Situation · Work
“Office politics are exhausting”
What could be going on
Gossips and triangulates: Gossip and passing tension through third parties fits; notice who carries messages about whom.
Status motive: Fits if fights are really about rank, access and who is seen as important.
In-group bias: Fits if cliques favour their own in information, credit and help.
Triangulation: Fits if conflicts between two people keep pulling you in as messenger or ally.
Dominance and prestige: Check whether people climb by intimidation or by being admired; politics differ by route.
Machiavellianism: Fits if one or two people deliberately play others off each other.
Questions to carry
- In the last bit of politics that wore me out, who was talking to whom, and about whom?
- Where do I get pulled into it myself, and what am I protecting when I do?
Also said as
- everyone at work is playing games
- how do I survive office politics
- my workplace is full of cliques and backstabbing
- there's so much gossip at my office
- workplace politics wear me out
- backstabbing and power games at work