Monday, December 28, 2015

Staying Sane and Getting Ahead

Do you know how to play the office politics game?  It's inevitable wherever you have people competing for power and control.  Office politics isn't always a bad thing.  Don't miss out on opportunities just because you refuse to play.

Develop relationships throughout your organization.  Embrace the chance to learn more about the Finance function, for example, even though you are in I.T.  Have lunch with Suzy in HR one week and Mark in Sales the next.  Learn who is influential and get to know them.  Be genuine in your relationships, and be careful not to pass along private information. 
 
Feedback is your friend; it is through others that we learn to see ourselves as others see us. Ask those whom you trust to give you constructive feedback on your performance, and be sure to reciprocate to set others up for success.  Learn new skills and offer to help others when you can add value to their projects.
 
Listen up!  You might not always agree with others, but give people a chance to explain their viewpoints.  Listen with respect.  Be professional.  Look for opportunities to work together toward a common goal, even if it means a bit of compromise.

Do you manage people?  Learn to lead, empower and motivate them.  Find out what their strengths are, and give them the opportunity to play to those strengths.  Reward your team for their efforts. Encourage your team members to be the best that they can be.  Not only will your team perform well, but others in your organization will learn to respect and admire you.

Learn what behavior to confront and what to ignore.  What is important to the success of your organization?  Observe, network, and learn what you need to do to become a positive force for your team and for your organization. 

Best wishes for success in 2016!

Until next time...








Sheryl Tuchman, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
http://tools2succeed.com/

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