To say you don’t play politics is to say you don’t interact with anyone. That is impossible. Even in ancient history, village meetings were full of intrigues best described by politics. Accept it or not, politics controls everything.
I wrote an article recently, titled office politics https://www.akinjnr.com/office-politics/. The article went viral and attracted reactions from many readers, few of whom opined that it focused more on the ideal than how they have seen office politics played. They challenged me to open the other side of the book, hence this article.
Let me start by saying that what motivated me to write “office politics” is this common belief that office politics is best described by manipulation and mischief. That belief is erroneous, which the article was meant to correct.
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.
People resort to manipulation and mischief in office settings for many reasons. One of such is inordinate ambition for power. Another reason is incompetence, particularly when reward is based on merit.
Dog eat dog is not uncommon in the workplace but you can still keep your sanity, even amidst the confusion. You may not have control over how someone else plays his office politics but you can control how you respond.
Stay focused. Be diligent, be ethical, be professional but avoid flouting the rules. Don’t trust anyone who encourages you to do anything immoral or illegal, even if it is to your advantage. Your secret in his hands is a silent weapon to his own advantage. That weapon can be used against you anytime.
Facts might have been misrepresented about you out of mischief. If you are wrongly accused by your superior, it is not a good time to keep quiet but even at that, avoid any altercation with your superior publicly. Find a good time and use the right words to correct the wrong impression.
Sometimes, the sins you pay for are not your sins. If your superiors are involved in supremacy battle, you may have your preference but you are safer if your preference is kept close to your chest, in case power shifts to the other side.
I have seen people win office politics without hurting anyone. I have also seen promising careers truncated just by a moment of indiscretion. Upgrade and update your skills but don’t be aloof to sensitive issues not directly related to your job function.
Power begets influence. Influence can increase your net worth but none of these guarantees you inner peace and fulfillment. Peace is priceless. You cannot be at peace with yourself if you are at war with others.
If you have the benefit of hindsight, would you still be proud of how you got what you have? Ponder over that.
Thank God it’s Monday.
©️Akin Oluwadare Jnr.
20 October 2025
You have motivated me more with these few words of yours sir.💯