Transcript Office Politics and Gossiping

Office Politics
and Gossiping
Cynthia Gordon
School-to-Work Coordinator
International Finance and
Career High School
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
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
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-theart 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

Don’t Just Ask For Opinions…Change Them

Everyone Expects To Be Paid Back

Success Can Create Opposition

Don’t 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

Don’t 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
1. Office politics takes place in nearly every
business organization.
2. Many working class people are happy that
office politics exist.
3. There are positive and negative effects from
office politics.
4. 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.)
5. Managers differ with regard to what information
should be disseminated within the workplace.
6. There are good and bad forms of gossip.
7. The informal communication network of an
organization is called the Grapevine Concept.
8. 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.)
9. Hypocrisy, secrecy, self interests,
ruthlessness, and power struggles are all
examples of office gossip.
10. 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
1. True
6.
True
2. False
7.
True
3. True
8.
True
4. False
9.
False
5. 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-officepolitics.html
http://www.fastcompany.com/online/14/politics.html
Nebraska WBL Instruction Guide, Competency #6 – Acting
Professionally, The Grapevine,
pgs I-143 – I-148.
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