Dealing with Office Politics

Office politics can be the most difficult part of working in a company.

We are going to look at an article that gives you strategies for dealing with any ‘office politics’ issues that arise in your job.

The article contains many idioms. Look at the idioms in the green box to the right of the page. Match the correct idiom with the sentences below.

1. For example, if you’re married and have children or you share a house with a friend or with your parents, there will inevitably be a clash of personalities occasionally and issues will arise that you need to be involved in so that you’re part of the solution. Well, like it or not, the same ………………..in the workplace.
2. These are often the people who will blame others for their mistakes or will try …………………. the efforts and abilities of others to make them feel better about themselves.
3. Therefore, it’s important to be proud of your own accomplishments and, without ……………….., make sure that your efforts are recognised and noted by those who matter.
4. If you hate the very nature of the term ‘office politics’ your first thought might be to simply say that you don’t want to get involved with all of that and that you’re just here ……………….., do a job and that’s all.
5. If most of the staff are aware that you consistently produce good work, this is far more likely ……………….. more than the office ‘bully’ who may be far less accomplished than you are but who will also try to undermine you whenever possible.
6. And, whilst you may be very fortunate and work in an office where everyone gets on all of the time, staff members can come and go so it’s better to be prepared for the occasions when office politics might ……………….. .
7. Basically, whilst it’s perfectly acceptable and correct not to ………………. in office politics and to keep your counsel by not doing things like getting involved in idle gossip or bitching about certain people behind their backs, you should also be prepared to defend yourself and to challenge anybody who might be looking to undermine you personally.
8. Where groups of people are involved, there are bound to be personality clashes from time to time at work and it’s not simply enough ……………….. all of the time.
9. A lot of people who play office politics do so because they are unsure about their own abilities and achievements and try to conceal their own shortcomings behind ……………….. and to make others feel they less worthy.
10. However, there are several ways you can ……………….. these actions so that they don’t affect you.

Go to the reading passage and check your answers.

Once you have read the passage try the quiz to test your understanding.