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How to Play Office Politics?
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Just staying out of it could stunt your career.
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Here's how to jump in and get ahead – without getting burned.
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You will need observation skills, goals, allies, social skills, and tact.
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Step 1. Observe how your workplace functions.
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Pay attention to the company's core values and how they most effectively get put into action.
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Also, find out who is influential and take note of what they respond to.
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Step 2. Set objectives with your boss that contribute to the company's goals and develop your value as an employee.
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Inform your boss when you meet certain benchmarks to create a track record of goal-oriented success.
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Step 3. Get the support of coworkers by reciprocating favors and offering your expertise on projects.
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Only accept a manageable workload. In the long run, coworkers will respect you more if they know you have the power to say "no."
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Step 4. Build a network that incorporates several different groups and departments.
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Aligning yourself too strongly with one could leave you out in the cold if they fall out of favor.
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Step 5. Sidestep gossip.
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The target of gossip one day could be a decision-maker the next.
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If you find yourself in the middle of a nasty exchange, excuse yourself, or focus the conversation on the people talking, not the person being talked about.
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Step 6. Brag.
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Just make sure to do it tactfully, and always give your coworkers credit for shared accomplishments.
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Telling people about your accomplishments increases the chances your boss will learn of your successes from someone other than you, which works in your favor when they're deciding who gets a promotion, and who gets the ax.
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Did you know? In a recent survey, more than half of employees said the competitive level of office politics had increased over the previous five years.