Ending office Politics...

I was recently given an article by my MD entitled "The Secret to Ending Office Politics, Part1" by Margaret Heffernan.

In it she stated that she had heard of a company which changed peoples roles in budget making. This was to drive the 'petty politics' out of management, allowing people to see from other perspectives; why marketing needs the budget at that time, etc.

I think she and - possibly - my MD is getting good management communication and practice mixed up with necessary 'political' activity. I also wonder why he gave me such an article...anyway!

Role changing and better communication is not new and is considered good practice. It's main target is not removing 'politics' but getting better people and results.

Politics is much maligned by some people. In an organisation which is flat - and more organisations are getting flatter - projects, tasks and responsibilities are undertaken by loose or martix organised people and teams. The more connected and, I am sorry, political you are, the more likely your success.

Politics in business (with a small 'p') is the excercise of influence. Show me a business that does not need this internally, certainly at a board or executive level - and more often lower nowadays - and I'll give you my next months wage.

I get a lot of value from US management practice and academia, but this was just a stupid article.