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REACTION 3

 Last week, I came across a post dealing with Office Politics - Without the Drama. The author made a very valid point that nobody teaches this in school, but it is part of the job, notwithstanding your job involvement. Continuing, the author said that people skills will take you further than technical skills alone.

The author went further to list few truths that have helped him to succeed. They are:-

- Your job is to make your boss's life easier. That your smartness on the job does not earn you a promotion.

- Communicate clearly, that office politics thrives on silence and assumptions. You should not hide behind e-mails. 

- Build relationships especially outside of work topics. That people are people first, professional second.

- Don't take sides. Always be professional. Stay neutral, Stay kind and stay focused on your work.

- Control your emotions. Respond calmly when called out because your calmness under pressure is your power.

- Stay true to your values even when the loudest voices seem to be winning. Your reputation and how people see you matters at the end.

REACTION

It is only in Human Resources, that every, Tom, Dick and Harry make bogus generalizations.

Generally, Politics is about half truths so that any view to the contrary is not of this world.

I once had a British boss who told yours truly that greetings were not part of the job. For him, delivery on the job brings promotion and not outside the job frivolities.

I agree totally with the author that responding calmly under pressure rates you better. I was once in a meeting where a colleague who failed to deliver on his assignment, said it was my responsibility, and the Union and the CEO defended yours truly.

A man who holds no opinion on everything is not a man. There is a limit to neutrality. When you are always neutral to satisfy office politics, when opinion leaders are being consulted, you are pointedly ignored.

Very early in my professional practice, I retired a colleague who was being projected by Nepotism, when I had the opportunity to write the minutes of Union/Management meeting, which were hitherto written with massive embellishments. In the words of the Union leaders, "We wish to thank management for producing minutes for the first time which we agreed with intoto"

Finally, it is non-performer that are deem into office politics.

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