And help them to contribute to the organization sooner!
Politics are a fact of every business – regardless of the size of the company. You can’t avoid organization politics, but you can help new hires adapt quicker by helping them to navigate organization politics effectively. We all know there are informal ways of getting work done within the organization and that there are people within the organization that can help you to get what you need to be successful – and help you avoid what will “trip you up.” Share that information – don’t try to cover it up or hide it!
By mapping out the organization politics for new hires, you enable them to be successful at getting what is needed to accomplish their work, making their way around the organization, and avoiding stepping on toes.
As part of the onboarding process, include training around organization politics. Include in this particular segment:
- Acknowledgement that organization politics exist!
- Information about the political landscape in the organization:
- Informal power structure (who gets things done!)
- Who to see to get problems solved, get questions answered, get help, find the right resources, etc.
- How to network and build alliances within the organization
- Mini case studies/problem solving situations – provide a scenario that would enable “use” of the political landscape within the organization
Too often organizations tend to hide the fact that there are politics in the organization. No need to! Rather, help new hires navigate organization politics by acknowledging that they exist and help them to map out how to navigate throughout the organization.
