They’re straight up lying to you. If someone tells you that there’s no politics in their workplace, they’re either completely checked out, or they’re the ones playing the hardest.
We treat politics like it’s a dirty word. And sure, sometimes it is – but for this conversation, it’s not. It’s simply what happens when you put a group of people in a room with different goals, different personalities, and limited resources. Office politics aren’t going away, so stop pretending they will.
Here’s why it doesn’t stop: we naturally gravitate towards people we like. We advocate for our own work because we want credit. Self‑preservation is built into our system – it’s human nature. And the numbers back it up. About 55% of workers say office politics are part of getting ahead. Nearly 20% have left a job specifically because the political environment turned toxic.
Pretending the game doesn’t exist isn’t noble – it’s just really, really expensive for you. The unwritten rules in your office carry just as much weight as anything in that employee handbook, sometimes more so. So stop trying to opt out. Learn the landscape instead.
Here’s the key: you don’t have to be manipulative to be political. That’s very important. You just have to be aware. Know who the real influences are. Advocate for your results. Build actual relationships, not transactional ones. Because if you’re not part of that conversation, someone else is having it for you.
Now put “politics” in the comments.
