Office politics: Don't join it, deal with it
Office politics exist in every business, large or small, but the key to dealing with the many personalities in a company is to follow some basic rules of courtesy.
First, while you might hear rumors, don't peddle them. Gossip about people, company plans, and policies is usually out of context, or worse, false. If you hear it, don't spread it around, according to Manpower.com.
It helps to observe friendships and enmities in the company, according to mindtools.com. If you do hear gossip, you'll understand the source.
Be courteous but quietly skeptical. Never trust conversations that begin with "off the record" or "between you and me."
Develop relationships within your work network by being reliable and helpful. Always listen carefully, keep the company's organizational goals first in mind, and never badmouth others.
Instead, get known as a proponent of positive interaction, and be personally accountable for your work and words.
To make the office more upbeat, don't fuel its political fires. Remain professional at all times. Address concerns and criticism with facts, proof, and confidence. Be assertive, not aggressive. Always be sure the tone is from an organizational perspective, not a personal one.
Rick Good spent ten years in the newspaper business, including with The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC) and The Greenville News (Greenville, SC). He co-wrote, with Melinda Coleman, Rutledge to Riley: Governors of South Carolina, 1776–Present (Published by The Greenville News), and is the author of Mind Games Trivia #1 (Amazon). He has recently spent 15 years creating original trivia content through Sounds Good Mobile Entertainment and continues that with his new company, SGME Software. He edits The Smart Reader’s money, real estate, and business coverage.