after-class writing homework

Name a title here

Office politics. It’s a term used to describe the

power rules of the workplace. Who gets the best

workspace, special attention from management,

or the most plum assignments? That has a lot to

do with talent and competence, but it may also

have to do with politics. Office politics affect

virtually every workplace. Even if you choose to

ignore the politics where you work, chances are

that you’ll still be affected by them from time to

time. Here are some tips on understanding and

navigating workplace politics.

Name a subtitle here

Workplace politics can be both positive and

negative. The negatives, such as favoritism,

excluding others, gossip, and backstabbing, can

be damaging and distracting. But workplace

politics can also be positive, uniting teams of

people to achieve common goals that also benefit

the organization. Here are three important things

to keep in mind about workplace politics: 1. It’s important to learn about the politics in

your workplace. Many people make the mistake of

completely ignoring workplace politics. While you

may prefer to steer clear of politics, it’s still

important to understand the role they play in your

workplace. Being unaware can make you appear

disinterested and unknowledgeable -- and may

leave you vulnerable.

2. Be an observer. This will help you understand

the politics in your workplace. Observe which

behaviors help people succeed. Try to figure out

who is influential in your organization and what

makes them that way. Ask your manager or a

mentor to help you understand the politics in your

workplace as well. Discuss the behaviors that tend

to set successful people apart.

3. Let honesty and integrity guide you. Office

politics can often seem unfair, but you can choose

to rise above and act with professionalism.

Remember that while some people clamor

ruthlessly for the top and will do anything to get there, honesty and fairness will help you succeed

personally and professionally.

Successfully navigating the politics in your

workplace

Here are 10 tips to help you navigate politics in

your workplace:

1. write down the topic

sentence

petition can be healthy, but not if it’s at

the expense of teamwork. Work collaboratively

with other team members and departments.

That’s the guiding rule of a great politician.

2. write down the topic sentence here.

Badmouthing can make you look bad, and

negative comments can come back to haunt you

later. If you have a problem with a co-worker, talk

with her directly and privately. Talking behind

someone’s back only makes matters worse.

3. write down the topic sentence

here.Making others look good and feel good is

good politics and it makes you look good as well. Stay the extra time it takes to help a co-worker

finish an important project. Send a congratulatory

e-mail to a co-worker about a job well done -- and

copy his manager.

4. write down the topic sentence here.. You

don’t have to participate in gossip to benefit from

the grapevine. Closing your mouth and opening

your ears allows you to stay up-to-date about

what’s going on in your organization without

contributing negative energy.

5. write down the topic sentence

here.Discuss difficult or confidential issues in

person or over the phone. Never send an e-mail

you wouldn’t want others to read.

6. write down the topic sentence here.You

may need to collaborate or exchange favors down

the road.

7. write down the topic sentence here.Build

your reputation in a way that is natural for you. If

ingratiating yourself isn’t your style but networking is, then network. For example, put

your manager in contact with people who can

support the team’s goals instead of wasting time

raving about her new suit.

8. write down the topic sentence here. This

is a great way to promote yourself without

overselling yourself. If you don’t have highly

visible responsibilities, volunteer for a new project

that will draw attention to your talents and skills.

9. write down the topic sentence here. Be

assertive, not aggressive. Avoid whining and

complaining. These behaviors are a waste of

energy and they can make you appear

unprofessional. Take a look around you -- highly

successful people in your workplace are probably

not known for complaining.

10. write down the topic sentence

here.Introduce yourself to people you can help

and to those who can help you. Work at being part

of multiple networks, not just one. And

communicate with those networks often.