- 1). Stay neutral on as many office politics issues as possible. Do not choose sides. Avoid undercurrents about making changes while you are in the break room, if you are not willingly prepared to bring the matter up in front of management during the next office meeting.
- 2). Refrain from participating in gossip about the bosses or co-workers. Many companies promote from within, so it's entirely possible that the grumpy colleague being bad-mouthed today could be the new boss tomorrow. If it reaches him that you were part of the contingency talking about him on the sly, he could make your work days very difficult down the line. Eat snacks at your own desk, or read a book during lunch in the break room, to avoid being sucked into particularly nasty gossip sessions.
- 3). Focus your energy on producing excellent-quality work. Arrive on time every day, take only your allotted breaks, and show incentive by volunteering for extra assignments whenever possible. Let others try to schmooze the boss because your work and work ethic will speak for itself.
- 4). If you absolutely must engage in office politics to take a stand on important issues, heed some advice from the Wall Street Journal. The renowned business expert suggests observing the inner workings of your place of employment long before making a move. Understand the corporate culture, the encompassing goals of the company, and the degree of risk and creative input that's generally allowed by the executive branch. Tailor any suggestions and frame all concerns to the specific office demographic you are attempting to persuade toward your viewpoint.
- 5). Do not lash out or counterattack if a co-worker is spreading malicious gossip about you. Give him the benefit of the doubt at first that rumors of his actions are not true. Then, assess any blame that points at you by doing a self-check. Ensure that you are not contributing to work problems by doing something wrong or are entangled in negative inter-office relations. Verify that all assignments are either up to date or correctly completed. By approaching any gossip this way, you can then talk to your boss about the matter in private without worrying that your personal job performance will be called into question.
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