How to Manage Office Politics and Maintain Company Morale

People are political animals, but your office doesn't have to be a zoo.

Image by mohamed Hassan from Pixabay

Originally appeared on Ell Business

Marx once said, “Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies.”

That was Groucho, not Karl, but the political insight is just as sharp. So, what do you do when politics infiltrates your workplace, and as a manager, how do you ensure you apply the right remedies?

You Can’t Avoid Office Politics

People are political and companies are comprised of people. Your office colleagues often have conflicting interests and jockey for recognition and success. Office politics is the natural state of business. According to the Harvard Business Review:

“Our relationships with our colleagues — with whom we both collaborate and compete for promotions, for a coveted project, or for the boss’s attention — can be quite complex.”

This isn’t entirely a bad thing. We often admire those who have developed the skills and political savvy to achieve their career goals. Those most adept at navigating tricky office dynamics have the soft skills to communicate and influence…