Office politics

Here's a list of rule for dealing with office politics:

1. Keep it professional at all times.
2. Play the game being played, not the one you want or think should be played.
3. Don't make enemies. Don't burn bridges.
4. Don't whine and complain.
5. Don't intimidate superiors. Try to avoid going over your superior's head.
6. Don't make others look bad.
7. Don't criticize employees or bosses.
8. Couch criticism in terms of employer's interests, not personal.
9. Help others get what they want.
10. Establish affiliations of mutual advantage with important people.
11. Find common ground with others.
12. Don't discuss personal problems.
13. Selectively self-disclose.
14. Don't assume anything will stay secret.
15. Create win/win solutions.
16. Keep employer's perspective in mind.
17. Cultivate a positive, simple, accurate image.
18. Force yourself to do difficult, uncomfortable or scary things.
19. Be pleasant. Laugh and smile.
20. Be assertive and tough when required, not aggressive.
21. Don't oversell. Be natural. Develop your own style.

And my thoughts on each:

1. Bit vague, surely professional people would never play politics
2. But this is a self perpetuating rule, one that can only lead to social decline
3. Yes, I agree here in principle but this should be a long term view, it might be necessary to make short-term enemies
4. Never, totally agree
5. Hmmm, you have to believe in social hierarchies, which I can do if the hierarchy grew through strict compliance with reason e.g. within a meritocracy
6. So if you work hard and create something great, and this makes a comparison with a colleagues work look poor, this is a fault?
7. Constructive criticism is important. But I think the author is thinking of a link to point 4.
8. Yes, be constructive
9. If it relates to what I want from my work. Selflessness is not a currency in a commercial world. Sad but true.
   
10. Yes, just said this in different words.
11. Again, work within SIGs...
    
12. Okay okay
13. Yes, big difference between friend and colleague.
14. Yes
15. Yep. But counteract this with knowing rights, should be judged on your work
    
16. This is a good one, thinking strategically is very important.
17. But what about the employer doesn't seem to know what direction it is going
18. Positive, that's fallen off, perhaps why I am writing this blog
19. Totally agree, this is very important
20. See 18
21. Yes, never show anger
22. Understated is a good brand.

While sensible, this is a list for creeps. This list smacks of faking human relationships...is there anything worse that a false laugh.

There should be only one rule for dealing with office politics, rise above them, focus on what you are creating, and do what you judge to be best. Be optimistic for relationships, don't write anyone off. (As opposed to views held by Yeung:

claims colleagues can be divided into four types — bigwigs, rising stars, no-hopers and has-beens — depending on their level of influence and seniority in an organisation. He suggests the ambitious should cultivate relationships with influential bigwigs and rising stars, but waste no time on no-hopers and has-beens.") - Times online, A Faker's Guide to Office Politics, 15th October 2005.

In the long term this gamesmanship will catch up on everyone: see the U. S. of A's.