Here are (7) seven easy ways to successfully navigate office politics while boosting your career advancement and readiness at the same. Most tips are things that you already know or have learned the hard way.
Regardless of where you are on your career plan – this sage and timeless advice and can be very helpful. Each tip reminds anyone of the importance of the details of your work interactions and relationships. This week try at least 3 suggestions or create and share some tips of your own.
1. Butter up to the boss: Believe it or not, the same strategy that worked for the teacher's pet in grade school can work wonders for you in the office. First, create ways to be helpful and make your boss' job easier.
2. Be generous giving genuine compliments to your boss and anyone who is well connected internally AND externally: Deal out positive feedback and compliments and document the ones that you receive. For example, ask your client or customer who just told you how much they love your work and could not have pulled it off without you to kindly put their praise in writing. Then ask them to send the email or letter to your boss and boss' boss.
3. Create a relationship of trust and respect with your client or supervisor: Extend one-on-one positive feedback and comments via emails and conversations. However, do it only occasionally in meetings or large groups.
4. Perfect the phrase "that's a really good idea/question/point." Don't overdo it because people of any age can tell if you're talking BS and simply telling others what they want to hear.
5. Avoid stepping on toes: Often the best way to succeed at work is to avoid negative attention like encroaching on someone's position or area of responsibility. For example, something as simple as setting up a meeting with a senior leader in another department or location, without first asking and then CC'ing your counterpart who also works directly with that individual, can make your colleague feel threatened or even so sad as to "come for you" moving forward.
6. Don't tell people everything that you are thinking: Whether it's sharing your reasons why someone's idea WON'T work in a staff meeting or telling others that this is your first time working on a particular type of project – STOP! Stop sharing all of your thoughts with others in the workplace.
7. Be very selective about who you confide in and associate with: Find ways to word and communicate even negative feedback or comments in a positive light.
