Young or old on the corporate ladder, anticipation can be a dangerous limitation to your courage to take tough decisions in your career progression. Resist the temptation to reduce your life aspirations to short term wins because of immediate comfort and fear of the unknown. The real threat you should dread is the fear of stagnation.
To say that office politics has only one face is to say that a coin is one sided. That is not true. If anyone has ever been a victim of office politics, it is unlikely that I will encourage the person to do a tooth for a tooth for reasons I will explain shortly.
Communication is more art than science because it is more subjective than objective. The diversity in human nature reinforces the admonition that you should be quick to hear but slow to speak. In other words, listen more and speak less, particularly when you forge a new relationship, the intricacies of which you are yet to master.
Before you dissociate yourself from politics, I implore you to research the expanded meaning of politics. Any activity you involve in that is aimed at improving your status or increasing your power and influence in an organisation is politics. Not many want to be called a politician but we all play politics.
Akin is an inspirational writer and author. He has published three books. He is a teacher and trainer. Through his daily teachings, he has helped a lot of people discover their potential.