Office Politics

Responding rather than Reacting to Changes in the Office Politics at Work

What you'll learn

Recognise that you have been triggered into unhealthy behaviours by Office Politics

Understand the basic underlying fears which drive Office Politics

How to address the impact of working in a fearful and toxic political culture

Give feedback to others about what is happening and how it might be improved

Determine where your personal boundaries lie and what to do if they are crossed

Restore your mental and physical state to normal

Set goals, measures and regular reviews to ensure you do not revert back into toxicity

Share critical information in a way which builds your support network for mutual benefit

Spot if you are being manipulated by devious political operators

Learn how to give regular and hard feedback when the stakes are higher

Use metaphors and symbols to communicate efficiently

Requirements

Be aware that your workplace is no longer normal, safe or secure

Recognise that you are becoming agitated or avoidant

Have a strong desire to work co-operatively in a supportive community of respectful colleagues

Description

Humans have thrived because of their ability to co-operate. By working in small groups we are better able to provide food, warmth, protection and supportive relationships.If we all have a good idea of our collective plan (Where we are, where we are going and how to get there) and our expectations are met by working to the plan then we all thrive.However, if we lose sight of the plan or if our reasonable needs and expectations are not being met then the balance of power and leadership might change which can induce FEAR.Learn how to RESPOND rather than react when change and fear are in the air.Groupings may emerge who sense that the environment has changed and that new destinations can be reached with new leaders or a different set of rules to those currently in place.The prospect of unknown change drives fear.When we are in fear our behaviours can become dysfunctional and we may no longer understand the rules of the group or know who to trust any more.This fear based process or readjustment can be called group or office politics.The art of handling political situations is to seek a restoration of balance so that all members' needs are met.You may feel pressured to take sides or express opinions about others but there is no need to feel coercion at all.Great Leaders achieve this by winning Trust, Respect and Confidence.Backstabbers, the devious and those with a lust for personal power rarely survive long.Balance, Harmony, Honest Communication, Truth and Justice must and can  be restored to achieve win-win scenarios.This course will teach you how to spot political dysfunction and to thrive as a healthy and happy team

Overview

Section 1: Introduction

Lecture 1 Introduction

Lecture 2 The Four Primal Fears Driving Office Politics

Lecture 3 Evolution of Groups, Group Politics and the Mitigation of Primal Fears

Lecture 4 Fears Drive Office Politics When Expectations are Not Being Met

Section 2: Recognising the Signs that Office Politics are affecting your Mind and Body

Lecture 5 Effects Before Causes

Lecture 6 The 3 Ways We Experience Fear

Lecture 7 Physical Clues of the Adverse Effects of Office Politics

Lecture 8 Metaphors, Framing and the Language of Office Politics

Lecture 9 Thoughts, Words and the Deeds of a Dysfunctional Workplace

Section 3: RESPOND with Boundaries, Measures and Communication to Create a Safe Workplace

Lecture 10 Focus on the Desired Outcome or WWYLTHH

Lecture 11 WWYLTHH with motivational quotes and ideas

Lecture 12 Setting Reasonable Expectations or Boundaries

Lecture 13 Radars and Dashboards to Check our Boundaries and Expectations

Lecture 14 Understanding and Meeting Needs to Create Alignment

Lecture 15 Metaphors for Alignment and Sound Office Politics

Lecture 16 Sharing RITA style information to Eliminate Fear and Politics

Lecture 17 Hoshin Planning - simple measures and boundaries model

Lecture 18 Grooming, RITA and Hoshin coming together or Political Cohesion

Lecture 19 Metaphor for Efficient Communication in Challenging Situations

Section 4: RESPOND with FEEDBACK - Principles Restoring Reasonable Expectations

Lecture 20 Positive Intention within your Culture

Lecture 21 Directing Attention with Positive Intent

Lecture 22 Restate Reasonable Expectation with Metrics and Metaphors

Lecture 23 Set the Agenda to Control the Outcome

Lecture 24 3 Steps Prior to Negotiation

Lecture 25 Exploring Limits and Other Expectations

Lecture 26 Active Listening to Determine Next Steps

Lecture 27 The Feedback Sandwich Technique

Section 5: Language Used During Active Office Politics - Avoiding Manipulation

Lecture 28 Language Used During Active Office Politics - Summary

Lecture 29 Handling Objections to Feedback

Lecture 30 Threats of Scarcity

Lecture 31 Appeals to Authority

Lecture 32 Brainwashing - Exploit Instinct to be Consistent

Lecture 33 Appeals to Reciprocity - Emotional Blackmail

Lecture 34 Brazen Lying

Lecture 35 Likeability

Section 6: Summary to this point

Lecture 36 Summary

Section 7: More Significant Responses to Office Politics

Lecture 37 More Significant Responses to Office Politics Introduction

Lecture 38 Soft Skills for Significant Responses to Dysfunction in Office Politics

Lecture 39 Preparation for responding to a Serious Political Issue - consider your options

Lecture 40 Professional Planning

Lecture 41 Technique for Talking to Power about Issues

Lecture 42 Considerations for after Disputes are Resolved

Lecture 43 Value in Creating a Shared Metaphor

Section 8: Summary

Lecture 44 Summary

Anybody who senses that their workplace in no longer operating as they reasonably expected,If you get angry, agitated or want to avoid the workplace then this course is for you