Office Politics and Gossiping

Cynthia GordonSchool-to-Work CoordinatorInternational Finance and

Career High School

2

Office Politics

Office (Work) Politics Defined

Detriments of Office Politics

Benefits of Office Politics

Five Rules Concerning Office Politics

How to Avoid Office Politics

3

Gossiping (Office)

The Grapevine Concept

Detriments of Office Grapevine Gossip

Benefits of Office Grapevine Gossip

4

Pre-Test True or False

1. Office politics takes place in nearly every business

organization.2. Many working class people are happy that office

politics exist.3. There are positive and negative effects from office

politics.4. Office grapevine occurs when you add state-of-the-

art telecommunications into the workplace.5. Managers differ with regard to what information

should be disseminated within the workplace.6. There are good and bad forms of gossip.

5

Office (Work) Politics Defined

The complex struggle for dominance that takes place in any organization.

When workers actively seek ways to make their abilities and achievements known.

Ruthless manipulation of other people in an attempt to gain power.

6

Detriments of Office Politics

Initiates Ruthlessness

Unwarranted Power Struggles

Encourages Hypocrisy, Secrecy,and Self-interests

Produces ineffective team work among staff members

7

Benefits of Office Politics

Highly motivated employees

Productive employees

Employee Recognition Increases

Boosts Employee Morale

8

Five Rules Concerning Office Politics

Nobody Wins Unless Everybody Wins

Don’t Just Ask For Opinions…Change Them

Everyone Expects To Be Paid Back

Success Can Create Opposition

Don’t Ignore The After-Math Of Success

9

How To Avoid Office Politics

Wear No Mask

Be Transparent

Flex and Bend

Listen

Park the Ego

10

How To Avoid Office Politics (Cont.)

Forget the Empire

Don’t Gossip

Focus On the Business

Issue at Hand

Apologize Later

11

Gossiping (Office)

The Grapevine Concept

The Grapevine Concept is the informal communication network of an

organization.

It is also…..

An unofficial way of relaying news

Personal Gossip

Informal and Unstructured

12

Detriments of Office Grapevine Gossip

Incorrect Information is passed along

Contributes to the spread of rumors

Creates conflicting loyalties

Counteracts Company Values

Encourages Resistance to

Management Plans

13

Benefits of Grapevine Gossip

Provides an outlet for stress, tension, and anxiety

Makes work less boring

Showcases future leaders

Provides feedback on employee attitudes

14

Post Test Ten True or False Questions

1. Office politics takes place in nearly every business organization.

2. Many working class people are happy that office politics exist.

3. There are positive and negative effects from office politics.

4. Office grapevine occurs when you add state-of-the-art telecommunication into the workplace.

15

Post Test Ten True or False Questions (Cont.)

5. Managers differ with regard to what information should be disseminated within the workplace.

6. There are good and bad forms of gossip.

7. The informal communication network of an organization is called the Grapevine Concept.

8. One of the five rules concerning office politics state that not everyone expects to get paid back.

16

Post Test Ten True or False Questions (Cont.)

9. Hypocrisy, secrecy, self interests, ruthlessness, and power struggles are all examples of office gossip.

10. One way to avoid office politics is to focus on the business interest at hand.

17

Answers to Pre and Post Tests

1. True 6. True

2. False 7. True

3. True 8. True

4. False 9. False

5. True 10. True

18

Office Politics and Gossip Web Resources

Assignment: Select one of the following websites listed below to create a brochure on the possible negative and positive benefits concerning gossip in the workplace.

http://www.slackermanager.com/2006/04/how-to-avoid-office-politics.html

http://www.fastcompany.com/online/14/politics.html

Nebraska WBL Instruction Guide, Competency #6 – Acting Professionally, The Grapevine, pgs I-143 – I-148.