INTHEBLACK October 2021 - Magazine - Page 60
F E AT U R E
// O F F I C E P O L I T I C S
T H E “ N E W N O R M A L” I N O F F I C E P O L I T I C S P R E S E N T S E XC I T I N G
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE WILLING TO NURTURE DEEPER
C O N N E C T I O N S A N D E M B R A C E N E W M E A N S O F C O M M U N I C AT I N G ,
C O L L A B O R AT I N G A N D C R E AT I N G L AS T I N G VA L U E .
Above: Dr Jesse Olsen,
University of Melbourne
Top right: Eve Ash,
workplace psychologist
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60 ITB October 2021
workplaces. She says many organisations are focusing
more on outcomes and results rather than on
whether people appear to be working hard or not.
“That whole ‘first-in, last-to-leave’ mentality is no
longer as relevant. Working mums especially have
been so good at getting the job done in a timeefficient way, and they’ve maybe not received the
recognition they deserve,” she says.
“Now, with more people, both men and women,
working from home, there’s a broader recognition that
you can be productive without being in the office till
all hours of the night.
“I also think women are pretty savvy with
networking online and building alliances that way,
within their organisations and externally. That new
dynamic will shift office politics.”
Workplace psychologist and entrepreneur Eve Ash
says managers who want to progress their careers
will have to be particularly well equipped to handle
diversity. This goes beyond characteristics such as
gender and ethnicity, and encompasses various work
styles and preferences.
“The workplace is becoming increasingly
personalised. It’s not a one-size-fits-all scenario
anymore,” she says. “Many professional firms want
their people back in the office – they’re not happy
about people working from home. So, what you
might get is people working for companies that fit
with what they choose, and cultures grow from that.”
Some people may choose to stay out of the office
and as far away from office politics as possible. “If
you’re in a technical role, you might not need to go
into the office or even worry about taking part in
team-building, or worry about workplace culture.
That might suit you better,” she says.
Managers must balance technical competence and
empathetic leadership. Those wishing to influence
outcomes and move up the corporate ladder will also
need to display considerable political savvy to keep
teams unified.
“Somebody who wants to progress will be happy
to go in and straddle the groups,” she says. “The good
managers need to be compassionate, but also have
strong critical thinking and decision-making skills.”
Love it or loathe it, politics is integral to the
fabric of almost every workplace. As with all forms
of politics, the office variety can be a force for good
as well as evil. One thing is sure – the “new normal”
in office politics presents exciting opportunities for
those willing to nurture deeper connections and
embrace new means of communicating, collaborating
and creating lasting value.