Office Politics: Experiencing Change at the Front Line

By Toni Roldan, Win Win Workplace Consultant

Does this scenario sound familiar: You head into the office, sit in your cubicle, get your first call of the day, open your e-mail, and suddenly find that you don't recognize where you work anymore? It seems like everything has changed midstream: The priorities you are now working on aren't the same ones that were important yesterday, decisions are being made that you don't understand, and the atmosphere is more tense and clouded.

This is the challenge presented to many of you employed in large organizations where rapid changes are taking place because of sudden economic downturns or large roll-ups involving mergers and acquisitions.

From your perspective, the decisions and changes in leadership around you may seem political. While the original definition of "political" is "the process by which groups of people make decisions," that is not what you are thinking. It seems like deals and decisions are being made behind closed doors by people who are seeking or trying to retain power and control over everything and everyone around them.

No business is immune to some level of political maneuvering among its leaders. What varies is the magnitude, how the business responds, and how the individuals affected adapt and cope. As an employee, you must learn to navigate through the murkiness and not let it pull you down -- even if you feel like a surfer navigating a 12-foot wave, you must avoid the deep pull of the undercurrent in order to stay on top and survive.

In everything from family-operated companies to large corporate organizations, I have experienced a wide range of circumstances -- lay-offs, large mergers and acquisitions, and new management regimes being brought in -- and to keep my head above water and to achieve some level of success I've adopted the following tips:

#1. Don't take it personally.

Emotions, tension levels, and reactions run high in these times. Even those individuals who are normally the "calm" ones can have emotional outbursts as pressures are placed on everyone. So step back and try to see the situation behind the individual rather than the individual's actions and reactions.

#2. Be open to change.

Understand that there are changes that you can influence and others that you can't. And changes that catch you off guard sometimes can't be influenced. There are discussions happening at multiple levels above setting the dominos in motion. So make the best of it. Maybe there is a new opportunity open for you. Maybe there is a different department or new people you can work with that you wouldn't have been able to before.

#3. Be the first one through the door.

Bring ideas to the table that offer new insight, new methods, or new techniques in response to the changes. If a new mandate now requires your department to completely change the way you operate, offer solutions to make that happen. Even though you may still have your doubts and may not agree with the decision, you are setting the trail for the rest to follow. Being the first one through the door, demonstrate your ability to be a leader.

#4. Stop complaining.

It takes up too much time and energy. Talk to those around you who can help remedy the situation, who can help with the solution, and whom you trust to steer you in the right direction. But to just complain about how bad it is or how much you don't like something only magnifies the negatives in the situation and rehashes all the old feelings and reactions. It's often best to transfer that time and energy into activities that move you forward.

#5. Stay true to what got you here.

Remember what has created your success. It's tempting to get caught in the "political" climate, but it's just as easy to stay with the behaviors and personality that got you here.

#6. Learn.

Look at it as a learning experience. Although these might be difficult times for you personally, if you can look past the immediate impact, there may well be many lessons to be learned. For instance, watch how your peers respond; watch how your leaders respond. Do you notice any differences? Do you see behaviors that you would like to adopt? Do you see behaviors that you want to avoid? Take notice and also know that others may be doing the same with you!

It's not always easy dealing with change, and these tactics may not remedy your particular situation. However, you are testing and stretching your capabilities during such times. Whether your decision is to stay with your company or to move elsewhere, know that you are gaining strength in your skills and abilities for the next step in your career.