Yes, You Can Make Office Politics Less Toxic

Office politics is less about what other people are doing and more about how you respond. Certainly, there are dysfunctions on teams and in organizations that cause real damage but it is your response to both perceived and real machinations that either amplifies or moderates these dysfunctions. To help end nasty politics, you need to respond with integrity not complicity. To do that, practice guileless openness and be as transparent about your motivations and intentions as possible. First, think about your own motives. How do you want to behave in the situation? Second, refuse to collude with others. Let people know that you plan to be honest and transparent going forward. If they confide in your about others, you will act upon the input because you don’t want to participate in conversations absent of accountability. Lastly, don’t allow yourself to act out emotions in meetings or conversations that you haven’t openly shared. For example, if the group is skirting a sensitive subject, find a tactful way to draw attention to the avoidance.