Political Dilemmas at Work: How to Maintain Your Integrity and Further Your Career

Chapter One

POLITICAL RIVAL

You’ve always played it straight and gotten good results. Now you’re up against a strong and cunning political rival who seems determined to derail your success.

 

 

 

The workplace is a competitive environment, and while team spirit and collegiality are widespread, competition is never far below the surface. While it might be comforting to think that as a team we are all pulling together with the same aims and objectives; this is only ever partially true. There will always be individual agendas, rivalry, and competition. And there will be politics. Appointments and advancements should be made solely in proportion to contribution and talent. It is reasonable to want this sort of simple meritocracy, but it is unrealistic and naive to trust that we will get it.

Not everyone plays by the rules. For some, winning is everything—and they use politicking—if that is what is required. For them, work is not an opportunity to contribute for fair reward, it is an arena for self-advancement and gain. And when faced with a tough opponent who seems determined to derail our success, then we have a political rival.

A Political Rival Dilemma

Someone has to replace Donna, so why shouldn’t it be me? I have the track record and the experience, my evaluations are consistently top 10, I am in the top quarter of the talent grid, oh, and I would look great behind the desk of the Sales vice president.

I know life isn’t always fair, but it would be a major injustice if ...