Have office politics become a daily hurdle? Do you find it difficult to work hard, stay out of the arena and achieve success? Has one person held up your desires Every person can create an environment of opportunity through politics. Office or organizational politics become an issue as you climb the ladder. Whether it’s at work, in social organizations, or in your daily life we either choose to take part or not. The consequences of not participating can wreck your plans. Changing your mindset, listening, and creating value are part of an intelligent planning process to get the rewards your wish. Make your opponent a proponent to your success, not an enemy.

I’ve created my friction, refusing to play politics. That decision may have red lighted some of my success. I’ve learned as a manager working for several organizations now is sometimes you have to give your opponent what they want. In those instances when we weren’t dropping anchor on each other, the organization won. I’m currently involved in an organization of dominantly populated type A personalities. Politics is essential to success there. Your enemies will hurt you publicly and privately without warning. I’ve realized the higher and higher I get I just can’t be good at what I do, I must play politics because everyone at my level is good. I have to enlist the help of others to pursue my ideas and desires. I cannot solely rely on synthetic imagination but have to use creative imagination to meet my goals.

"Keep your friends close but your enemies closer."- Sun Tzu

The first thing you must realize is not everyone is your enemy. Just because you don’t like them or there is tension between you doesn’t classify them as an opponent. People can be others goons or just don’t get along. What you need to do is figure out what positions are critical to your success. Ask yourself if those positions hold resources or decision-making abilities that can adversely impact your success. Do those people seem to constantly step in the ring against you. The second thing we have to realize is, we all exist to serve others and grow. Kill the mindset of winning and losing, comparing yourself to others and treating everyone like your enemy. Get to know your opponent. Find out about their passion and desires. Use that information as leverage to pursue success. Create some harmony, no one has it all, therefore we need the cooperation of others in life. You must show sympathy and understanding to their needs and wants. When you do this you will increase the chances of their cooperation. Your hurting yourself by not wanting to give them the satisfaction they want. You have to ask yourself, does giving them satisfaction hurt you? If not, so who cares if they get some of the action. If they brag or get public recognition, let them destroy themselves with their own ego. Did you get what you wanted? Be clever, test the temperature of the water before you get in. Ask for their comments and get their ideas before you take action. Knowing the point of resistance is going to be critical for overall success. Plan to give them a couple of ways they can be involved and create some value for them. It probably isn’t going to matter what you do, but don’t fight them. Fighting them only creates tension, so why not confuse them with kindness and fruits. You spend less energy and have less stress. Which one cannot deny, makes a happier, healthier and more likable person. When you become likable you draw in more supporters. When people see you constantly in tension and conflict they aren’t going to flock to your cause. Your goal is to gain supporters not compete with your opponents.

"One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors." - Plato

Intelligent planning is essential for success when you undertake politics. You gain supporters when you lead with consent and with the sympathy of followers and not by force and without the consent or sympathy of others. You have to do several key things which include changing your mindset, listening to those around you – especially those against you, understand how they can impact you, and work on relationships. When it boils down to it the word politics makes us think of negativity, bickering and backstabbing. Politics can be positive by simply changing the way we approach it. Lets call it relationship building or networking. We all do it, some of us don’t wish to take part, so you end up with those you dislike in charge. Take control and enlist them to do what you desire. Create that environment of opportunity.

What’s your approach to minimizing conflict?

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