Navigating Organizational Politics

By Rose O. Sherman, EdD, RN, FAAN

“The game that you are watching is not always the game that is being played” – a wise mentor

Maria Sanchez is an assistant nurse manager in a large critical care unit in an academic medical center. Three months ago, she was asked if she would accept a temporary position as the task force coordinator for the unit’s efforts to receive a Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. Maria was thrilled with this assignment.

The work of the task force was going well and the unit was close to being ready to submit their application for consideration. Maria was asked to meet today with her nurse manager and the director of Critical Care for the Medical Center. She was told at the meeting that submitting for the Beacon Award was no longer an organizational priority and she would be reassigned back to her Assistant Nurse Manager position. Maria was stunned and asked her nurse manager why this had happened. She replied – Maria, I myself am not sure why this happened but I am being told that it is organizational politics.

Organizations as Political Systems

Most nurse leaders will acknowledge that understanding and navigating the organizational politics in their work settings is often very challenging. Few leaders have not experienced a scenario such as that discussed above where it seemed that their was organizational buy-in for a project or organizational support for a leader and then things suddenly and unexpectedly shifted. Organizational politics are inevitable and leaders need to view their workplaces as political systems where employees at all levels bring their own interests, desires, wants and needs. It is within the context of this diversity of interests that politics form. Organizational politics can become negative when individuals or groups of individuals take action without regard to the well-being of others.

Navigating the Politics

Understanding the politics in an organization is key to being an effective leader. Sometimes, leaders make a decision to distance themselves from the politics only to find that they have difficulty achieving some of their goals. Beware of trying to fly solo in an organization. It generally will not be a successful strategy. Some key steps for navigating the politics include the following:

Observe and Listen

The most important tools for negotiating workplace politics are your own skills of observation. Watch how decisions are made – look at group alliances – identify points of conflict in an organization – observe for competitiveness and jealousy – determine who are the key decision makers and has influence. Through observation, you will be able to better identify what the points of resistance might be to what you are planning. You need to be able to better use your expertise to create buy-in.

Create Strong Relationships

Building a network of strong relationships in your organization is important to navigate the politics. In highly politically charged environments, you need trusted colleagues that you can go through to discuss difficult situations and who will give you honest feedback. It is critical in organizations that leaders be seen as individuals who can keep confidential information to themselves otherwise you will not be trusted.

Be Tactful in How You Promote Yourself and Your Unit

Workplaces are inherently competitive. It is important to do a good job and have a measurable way that others can see this. Self-promotion can be a slippery slope and result in others resenting you and the work you are trying to accomplish. Make sure that others have an opportunity to shine.

Help Your Colleagues

By helping others when they need it, you can leverage good will. You will always need allies. Relationships are built on reciprocity and if you have strong allegiances, people will return a favor if you need it to progress in your work.

As was true in the scenario described at the beginning of this blog, negative organizational politics can result in employee dissatisfaction and disengagement. As a nurse leader, you will never be able to totally eliminate the organizational politics in your workplace. What you can do is become savvy in how you both anticipate it and manage it when it does occur.

Read to Lead

The Best Way to Play Office Politics Harvard Business Review Video