WORKPLACE SPECIAL................... POLITICS THERE

POLITICS THERE Politicking, or the act of engaging in partisan political discussions or activities is not the sole preserve of politicians. In the sphere of work life, one could be faced with colleagues who thrive on plotting and scheming to downplay one against the other. Transparency, collaboration and a calm demeanour are key traits that could help one come out unscathed 1 Be Transparent  Establishing transparent and direct communication channels through verbal and written commnunication consistently could help keep politickers at bay. “If you work this way, people around you will understand and even possibly respect you for it. It also helps in building trust at the workplace,” says Vipul Singh, VP and head of HR at ADP India. This is particularly important for larger teams as different people hold different perceptions owing to various circumstances. Transparency can be achieved by being genuine in all your interactions. “Not succumbing to judging people based on hearsay will only help one being perceived as more open and genuine,” says Singh. 2 Understand People   Make attempts to understand the office culture of the firm, the practices, and people around you. Strong and lasting relationships can be built by knowing more about direct reports, team members, their backgrounds and aspirations. “It will also help in dealing with different sets of people, progressing on projects, winning friends, and avoiding misunderstandings,” says Singh. 3 Collaborate     IT professional Ashish Jain tried the collaborative approach to win trust of colleagues around. Collaborating on projects with a diverse set of people has helped him gain a deeper understanding of how people operate. “Over the years, with different partnerships I have also learnt to keep my ears open and my mouth shut. While colleagues will often have something to rant or crib about, it is advisable to keep your view points to the bare minimum to avoid discussions being blown out of proportion,” he says. 4 Never be Hostile  Never try to react to a situation when you’re emotional or angry as you will regret it later. It is necessary to maintain your composure at all times, even with troublemakers,” says Singh. Interacting in a professional and courteous manner could help alleviate signs of discomfort and harshness among colleagues. 5 Seek Feedback   While being embroiled in office politics can be hard to avoid, professionals are bound to hit the breaking point when instances start affecting their personal lives. “While other things could be compromised upon, peace of mind is non-negotiable. It might help to discuss the state of affairs with a trustworthy senior at work to seek timely redressals,” says Jain.

Anumeha Chaturvedi. ET 140418