TIRED of seeing talentless toads hop over you on the career ladder? Perhaps a little more cunning could make you more Charles Clarke than Gordon Brown in the pecking order.
Wise up. The biggest mistake graduates make is to think that talent is the key to success in a new job. It helps, but not as much as a degree in craftiness. In a survey by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), 60 per cent of HR professionals say that political ability is the most important office skill. www.cipd.co.uk.
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Why it happens. Vanessa Robinson, an adviser at the CIPD, says that political chicanery may indicate a lack of opportunity to air grievances. In Norway, where listening skills topped the poll, only 25 per cent nominated politics, which shows how rife UK offices are with intrigue.
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Don’t let others steal your credit. Bosses tend to nick others’ ideas. Rachel Lewis, an employment lawyer, suggests that you think ideas through — don’t blurt them out — and tell your boss only when someone else is present. Jane Clarke’s Office Politics: A Survival Guide (£10.66 plus postage at Amazon) has more do’s and don’ts.
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Manage your boss. Managers have power. Sadly, many are imbeciles. John Hoover, author of How to Work for an Idiot (£7.21 plus postage at Amazon) says: “Only a fool would try to change the boss. If you try, you’ll be seen as a threat. If your boss says he or she needs something done, don’t say, ‘that’s impossible’ say, ‘I’m on it’.” Integrity or promotion? Offices are dirty places.
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Play hardball. Saying sorry in business is a sign of weakness. Say what you’d do differently next time instead of grovelling. It will impress your boss by showing you’ve learnt. Also, don’t get emotional. Never send e-mails in the heat of the moment.
When it goes too far. Carole Spiers, managing director of the employee wellbeing consultants Carole Spiers Group (www.carolespiersgroup.com), says that if tapping up old hands to learn about the company culture doesn’t work and situations get out of control, speak out. “Some organisations thrive on office politics but it can lead to bullying and people feeling excluded.”
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JOHN PLUMMER