First, it is important to understand what office politics is not. It is not backstabbing peers, seizing undeserved credit, or starting malicious rumors. Yes, this type of behavior can produce quick results, but the long term results are disastrous. Office politics is a tool used by the politically savvy to avoid the pitfalls of a company's corporate culture. It is the skillful assessment of the political style a company uses to accomplish its tasks.
Every company has a political style or corporate culture. Political styles vary from highly structured and formal to very loose and informal. It is a good practice to get a feel for the political environment before you join a company. This may be accomplished by observing interactions among company managers, or by talking with others outside the company who interact with the company's management. Sometimes information comes from highly unlikely sources so stay alert!
If by chance you happen to be politically tone deaf, then focus your efforts toward small companies. Small companies offer more autonomy in decision-making and tend to be less complex in their manner of getting things done. High powered office politics is not for the apolitical, but circumstances may dictate that office politics is not a matter of choice but a matter of survival. Don't panic! Learn how to succeed in spite of your circumstances. Here are a few strategies to get you started:
Corporate boards now reverberate with discussions on workplace diversity. This issue has taken on new significance in the wake of a record-setting settlement of a race-discrimination suit by Texaco, Inc. As companies grapple with an increasingly diverse workforce and customer base, half of all US. Employers have established formal programs to manage cultural diversity. This news is encouraging, but are these programs truly beneficial?
What began years ago as an effort to uncover and eliminate harmful stereotypes about women and minorities has evolved into a corporate catch phrase that includes every kind of difference imaginable, including management rank, education, and even family birth order. Since diversity has taken on such a broad and global scope, its original intent has been diluted. The original intent was to create opportunities for women and minorities in America. An inclusive definition of diversity is important, but does it contribute to the elimination of prejudice in the workplace or push it underground?
This broad definition of diversity may be used by some companies to softpedal to more politically correct postures that amount to nothing more than cosmetic commitment to change within the organization. Many employers recognize the need to make the workplace more accepting of differences, but they commit to a few hours of sensitivity training focusing on the attitudes of people in the company instead of changing the company corporate culture.
Therefore, corporations that address diversity on a serious level will take a look at their own corporate boards. Women and minorities combined account for less than 12% of all directors of the nation's largest public companies. Does this appear to be career growth opportunity?
Black Enterprise, February, 1997
Managers are often labeled as insensitive and cold hearted, but have you ever been referred to as a malcontent? Rate yourself by answering the following questions honestly.
O.K. that's enough. You get the picture. If you answered yes to any of these questions, you are well on tour way to being malcontent!
First of all, focus on the things you like to do. Next, match what you like to do with available jobs by investing a little time doing research. Take advantage of career counseling offered through many colleges and universities or check the reference section of a library or on-line service for further information.
(www.minoritycareernet.com) is an Internet job search engine.
Once you think you have found the ideal mesh of job and like-to-do, then take the initiative to contact people who have the type of job you like. Ask them for advice on the skills required for the job and how to acquire them. Simply ask them to share with you how they got where they are. Getting a job you like may require additional education and training, or it could be as simple as repackaging skills already learned. For example, if you have been a full-time mom/homemaker, you have learned how to schedule and manage time well, and how to deal with difficult people. These are important skills to highlight in a resume or in an interview if you are seeking a job related to customer service. The idea is to be creative but realistic.
As always, a well written resume that presents your most relevant skills for the job is essential. Check your resume several times for typographical errors, and ask a friend to review it as well. Remember that computer spell check programs do not detect omitted or improperly used words. Incidentally, a recent survey of top executives for the nation's largest companies indicate that 76% of them would not hire a candidate who had one or more errors on a resume.
Follow up is also important when you submit your resume to a specific person. Give the contact person a call in 5 days to check on the status of the job opening. However, if you did not submit your resume to a specific person, then your time is better spent networking with people who are employed in your area of interest. Since career management is a cybernetic process, any personal opportunities for improvement discovered during your search provide experience in the only job with job security__ the job of personal growth and development.
Now, for those who are employed , but would like to explore other job opportunities without creating an awkward work situation, here are some strategies:
Most importantly, remember to keep performing in your current job, and do not abuse company policy and resources while you are searching.
Do you feel chained to a job because you have a pre-existing medical condition? Well, unchain your job search and set it free! Many employers do not have rules on pre-existing medical conditions, and by law employers cannot discriminate against applicants with disabilities. However, it is best not to raise any red flags by asking questions about pre-existing medical condition insurance rules. On the other hand, if you know someone inside the company who can check out the insurance plan for you without going through official channels, then the "Force" is definitely with you. What are you waiting for?
Every company wants the right person in the right job, so how convincing are you?
Employees often feel they must accept promotion offers for fear of being perceived as not ambitious. Regardless of what others may think, you must decide what is best for you. Yes, promotions usually bring more authority, money, and opportunities for advancement, but here are some questions to ponder as you reach a decision:
Offers for advancement should never be dismissed lightly or hastily, but careful evaluation and consideration warrant that you "Just Say No"!
Your desk is an essential business tool that could send the wrong message about you to people who work with you. Although there is no established correlation between neatness and success, it is a good idea to find out how your manager views a "messy" desk. If your manager is a neatnik, a messy desk may represent disorganization or productivity problems. In contrast, an ambivalent manager may view a neat desk as a sign of rigidity and a need for control. So, if you are not sure how your manager views the "messy" desk issue, here are some tips on how to achieve the "busy" desk look.
After you try these tips for a few days, and you still find yourself launching fruitless searches for misplaced information, then organization is definitely not one of your strong points.
Minority Career Network
Corporate Diversity Programs and Your Career
Are You a Malcontent?
How to Re-enter the Job Market or Change Careers
Just Say No!
Busy or Disorganized?
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