Chapter 13: Politics, negativity and conflict Flashcards
What is internal politics?
Internal politics consists of activities undertaken to gain advantage or influence organizational decision making in ways intended to serve a purpose other than the best interests of the overall organization
What is power?
The ability to exert influence. It is neither inherently positive nor inherently negative
Types of power
- personal power (personality)
- position power
- capability power
- reward power
- coercive power
Organizational structure and internal politics
Organizational structure is not the cause of internal politics, all structures are susceptible to internal politics
- functional: political machinations among functional vice presidents
- geographic: very vulnerable, distance <-> us against them
- decentralized line of business
- strategic business unit
3 and 4: between business enterprises and between functional departments
- matrix: vertical and horizontal competition about resources
Primary drivers of internal politics
- personal insecurity
- self-interest
- hunger for power
- ambition
- ego
- need for acceptance
Methods internal politicians use
- lobbying
Trying to influence the decision makers - Building coalitions
A group of diverse people brought together by a common interest - Applying pressure and harassment
- Electioneering
participating in the election process to assure that the right people are promoted, … - gossiping and spreading rumors
Effects of internal politics on an organization
- loss of morale
- questionable decisions
- counterproductive internal competition
- loss of the best and brightest employees
- perpetuation of outdated processes, procedures and technologies
- constant conflict
- loss of quality, competitiveness and customers
Main components of an internal politics prevention program
- strategic planning
- leadership
- reward / recognition
- performance appraisal
- customer focus
- conflict management
- cultural
Symptoms of negativity in the workplace
- I can’t attitude
- they mentality
- critical conversation
- blame fixing
How to overcome negativity in the workplace
- communicate
- establish clear expectation
- provide anxiety venting
- build trust
- involve employees
How territorial behavior manifests?
- occupation
- info manipulation
- intimidation
- alliances
- invisible walls
- strategic noncompliance
- discredit
- shunning
- camouflage
- filibustering
Strategies to help overcome territorial behavior
- avoid jumping to conclusions
- attribute the behavior to survival instinct rather than people
- ensure that employees don’t feel attacked
- avoid generalizations, understand irrational fears
- respect each individual’s perspective
- consider the employee’s POV
Cause of workplace conflicts
- limited resources
- incompatible goals
- role ambiguity
- different values
- different perspectives
- communication problems
Reactions to conflict
- competition: one party attempts to win, while making the other lose
- accommodation: putting the other’s needs first
- avoidance: shrinking away from conflict
- compromise - collaboration
No course of action is intrinsically bad or good
Guidelines to resolving a conflict
- determine how important issue is
- willing and able to discuss it?
- private place
- understanding from both sides?
- opening comments
- definition of problem
- propose solutions
- cost-benefit analysis
- reflect
