The Silent Killer of Business Success

Politics in the Workplace: Mitigating its Impact for Continued Success

In any workplace, there are bound to be interpersonal dynamics that can impact productivity and efficiency. Workplace politics, however, can be a much more serious problem that can harm a company's output and overall success. Despite its importance, this issue often goes unacknowledged.

                          Negative Effects of Politics in the Workplace

1.      When employees become caught up in workplace politics, they may lose sight of the company's strategic goals, which can negatively impact overall performance. Additionally, workplace politics can lead to:

1. Decreased Productivity and Efficiency 

When employees are focused on personal agendas and power struggles, they are less likely to work collaboratively towards shared goals. This can result in a decrease in overall productivity and efficiency.

      2. Poor Employee Morale

Workplace politics can create a toxic environment that causes stress and anxiety for employees. This can lead to poor morale, which can further impact productivity and retention rates.

      3. Loss of Focus on Strategic Goals

When workplace politics are at play, employees may become more focused on promoting their own interests rather than working towards the company's strategic goals. This can result in missed opportunities and decreased performance 

      4. Increased Employee Turnover

Employees who are unhappy with the workplace environment and feel like they are not being heard or recognized are more likely to leave the company. This can lead to increased turnover rates and decreased employee loyalty.

                                             Causes of Workplace Politics !!

In order to effectively mitigate the impact of workplace politics, it's important to understand its root causes. Some common causes of workplace politics include:

1. Power Dynamics

2.      Power struggles can arise in any workplace, particularly when there is a lack of transparency around decision-making processes and opportunities for advancement.

      2. Lack of Communication

4.      When there is a lack of open communication between employees and management, misunderstandings and conflicts can arise. This can lead to a breakdown in trust and a more toxic workplace environment.

            3. Organizational Culture

6.      A company's culture can have a big impact on whether or not workplace politics are present. A culture that rewards individual achievement over collaboration, for example, a company encourages employees to focus on personal agendas rather than shared goals.

            4. Personal Agendas

8.      Employees who are focused on their own personal interests and goals, rather than those of the company, may engage in workplace politics in order to advance their own careers.

                                     Strategies for Mitigating Workplace Politics 

Fortunately, there are several strategies that companies can use to mitigate the impact of workplace politics. These include:

1.      Encouraging Open Communication. When employees feel like they can share their ideas and concerns openly, they are less likely to engage in politics.

2.      Encouraging open communication can also help to build trust between employees and management.

3.      Setting Clear Expectations and Goals. When employees know what is expected of them and what the company's goals are, there is no space for politics and bullying to creep into the organization.