power and politics Essay -- essays research papers

Politics and Power Paper   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It is not about â€Å"what you do†, â€Å"it is about who you are and who you know†. As employees, we have all heard sayings like this before when it comes to the business world. The â€Å"power and politic† mindset is a direct result of the type of tug of war experienced for millions of years; from prehistoric times through modern day. Ever since Ugha smashed Mugha in the head with a club back in prehistoric times, politics have been around in the workplace. Politics are a subliminal fight for survival and it actually happens in personal lives as much as it does in our work lives. Politics can go hand in hand with power, just as night follows the day. Many of the political situations that occur within a corporation are a result of growth and change. However, part of the task of becoming a viable asset to a corporation is to look beyond the surface and find out where the company is heading as a result of these changes. In this way, employees c an position themselves to be a positive part of the growth and change.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Power and politics go hand in hand in the business world today. The likelihood of gaining power often depends on the ability to read and understand politics. Once power is gained, leaders tend to utilize politics to reach long term goals and visions. Pending on the style of leadership, personal agendas may come into play. While personal agendas are not always a bad thing, they are generally set forth with limited perspective and can potentially result in catastrophe. Because personal agendas restrict the flow of communication and constructive criticism, personal agendas are a major contributor to the negative aspects of power. However, there is far more to be gained than lost with regard to power. Power provides a solid structure and a clear expectation. Since people strive to please, measurable guidelines offer a foundation for success. When power is used effectively, appropriate politics can be set into place to obtain a desired outcome.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Politics are meant to go unnoticed and usually lie beneath the surface. Recognizing politics is half the battle in learning to handle and deal with them. Once politics are recognized there is an opportunity to benefit personally and collectively. Politics can promote the â€Å"I’ll scratch you’re back if you scratch mi... ... has built its reputation on. (Schermerhorn, John R., Hunt, James G., Osborn, Richard N. Organizational Behavior, pgs 1-31).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What can you do to thrive in a political environment? There’s no magic formula, but common sense, fair play and sound judgment are good starting points. Work hard; absolutely. But instead of keeping your head down, keep your antenna up. Instead of keeping your nose clean and not getting involved in any of the politics, use it to sniff out information and opportunities. Instead of seeing power and politics as dirty words, put them to good use for yourself and others. One thing is for sure, power and politics will always survive in the business world, and it is imperative that we as employees find a way to use them to our advantage, because if we do not someone else will. As it is pointed out in one article, the great philosopher Plato once said â€Å"Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber† (Martinez, 2000). References Martinez, M. N. (2000). Politics Come With The Office. Information retrieved on   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  August 27, 2005 from www.graduatingengineer.com