Navigating Office Politics When Transitioning To Management

“Stay above office politics.” 👆 Ignoring this advice was the smartest career move I made. Early on, I kept my head down and focused on working hard. The result? - I watched visible colleagues get promoted - I watched less qualified peers drive decisions - I watched louder voices get buy-in for mediocre ideas Big mistake. Politics isn’t dirty. It’s human nature to form alliances based on trust, familiarity, and perceived credibility. 📣 Every company has power players who shape decisions, build alignment, and drive action behind the scenes. And staying on the sidelines will quietly exclude you from key rooms and backchannel conversations. You can’t rise up the ranks by just doing the work. You need to do great work and understand the system that moves it forward. 🎯 1) Map out who actually drives decisions (not just titles). Observe how they communicate and engage with them intentionally. 2) Give public credit to others on Slack or in meetings. It builds allies and signals leadership. 3) Know your company’s priorities and align your work and language with them. 4) Build real relationships with peers in other teams—they're often your best advocates in unseen rooms. 🤝 5) Don’t burn bridges. Even when you disagree, exit with respect. This shifted my mindset from feeling like a bystander in office dynamics... To becoming someone who navigates them with clarity and drives positive change. 💡 Avoiding politics doesn’t eliminate them. It just hands your influence to someone else.

11 Real Rules of Corporate Success  (The Ones Nobody Talks About) From 26 Years in the Trenches Hard truth: Working hard is only 20% of career success. The other 80%? It’s what nobody tells you in business school. 1/ Make Your Manager Look Good ↳ Solve problems before they reach their desk. ↳ Frame solutions as “just following your guidance” – it reinforces their leadership. ↳ Your boss’s success becomes your insurance policy. 2/ Save a Teammate’s Job ↳ I once covered for a colleague during their mental health crisis. ↳ ROI: That colleague now runs a department and still remembers. ↳ They became my biggest advocate in leadership meetings. 3/ Master Invisible Visibility ↳ Don’t just do great work – document it strategically. ↳ Create a “wins folder” in your email – evidence beats memory in review season. ↳ Send those “quick updates” that make a 3-hour task look like a 3-week project. 4/ Emotional Bank Accounts ↳ Keep a calendar note of what people mention they’re struggling with. ↳ Remember birthdays (yes, even Steve from accounting). ↳ Small gestures = big allies when you least expect it. ↳ Help others look good in meetings – they never forget. 5/ The Credit Game ↳ Let others take credit occasionally. ↳ Build a reputation as a credit-giver. ↳ Trust me: They’ll defend you like a lawyer when promotion time comes. 6/ Strategic Humility ↳ Share failures openly, but always with the lesson learned. ↳ Nothing disarms office politics like genuine vulnerability. ↳ Turn your mistakes into mentoring moments. 7/ Build Your Story Network ↳ Every promotion needs 5 people telling your story. ↳ Be the first to celebrate others’ wins. ↳ Your advocates > your achievements. ↳ Coffee chats > LinkedIn connections. 8/ The Power of Appropriate Humor ↳ Break tension in tough meetings. ↳ Self-deprecating humor shows confidence. ↳ Never punch down. ↳ People promote people they enjoy being around. 9/ Gossip Navigation ↳ Don’t dish it. ↳ Don’t receive it. ↳ Redirect it: “Have you talked to them about this?” ↳ Build a reputation as the drama-free zone. 10/ Boundary Mastery ↳ Say “yes” strategically. ↳ Say “no” professionally. ↳ Your boundaries = your brand. ↳ Protect your time like it’s your company’s most valuable asset. 11/ Communication Clarity ↳ Bad news early. ↳ Good news with proof. ↳ Always have a solution ready. ↳ Master the art of the “heads-up” email. The real secret? While everyone focuses on climbing the ladder… Build the relationships that make people want to pull you up. Impact Check: ↳ This approach helped me mentor 17 people to director-level positions. ↳ Most of these take less than 5 minutes a day but compound into career-defining moments. Warning: The opposite of these principles is what I’ve seen sink promising careers. ♻️ Repost to help your network level up. And follow Dharma Ramasamy for more corporate truth bombs!

There is a game being played behind the scenes in every company. Nobody tells you about it during the hiring process and you won’t find it mentioned in any policy handbooks, yet it exists and is powerful. We call that game “office politics.” It’s the complex network of personal relationships, power dynamics, and social structures within a workplace, and it affects all of us. Interestingly, we tend to equate “office politics” with unscrupulousness. The term evokes thoughts of backstabbing, nepotism, and hush-hush deals. But, is it possible to play the game with integrity? Let’s look at two paths one can choose from: Normal, potentially constructive office politics: * Building professional relationships and networks * Advocating for your ideas and projects * Negotiating for more resources or support * Seeking mentorship and guidance * Collaborating across departments Office politics lacking integrity: * Hoarding information to keep power * Spreading rumors or gossip to undermine colleagues * Taking credit for others' work * Scapegoating or blaming others for failures * Engaging in favoritism or nepotism Some version of the game of office politics will always be played. The good news is that you can choose the constructive side. The bad news is that others might choose the dark side. What then? You can… 1. Maintain integrity: Stay true to both your individual and company values. Resist the temptation to "fight fire with fire" by adopting unethical tactics. 2. Document everything: Keep detailed records of your work, decisions, and interactions. This can protect you from false accusations or attempts to take credit for your work. 3. Build a strong network: Cultivate positive relationships across the organization. Having a broad base of support can counteract the influence of those playing unfairly. 4. Focus on results: Consistently deliver high-quality work and measurable outcomes. Strong performance speaks for itself and can overcome political maneuvering. 5. Increase visibility ethically: Share your team's achievements through appropriate channels. Ensure credit is given where due, including to your team members. 6. Develop political savvy: Understand the power dynamics and decision-making processes in your organization. 7. Focus on the long game: Remember that ethical behavior tends to pay off in the long run. Short-term gains from unethical tactics often lead to long-term consequences. These tips can help you succeed, but remember: Office politics isn't about winning or losing; it's about shaping an environment where ethical behavior is the norm, not the exception. By choosing integrity, you're not just protecting yourself—you're actively transforming your workplace culture. The most powerful political move in any organization is consistently demonstrating competence and character. When you combine skill with integrity, you create a form of influence that no amount of manipulation can match.

Transitioning from Peer to Manager: Advice for Success A conversation with a new manager reminded me of the challenges when transitioning from peer to leader. It’s not uncommon for subtle changes in tone or behavior to cause tension or mistrust. The key is navigating this thoughtfully to maintain relationships and ensure team success. Here’s my advice for new managers stepping into this role: 1. Acknowledge the Shift Be transparent about the new dynamic. Recognize the adjustment for both you and your team, and invite open dialogue to build trust. 2. Prioritize One-on-One Conversations Meet individually with team members to understand their perspectives. Ask questions like: "What’s one thing I can do to support you better?" 3. Stay True to Yourself You were promoted for a reason. Don’t feel pressured to adopt a different tone or style. Authenticity builds trust. 4. Avoid Overcorrecting Resist the urge to make sweeping changes or assert authority too quickly. Focus on collaboration and gradual improvements. 5. Share Your Vision Communicate your goals for the team and how you’ll support their success. Show them you’re focused on shared outcomes. 6. Model the Behavior You Expect Set the tone through your own actions, whether it’s professionalism, teamwork, or problem-solving. 7. Set Boundaries Respectfully Redefine relationships while maintaining a professional and respectful tone. Boundaries help reinforce your leadership role. 8. Embrace Emotional Intelligence Pay attention to how your team feels. Practice active listening, observe body language, and create a safe space for honest feedback. 9. Celebrate Team Successes Acknowledge and share wins to show your investment in their growth. 10. Commit to Continuous Learning Seek feedback and refine your approach. Leadership is an ongoing journey, and growth is part of the process. The transition to leadership is about building trust, staying collaborative, and focusing on the team’s needs. With authenticity and empathy, you can make this shift a win for everyone. What advice would you share with someone stepping into a leadership role? 👇

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗵𝗶𝗸𝗲𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲—it could be office politics. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝘀𝗵 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 • 70% of promotions are influenced by managing relationships and office politics, not just your job performance. (Source: HBR)    • 58% of employees say that office politics impacts their career growth. (Source: Forbes) 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆: 𝗝𝗶𝗹𝗹'𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 • Jill was a top performer, consistently in the top 10% at her company.    • She was well-liked, worked long hours, and had impressive skills.    • Yet, Jill missed out on a big promotion. 𝗪𝗵𝘆? She didn’t engage in office politics. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴: 𝗡𝗼 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴: Jill spent all her time at her desk, ignoring key decision-makers. 𝗜𝗴𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀: She believed hard work was enough and avoided the political side of work. 𝗡𝗼 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Jill assumed others would notice her achievements, so she didn’t discuss them. 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗜𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲: She didn’t actively position herself as a leader in the company. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗝𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 Through leadership coaching, Jill identified 5 areas she needed to work on: 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀: Jill started attending company events and connecting with influential people. 𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲: At a luncheon, Jill intentionally sat next to a senior executive and discussed how her team could support his projects, securing a future collaboration. 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗰𝘆: Jill started preparing to share her achievements in meetings. 𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲: In a meeting, Jill proudly shared how her team saved $200,000, crediting her leadership for the success. 𝗘𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: 𝗝ill learned to respond calmly to others' emotions instead of reacting defensively. 𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲: When a colleague disagreed with her, she suggested a collaboration, which earned her respect. 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴: Jill aligned her work with the company’s long-term goals. 𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲: She volunteered to lead an AI project, positioning her as a forward-thinking leader. 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝘆𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗰𝘀 & 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: Jill started understanding who influenced the company and aligned herself with key players. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁? Jill started getting noticed. She was assigned high-visibility projects and secured her promotion in the next appraisal cycle. 🎉 𝗣.𝗦. Want to unlock your full potential and master office politics? Let me help you navigate the unwritten rules of the workplace. 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽 𝗺𝗲 𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲, and let's create a strategy that works for you! #peakimpactmentorship #leadership #success #interviewtips #communication