The Leader and Workplace Politics

Leaders and Workplace Politics 

“Office politics ? Here ? Nah ! Except maybe…one person… occasionally. “

Of course we’re all working as a team.

Of course we’re collaborating to get the best results.

And of course, sometimes just sometimes there is ego in the room. Ego unfortunately drives behaviors which are directed at gaining personal power and influence.

Collusion, withholding information, and sometimes actively dividing the team. I just some of the behaviors when politics is at work.

As this gains momentum, the environment becomes toxic.

Who works effectively and efficiently in that environment ? Not even those who are driving the politics.

We know that leadership is a relationship. At the core of any relationship which is successful, is an understanding of values and hopefully those values shared.  In The Leadership Challenge we know that leaders build trust by talking about and living their values. 

Values of honesty and integrity are the foundation of the most admired leadership characteristics in forty years of continuous research. 

Authenticity and openness are fundamental to successful relationships.  When the leader is authentic, open, and living the values of honesty and integrity, trust and credibility are the ‘glue’ in the relationship.

Why would I collude or engage in ‘subversive’ and divisive behavior if there is trust and credibility with my leader.

Why would I engage in workplace politics if my leader challenges me to achieve beyond what even I expected of myself ?

Why would I engage in subversive workplace behaviors if my leader shows his or her trust in me ?

 When leaders ‘model’ these behaviors, when they live their values, those they are leading usually want to model those behaviors themselves. 

They want to be lead by this exemplary leader. 

And they then model these because leadership is everyone’s business. 

No more politics.