It is almost impossible to find an organization that is not political in nature. It is difficult to deal with humans in a perfectly logical way since humans are driven by emotions and biased by unconscious needs and insecurities.
Getting entangled with office politics and the bureaucracies may not be pleasant for you and the organization. It is important for you to consider the psychological factor office politics plays in a social environment as the workplace. These are eight reasons why you should not play office politics.
You will be promoting disunity
Office politics tends to cause disunity and creates a divide between those who are successful at playing office politics and those who can’t. This will create a poor balance of roles and damage relationships between workers. The atmosphere thus becomes corrosive and the promotion of team work which is meant to foster progress will be severed and forever lost.
You will be draining mental energy
It takes a lot of emotional and mental energy to conceive the best patterns to succeed at office politics. This energy which can be diverted to attaining personal growth and efficiency will become a source of negativity in the company. While you can heighten your value to the company by proving more efficient and proficient; the act of committing yourself to being smarter through mischief and deviousness can hunt your personal wellness.
You will be feeding workplace stress
Office politics promotes stress and career burnout as the workplace is already a breeding ground for stress. Playing office politics could trigger frustration, create unnecessary anxiety, eat away office spirit as well as sap motivation and reduce work satisfaction. Stress, burnout or related ailments could be very expensive to the company that is doing well to manage funds and maximize profits.
You will be causing financial loss to your company
By donating less time to work and focusing your energy on playing office politics, you will be causing financial loss for your organization. Staffs that are meant to focus on higher turnover and profits become victims of distraction and ‘office coups’, productivity is hampered while long term and short term goals will be unmet.
You will be distorting communication
Every organization lives on communication. Communication should flow properly between executives, managers and ordinary employees. Communication affects attitude, efficiency and trust. But if communication becomes twisted because of office politics energy is lost and efficiency is reduced.
You will be undermining the decision making process
Compensating and rewarding the most hardworking employees may not be the case when office politics is being played. Decisions that are critical to the forward trudge of an organization are hijacked and deflated. What is fair become unfair and what stands could be torn apart. Decisions that should seem necessary could be frowned upon. Suddenly issues relating to ego brew and stir disaffection within the workplace.
You will be making simple tasks complicated
To create more effectiveness it is important that there is a simple and less complicated process to achieving objectives. What may seem easy or less time consuming could become tedious and strenuous when office politics stands as a wedge amid the positive flow of work in the workplace.
You create unnecessary tension
Tension of the unknown can be destructive as employees continue to look over their shoulder. A workplace should provide cheer and challenge employees to be better. Office politics however creates tensions that could build into resentment and the urge to get back at other employees in the organization. Such tensions can be straining and turn the workplace to be more of a battle ground.
Don’t participate in office politics!
Featured photo credit: http://photopin.com/free-photos/office via flickr.com
