussions of Workplace Politics
Reduced Morale and Engagement: When employees see colleagues rewarded for political maneuvering rather than merit, it can lead to disillusionment. Talented employees may feel undervalued and demotivated, resulting in a toxic work environment.
Increased Turnover: High-performing employees often leave organizations where favoritism overshadows merit. Replacing these employees incurs additional costs and disrupts team cohesion.
Stifled Innovation and Creativity: A politically charged environment discourages employees from sharing new ideas. When decisions are made based on favoritism rather than merit, innovation takes a backseat.
Diminished Trust: When leaders play favorites, they erode trust within the team. Employees become wary of one another, resulting in a lack of collaboration and open communication.
Identifying Employees Engaged in Workplace Politics
Excessive Flattery and Networking: Employees who spend more time networking with higher-ups than contributing to their work are often politically motivated. They seek to create a network of influence rather than value.
Taking Credit for Others’ Work: Politically motivated employees often claim responsibility for successful projects or ideas they had little to no involvement in, undermining the efforts of their colleagues.
Withholding Information: To create a sense of dependency, such employees might withhold critical information, ensuring that others cannot perform their roles effectively without their input.
Undermining Colleagues: They may subtly sabotage or undermine the work of colleagues, casting others in a negative light to make themselves appear more competent.
Playing the Victim: Some employees use victim narratives to gain sympathy from management, creating a perception that they are being unfairly targeted or misunderstood, while actively engaging in manipulation.
How Entrepreneurs Can Prevent Workplace Politics
Establish Clear Values and Transparency: Define and model ethical, fair behaviors, creating a standard for the team.
Implement Merit-Based Performance Evaluation: Use clear criteria for rewards, emphasizing that growth is based on merit, not connections.
Encourage Open Communication: Maintain an open-door policy and regular feedback opportunities to ensure everyone feels heard.
Avoid Favoritism: Treat all employees equally, avoiding the creation of “blue-eyed” individuals who may develop undue influence.
Promote Team Collaboration: Encourage teamwork over competition to limit individual power plays.
Recognize Team Effort and Integrity: Acknowledge both individual and group achievements and ethical behavior.
Train Managers on Ethical Leadership: Equip managers to handle political behavior and model fair management practices.
Provide Reporting Channels: Offer anonymous ways to report favoritism or manipulation.
Hold Leaders Accountable: Ensure managers are held to the same standards, showing no one is above the rules.
By fostering a transparent, fair, and collaborative environment, entrepreneurs can prevent workplace politics from taking root, promoting a more productive and supportive workplace for everyone.
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About the author
Dr. Jjuuko Derrick, is a pharmacist with a keen business acumen. Having dedicated much of his career to engaging with business owners and employees, he brings a unique blend of pharmaceutical expertise and business insight to the table. As an entrepreneur himself, he is passionately committed to leveraging his technical skills and entrepreneurial experience to foster the growth and development of multiple businesses. Driven by a mission to make a meaningful contribution to the business landscape, he stands ready to empower entrepreneurs with the knowledge and tools they need to thrive.
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