What is organizational politics?

The term ‘organizational politics’, also known as workplace politics or office politics, refers to the agenda of each employee within a company and the activities they engage in to acquire, increase, and wield power and resources to gain a desired outcome.

Organizational politics is present in most organizations. Every business has a hierarchy, and with this hierarchy comes an uneven distribution of power. Certain employees are more likely to pursue this power than others, which is considered political behavior in the workplace.

All employees experience the impact of organizational politics throughout their careers, whether positive or negative. For some, it means engaging in office gossip or acting as part of a clique, while for others, it means climbing the career ladder and being as productive and efficient as possible at work.

Understanding political behavior in organizations helps reduce the negative or dysfunctional effects, support employees, and engage in positive political behaviors that benefit the entire organization.