For many professionals, office politics feels like a dirty word. But when you think about it, it’s all about influence, perception, and navigating relationships. Ignoring it doesn’t make it disappear. In fact, refusing to engage often means losing out on opportunities to lead and grow. The key is to recognize the dynamics at play and learn how to use them to your advantage while staying true to your values. Here’s how to survive—and thrive—office politics.
Recognize the Unwritten Rules
Every workplace has a formal structure (org charts, titles) and an informal one (who actually holds sway). Pay attention to who gets consulted before big decisions, whose opinions leaders defer to, and which teams consistently get resources. If you remain alert to who consults whom and who listens to whom, you’ll identify patterns that can help you navigate the internal minefield.
Build Alliances
Politics are built on support networks. You don’t need to be best friends with colleagues, but you do need allies who will vouch for you, amplify your contributions, and share information. If you noticed that promotions often go to people who are part of cross-department project groups, it may behoove you to start volunteering for assignments outside your team. Building alliances with members of other teams may be the best way to achieve your next promotion.
Master the Art of Visibility
It may be the case that for years you’ve been told that the ticket to success was to work hard, keep your head down and let your work speak for itself. But that is not enough. Influence depends on others knowing your impact, and unless you share your wins strategically, nobody knows what you’ve achieved. So, take time to highlight team achievements that include your contributions, and make sure your work connects to organizational priorities. For instance, instead of emailing your manager with project results, share them in a cross-team meeting, framing them around business outcomes. That shift will make your work visible to senior leaders without sounding like a used-car salesperson.
Learn to Read the Room
Politics often plays out in subtle cues: body language, tone shifts, or who sits next to whom in meetings. Paying attention helps you anticipate reactions and adjust. If you sense hesitation when pitching an idea, acknowledge it: “I can see there are some concerns—what would help clarify?” This shows emotional intelligence and positions you as someone who can adapt as well as a team player who’s interested in listening to your team’s input.
Manage Up with Purpose
Your relationship with your boss is central in the political ecosystem. Keep them informed, anticipate their needs, and align your work with their priorities. When you aim to make your manager’s job easier and focus on delivering your goals in alignment with theirs, you support them while showing leadership potential.
Protect Your Reputation
Reputation is actually all you have. It takes a long time to build and a misstep to damage it. So you must guard it carefully. Avoid gossip, be consistent in your commitments, and treat support staff with the same respect as executives. Never speak badly about others, even if someone else starts the conversation. A strong reputation can carry you through turbulent times whereas a weak one can be the deciding factor when bosses are evaluating who to keep and who to let go.
Use Politics as a Leadership Tool
The most successful leaders tend to shape the political game. They connect diverse groups, create alliances, and open up space for others’ ideas. If you want to thrive, think about how you can shift dynamics for the better. Amplify quieter voices in meetings, connect people who should collaborate, and give credit generously. Over time, people will look to you as someone who makes the system work more smoothly.
Keep in Mind
Office politics is unavoidable, but it doesn’t have to be toxic. By understanding the unwritten rules, building alliances, and managing your reputation, you shift from feeling like a victim of politics to becoming a player with agency. In the jungle, survival goes to those who adapt. Thriving belongs to those who master the game with integrity and skill.
If you want to master this and other power skills, sign up today for our Step Up program. We are here to help you move to the next level in your career.
