Office politics tips

BakerStreet

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Let's face it, there's office politics and you need to play the game if you want your goals achieved. This might be more dev time for SEO, which would mean less dev time for product (which will result in you being able to get more done in the year and therefore higher SEO revenue and a higher bonus); or you need to win the confidence of investors, partners, managemers, etc so that you can grow your team and have an easier day at work for yourself. Whatever it is, you need to play the politics game.

Here's some gems I found that were interesting:
  1. Figure out your personal goal and your organisation's goals.
  2. You need to match the organisation's goals with yours. If you do, you're winning. If you only advance the organisation's goal, you're a martyr and martyrs end up being resentful if people don't appreciate their sacrifices. If you only advance your own goals, you're a psychopath and the group will push you out. If you don't advance yours or the organisation's goals, you're a dimwit and are probably disturbed and need therapy.
  3. Make friends and partnerships with people. The social capital goes far to help your goals. Don't be the dimwit that people avoid. You're just limiting your power then.
  4. If your only social capital is that you have a lot of technical knowledge, then you're fucking weak within the company.
  5. Don't commit political suicide by always complaining or always seeking attention. If it is always you who has problems, it will end up being that you are the problem. Be known as someone who has solutions, not problems.
  6. Avoid power games as that's just a distraction from winning your goals. Befriend people who do or limit their influence so that you can get your goals done.
  7. All KPIs and accounting are subjective. Make sure it shows that you're doing good.
  8. You must accept that being employed means you are not free. That's what asking for employment is. Even if you own your company, you're serving the investors or the customers. There's no such thing as freedom, just my 2 cents.
What are yours?
 
BakerStreet said:
Let's face it, there's office politics and you need to play the game if you want your goals achieved. This might be more dev time for SEO, which would mean less dev time for product (which will result in you being able to get more done in the year and therefore higher SEO revenue and a higher bonus); or you need to win the confidence of investors, partners, managemers, etc so that you can grow your team and have an easier day at work for yourself. Whatever it is, you need to play the politics game.

Here's some gems I found that were interesting:
  1. Figure out your personal goal and your organisation's goals.
  2. You need to match the organisation's goals with yours. If you do, you're winning. If you only advance the organisation's goal, you're a martyr and martyrs end up being resentful if people don't appreciate their sacrifices. If you only advance your own goals, you're a psychopath and the group will push you out. If you don't advance yours or the organisation's goals, you're a dimwit and are probably disturbed and need therapy.
  3. Make friends and partnerships with people. The social capital goes far to help your goals. Don't be the dimwit that people avoid. You're just limiting your power then.
  4. If your only social capital is that you have a lot of technical knowledge, then you're fucking weak within the company.
  5. Don't commit political suicide by always complaining or always seeking attention. If it is always you who has problems, it will end up being that you are the problem. Be known as someone who has solutions, not problems.
  6. Avoid power games as that's just a distraction from winning your goals. Befriend people who do or limit their influence so that you can get your goals done.
  7. All KPIs and accounting are subjective. Make sure it shows that you're doing good.
  8. You must accept that being employed means you are not free. That's what asking for employment is. Even if you own your company, you're serving the investors or the customers. There's no such thing as freedom, just my 2 cents.
What are yours?
Click to expand...

I'd disagree with #3

And say it's subjective or dependent on the company you are at for #4
 
I have a few:

Firstly, study human psychology. Understanding the underlying motivations behind other people's behaviors helps you understand them and their train of thought better. This knowledge helps you mold your own actions to be perceived favorably in the eyes of others. Also, once you have a good grasp on what motivates the other person, you can influence their perception.

Secondly, I would suggest figuring out whether the person you are dealing with is a reader or a listener. Peter Drucker, one of the pioneers in management, stated that everyone can be divided into two types of people: "readers" and "listeners".

If you are dealing with a reader, it is always better to put everything in writing for them, for the listener, orally. When dealing with people, you'll always find yourself being frustrated when a "listener" does not read the instructions you sent them. You'll also find yourself struggling to explain a rather easy concept on call to someone who is a "reader".

Thirdly, understand whether the person you are dealing with reasons emotionally or logically. For many intellectuals, logical thinking is the only adept way of dealing with problems. For others, "thinking with your heart" often leads to better, more fulfilling decisions. However, both ways of thinking are not inherently flawed and should be balanced, as per the situation. For example, finding a romantic partner with a 50/50 arrangement might seem more "logical" but you may find yourself happier with a traditional partnership (working husband/housewife).

Figure out how stakeholders in your organization make decisions and appeal to their line of thinking. Some investors would love to invest in a product that "brings families closer together" whereas others want a product to provide them with a 20% ROI otherwise they're out - no matter how many families they could've helped.

This is more true in certain cultural contexts. Some restaurants offer free food to improve PR, increase brand awareness, and ultimately increase sales volume. Some offer free food as it would please the Lord and vet them many prayers.

---

Figuring out people and their psyche can help you better understand them. A better understanding of people can help you influence their actions in a positive way, in a way that all office politics is for the better and promotes a collaborative win-win environment rather than a hostile one.
 
I talked to someone who worked for Boston Consulting Group. Here's tips she gave:
  1. Your deliverable is a PPT, so make sure it is quality assured for color, design, consistency and so forth. Give the audience 3 things to take away and state what they are at the beginning. Give them a clear outline so they know what to expect from the presentation.
  2. Target how they feel, what they think, and the behavior they are doing. Let say they had a massive hit from a google SEA policy change. They feel hurt and betrayed by Google, an old partner. You then know they will evaluate your proposal for SEO. So you frame your service as a solution to have traffic w/o Google Ads policy issues. Apologize for Google's policy change and make it right to them, by pitching your solution. Show them the ROI of it. What would be left for them is to choose you.
  3. Cater the presentation to the audience and give 110% of what the audience expects.
  4. Leave a positive brand image with every interaction.
You really want to consider the customers thoughts, feelings, and behaviors with every brand touch point. The customer here is management if you are an employee.
 
BakerStreet said:
I talked to someone who worked for Boston Consulting Group. Here's tips she gave:
  1. Your deliverable is a PPT, so make sure it is quality assured for color, design, consistency and so forth. Give the audience 3 things to take away and state what they are at the beginning. Give them a clear outline so they know what to expect from the presentation.
  2. Target how they feel, what they think, and the behavior they are doing. Let say they had a massive hit from a google SEA policy change. They feel hurt and betrayed by Google, an old partner. You then know they will evaluate your proposal for SEO. So you frame your service as a solution to have traffic w/o Google Ads policy issues. Apologize for Google's policy change and make it right to them, by pitching your solution. Show them the ROI of it. What would be left for them is to choose you.
  3. Cater the presentation to the audience and give 110% of what the audience expects.
  4. Leave a positive brand image with every interaction.
You really want to consider the customers thoughts, feelings, and behaviors with every brand touch point. The customer here is management if you are an employee.
Click to expand...

I'm not following how this relates to anything else posted in this thread.
 
Jesse said:
I'm not following how this relates to anything else posted in this thread.
Click to expand...
Oh sorry, I have a 50/50 chance of getting fired from my day job and it totally depends on this presentation I make Monday. They basically told me I need to make a great business plan and present it or else they're firing me. I'm responsible for SEO in the company and we're at like -70,000 USD in ROI for SEO, since their only KPI is revenue and they calculate that daily. The company is set up for paid ads but is not set up for long term investments in SEO. They've also had enough of me and are too rational to fire me when they know that I'm talented and can bring them more money.

so yeah totally a me issue and not a general thing. Sorry.
 
BakerStreet said:
Oh sorry, I have a 50/50 chance of getting fired from my day job and it totally depends on this presentation I make Monday. They basically told me I need to make a great business plan and present it or else they're firing me. I'm responsible for SEO in the company and we're at like -70,000 USD in ROI for SEO, since their only KPI is revenue and they calculate that daily. The company is set up for paid ads but is not set up for long term investments in SEO. They've also had enough of me and are too rational to fire me when they know that I'm talented and can bring them more money.

so yeah totally a me issue and not a general thing. Sorry.
Click to expand...

Good luck
 
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