I hear many complaints daily about
"unfairness" of politics in corporate America. Employees say that their managers "lie" or issue "personal attacks" against them. Indeed, based on pure ideals that we are taught as a child, this might appear to be case. However, corporate culture is not "real world" in which we live out our personal lives. Each corporate culture is its own world with its own rules and reality. To understand this, one must understand directions and desires of this world and learn how to best adapt to achieve vision and mission of corporation.--- Integrity and Politics ---
I have to say that words "integrity" and "politics" do not belong in same sentence. This is in no way an insult to corporate politicians, but politics is not a reflection of integrity of individual.
The primary purpose of politics is to obtain a result. In some cases, management may not tell whole truth and might apply "plausible deniability" to escape judgment. However, when an untruth is used, it is primarily to accomplish a task. In this way, managers may not "tell" you directly what needs to be accomplished, but instead they create a gap or an imbalance, which forces necessity for change and action. The end-result is a desired outcome.
Realize that, of many reasons for this approach, one of primary aims is to delegate responsibility to subordinates. If a manager has to constantly tell you what to do and how to perform, then they could very well perform task themselves. This contradicts entire purpose of your position as well as manager's and interferes with desired result. However, if they create an imbalance in front of you, then you must creatively solve situation, define a path, and obtain a viable result to attain a rebalance.
--- The Thin Line ---
While I say that present-day ideals of integrity do not apply to corporate politics, indeed, there are some cases where individuals do abuse their political power. As such, ethics and morals do begin to apply. Not only must you, as an employee, understand reasons and applications of politics, but those who wield political sword must understand how to apply their power properly without stepping over line.
The one problem that appears in this situation is in ability to tell difference between "a lie" and a "political detour". Indeed, it is a difficult task if you look at it in simplistic terms. However, until a person has gained some experience with corporate cultures, my standard response is, "when you're in corporate setting, it becomes a political detour". One must not take things personally in corporate environment, as it is not about individual; it is about results --- plain and simple.
