Why Poli-tics in Office !!

What a topic to start the year with, but homo sapiens is as much apolitical as (s)he is asexual (see what I mean!!!)...


We encounter politics everywhere...the society we live in, the workplace and even in immediate and extended familial relationships. Remember as children when we used to squeal about our sibling to our parents, so as to make ourselves good in their eyes...what's this if not politics. Perhaps, that's the reason, why we look at politics through a Machiavellian prism (though it isn't as negative as it meant out to be...but that's for another blog) oriented towards pursuit of power through crass manipulation. But this is only one aspect of it and we tend to lose our perspective over this because this is what get projected through formal and informal media of communications. The truth is that wherever humans interact, a political phenomenon exist...the workplace being no different...and so does a choice, whether to remain inert or be pro-active by participating in a constructive political process.

Now, how does one define a constructive process?...not an easy answer but simple nonetheless. A process which facilitates the alignment of individual goals towards effective and efficient achievement of organisations goals..(phew!!).

Next logical question is what does it take to partake in this process? Simply put, the following:

• an understanding of the web of professional and inter-personal relationships existing at the workplace, which to a large extent is driven by the formal hierarchical structures, but also gets developed through innumerable non-professional interactions amongst various individuals
• identification of symbiotic (as opposed to synergistic) relationships, which one can develop with each individual in this web of relationships.

Finally, what is the outcome of this process (well, the alignment of individual & organisational goal being at its place...) or rather what does this process entail...

1. Networking across departments, divisions, geographies to create these symbiotic relationships
2. Reinforcement of one's own capabilities and worth without attempting to blow one's own trumpet...be confident not arrogant
3. Being professional... a seemingly vague expression, but then certain things are better understood than explained
4. गीता का सार - कर्म कर फल कि चिंता मत कर (as opposed to इच्छा) This is a critical aspect...offering any support, advice, help or favour may not get returned in the same coin, but it creates goodwill and credibility, the currency of this process

How to work through these process and the things to keep in mind...well that would need a series of such blogs...