Office politics are inevitable in any workplace because they emerge from human relationships and resource competition. The author argues that people who complain about politics often contribute to it themselves. Politics increase with seniority due to harder-to-measure outcomes, limited senior positions, and people-focused challenges. Organizations can reduce politics through explicit metrics, abundant resources, and leadership behaviors that discourage political maneuvering. Examples from Facebook, Microsoft, and Valve illustrate how company structure affects political dynamics.
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Explicit Objectivity vs. Implicit SubjectivityResource and Opportunity ContentionLeaders’ Decision-Making InfluenceTurtles All the Way UpKnow ThyselfHandling the Politics2 Comments
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