Politics Is Life We can't escape it

Politics shapes decisions and outcomes in organisations, communities, and everyday life, not only in government. It is often reduced to manipulation, self-interest, and office games, which leads many people to deny or avoid it. A broader definition shows politics as influence and action, making things happen without abandoning ethics.

The concept of politics encompasses not only the activities associated with the governance of a country but also workplace politics and, more broadly, politics in everyday life.

Politics is frequently cast in a bad light. It is seen as the pursuit of individual agendas and self-interest without regard for their effects on others or, in the case of workplace politics, the organization’s efforts to achieve its goals.

There are many definitions of politics, for example, in the Cambridge Dictionary and the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. But to my mind, neither of them is quite broad enough. So this is how I define politics. But first, some context.

Influence and Control

In many situations, we have no direct say in who makes a decision or how the decision-making process is designed. However, we often have some influence on the people making the decision or involved with the decision-making process.

Going on a protest march is a political act to influence a decision or decisions. Voting to remain in the EU is a political act, as is encouraging our friends and relations to do the same.

These actions, however, do not necessarily result in the decision we would like. We have influence, but not control.

Acting and Outcomes

Even when a decision goes our way, influencing or controlling it alone does not, in itself, get stuff done or delivered.

Much of the political power lies in influencing or controlling the doing, not just in decision-making, ensuring that decisions are implemented.

Even once a decision has been made, political action can support it or sabotage its implementation.

So we have the politics of the decision-making itself and the politics of making it happen.

In its broadest sense, politics is the actions or activities of a person or group to influence or control decisions and the outcomes of those decisions within a specific group context, e.g., a country, community, or organization.

These actions or activities include gaining power or helping others achieve power and consequently influencing or controlling the decisions and outcomes.

Credit: David Gurteen

Politics can be ethical. It need not be about “backstabbing,” spreading disinformation, or malicious rumors.

Because of the term’s negative connotation, especially in office politics, many people say they are not political or refuse to play politics. They see politics in its Machiavellian, manipulative sense, but politics need not be dirty.

If we are going to work effectively, we cannot avoid politics; we have to be political. It is through politics that we get things done. However, that does not mean we have to be political in a self-serving sense.

Politics! | Tom Peters

Politics is life. Politics is the basis for real can do, as opposed to the imaginary sort brought to you by “strong leaders.”

Credit:  Tom Peters

We should stop pretending that politics does not exist at work. Instead, we should pay attention to how influence actually operates around decisions and action. By choosing to engage openly and ethically, we increase the chances that shared intentions turn into real outcomes rather than stalled agreements.

Resources

• Blog Post: Like It or Lump It, Politics Is Life by Tom Peters
• Popular Science: Spoiler Alert: Everything is Politics by Maki Naro