Understand the Political Culture in Your Company

Although almost every company will give you an employee handbook that has a long set of rules and how things work in the company there are still more rules and dynamics you will need to learn as you begin your new job. To understand the political culture in your new job you will need to be very observant of how things happen around you. So keep your eyes peeled for anything that might be of interest. 

There are so many things in the political culture that can happen outside of the company’s rulebook. For instances, dealing with a bad boss is difficult but learning to be the best at dealing with him could be the key to having him on your side. If the majority of employees in your department or business dislike the boss, then it means he really doesn’t have a number one employee. Being that number one employee can be a long, hard, uphill battle but it can be done with a little determination. Show this boss that you can do the work that needs to be done; you can meet deadlines and go the extra mile for him when he needs it. Proving yourself while still being a decent person who isn’t talking behind his back could really help you in the long run.

Although companies want you to think that promotions are granted because of the work you complete and the quality of the work you produce, there is usually more to it. Sometimes it isn’t about what you know but rather about whom you know. By expanding your network of people, you can set yourself up for great promotions and be the choice employee when your boss needs something done. To do this you need to rub elbows with people who are ranked higher in the company than you. How can you do this? You can invite them to lunch, talk with them in the elevator, see them in the parking garage and speak instead of running the other way. By bridging the communication gap between you and them it will make things much easier and could open a lot of doors for you in the future.

Last but not least, is learning to keep some of your unneeded opinions to yourself. Gossip in an office setting can spread like wild fire. You never want to be the person whose opinion reached the head boss, and in reality what you said was in anger over something silly.  If you don’t like someone, or do not like their work performance or people skills, so be it. But keep it to yourself. People do not look highly on others who talk about people behind their backs. Save your opinions and share them with someone outside of the office. 

So to sum it all up, listen, learn, observe others and then try to make connections with people who have a hand in what you do and where you want to go in the company.

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