Office Politics and Gossiping

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Office Politics and Gossiping

• Cynthia Gordon
• School-to-Work Coordinator
• International Finance and
• Career High School

2
Office Politics

• Office (Work) Politics Defined
• Detriments of Office Politics
• Benefits of Office Politics
• Five Rules Concerning Office Politics
• How to Avoid Office Politics

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Gossiping (Office)

• The Grapevine Concept
• Detriments of Office Grapevine Gossip
• Benefits of Office Grapevine Gossip

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Pre-Test True or False

• Office politics takes place in nearly every
  business organization.
  
• Many working class people are happy that office
  politics exist.
  
• There are positive and negative effects from
  office politics.
  
• Office grapevine occurs when you add
  state-of-the-art telecommunications into the
  workplace.
  
• Managers differ with regard to what information
  should be disseminated within the workplace.
  
• There are good and bad forms of gossip.

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Office (Work) Politics Defined

• The complex struggle for dominance that takes
  place in any organization.
  
• When workers actively seek ways to make their
  abilities and achievements known.
  
• Ruthless manipulation of other people in an
  attempt to gain power.

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Detriments of Office Politics

• Initiates Ruthlessness
• Unwarranted Power Struggles
• Encourages Hypocrisy, Secrecy,
• and Self-interests
• Produces ineffective team work among staff
  members
  

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Benefits of Office Politics

• Highly motivated employees
• Productive employees
• Employee Recognition Increases
• Boosts Employee Morale

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Five Rules Concerning Office Politics

• Nobody Wins Unless Everybody Wins
• Dont Just Ask For OpinionsChange Them
• Everyone Expects To Be Paid Back
• Success Can Create Opposition
• Dont Ignore The After-Math Of Success

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How To Avoid Office Politics

• Wear No Mask
• Be Transparent
• Flex and Bend
• Listen
• Park the Ego

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How To Avoid Office Politics (Cont.)

• Forget the Empire
• Dont Gossip
• Focus On the Business
• Issue at Hand
• Apologize Later

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Gossiping (Office)

• The Grapevine Concept
• The Grapevine Concept is the informal
  communication network of an
  
• organization.
• It is also..
• An unofficial way of relaying news
• Personal Gossip
• Informal and Unstructured

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Detriments of Office Grapevine Gossip

• Incorrect Information is passed along
• Contributes to the spread of rumors
• Creates conflicting loyalties
• Counteracts Company Values
• Encourages Resistance to
• Management Plans

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Benefits of Grapevine Gossip

• Provides an outlet for stress, tension, and
  anxiety
  
• Makes work less boring
• Showcases future leaders
• Provides feedback on employee attitudes

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Post Test Ten True or False Questions

• Office politics takes place in nearly every
  business organization.
  
• Many working class people are happy that office
  politics exist.
  
• There are positive and negative effects from
  office politics.
  
• Office grapevine occurs when you add
  state-of-the-art telecommunication into the
  workplace.
  

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Post Test Ten True or False Questions (Cont.)

• Managers differ with regard to what information
  should be disseminated within the workplace.
  
• There are good and bad forms of gossip.
• The informal communication network of an
  organization is called the Grapevine Concept.
  
• One of the five rules concerning office politics
  state that not everyone expects to get paid
  back.
  

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Post Test Ten True or False Questions (Cont.)

• Hypocrisy, secrecy, self interests, ruthlessness,
  and power struggles are all examples of office
  gossip.
  
• One way to avoid office politics is to focus on
  the business interest at hand.

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Answers to Pre and Post Tests

• True 6. True
• False 7. True
• True 8. True
• False 9. False
• True 10. True

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Office Politics and Gossip Web Resources

• Assignment Select one of the following websites
  listed below to create a brochure on the
  possible negative and positive benefits
  concerning gossip in the workplace.
• http//www.slackermanager.com/2006/04/how-to-avoid
  -office-politics.html
  
• http//www.fastcompany.com/online/14/politics.html
  
  
• Nebraska WBL Instruction Guide, Competency 6
  Acting Professionally, The Grapevine,
  
• pgs I-143 I-148.