Play the Game
We have 1 day left until Election Day. I have a plethora of emotions. I am nervous about the outcome. I am frustrated with the way things are. I am proud that I am a citizen of a country who values democracy. I am excited to move on from the political banter that plagues my social media feed. The best thing about this time of year is that it is a reminder that you must get informed, have a point of view and show-up to participate in the elections. The worst thing? That the political propaganda can be sickening. It can create a real divide. It can mean screaming at your own mother because she doesn’t agree with you on a clearly important issue. Once this week is all over, it can be a relief to get away from all the national politics and return to our career, fresh as a daisy. Because who wants to deal with workplace politics? No, thank you! I am not paid to play a game- I am paid to do the work. I am an adult! I am mature!
Um, Nope. Sorry.
A common mistake a lot of us make is to ignore workplace politics. I am not talking about debating issues and candidates openly (that is tacky and should be avoided, obvi). I am talking about the “office politics” and the “workplace game” that a lot of us want to avoid because we pass them off as beneath our moral code and distracting to “the real work.” The reality is that these politics are an inherent part of the culture and it is imperative that we understand these politics and learn how to play the game. Our work is defined by politics and you either influence an agenda, align to an agenda or are a victim of an agenda. This means we need to be informed, have a point of view and show-up, no differently than you do on election day.
Embrace this, lady. No one is giving you a letter sweater by sitting on the sidelines. It’s part of the job, and if you want to gain more responsibility in any organization, you must participate in the politics. Engaging in them doesn’t mean that you become an icky mud-slinging creature, it is in fact possible to play good politics, shepherding a “campaign” or an agenda that promotes your vision and yourself. Here are some ways to play the game and not feel like a piece of crap.
Pay attention- Who are the main players who make the agenda at your work? What are the points of tension that you can map? Who is ultimately driving the work on your desk? What is driving that work? Is it growth? It is uncertainty?
Craft your agenda- What do you want for yourself? What do you want for your team? Who do you want to align to? What problem do you want to solve? How does this complement or contrast with the work you do today? Crafting an agenda with critical milestones and collaborators to help you drive progress isn’t dirty- it’s smart.
Enroll support- Who needs to be on your side? How can you build relationships with these people? How can they contribute to your campaign in a way that makes it stronger?
Gain leverage- Determine how you can get closer to influencing the people that create the work by assembling proof points to support your campaign. Do you need more compelling data? Do you need to get to know people more on a personal level? Do you need to network with those outside your company to drive influence?
Avoid the mud- Distance yourself from mud-slinging behaviors. Not only the people who do it, but also raise your standard to avoid doing it yourself. Stick to the facts, apply the “New York Times rule” (don’t say it or write it if you wouldn’t want someone to read it) and run a clean “campaign.” Be a professional, always.
See that’s not so bad. When you can see the big picture, understand the agenda driving the business today and craft your own way to influence tomorrow, you are playing from a place of power. And most importantly, you’re participating. You’re using your voice. You’re representing voices that may not be heard. You’re leading. And that’s how you make changes for the better. Just like the effective side of politics. Play the game.
