HBR Guide to Office Politics

by Karen Dillon

Don’t let destructive drama sideline your career. Every organization has its share of political Personalities clash. Agendas compete. Turf wars erupt. But you need to work productively with your colleagues―even difficult ones―for the good of your organization and your career. How can you do that without compromising your personal values? By acknowledging that power dynamics and unwritten rules exist―and navigating them constructively. The HBR Guide to Office Politics will help you succeed at work without being a power grabber or a corporate climber. Instead you’ll cultivate a political strategy that’s authentic to you. You’ll learn how

Genres: Business, Management, Nonfiction, Leadership, Self Help, Politics, Reference

208 pages, Paperback

First published November 18, 2014

Reviews

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

My key takeaways:
Keep good relationships with everyone (don't forget about gate keepers - secretaries, receptionists, and other seemingly unimportant people, who control information flow).
Find common ground with colleagues. It can be anything: born in the same town, like football, have the same health issue, etc.
Make a boss look good. Report frequently
If there is a conflict, always take a high road, don't be dragged down by emotions. Stay calm, respectful, and objective
Actively listen
Keep linkedn updated
Find what the persons strength are and thing how you can apply his strength to achieve results for organization
Be direct when expressing your intentions. Tell to boss that you want to be effective

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever experienced dealing with a boss who unwittingly holds back your career progress? Have you encountered someone who is always looking to get ahead of you no matter how small the stake is? Have you ever managed a former peer? These and other countless relationship dynamics in our everyday lives are part of the so-called politics of human interactions. So many people are having dreadful lives coming to work due to these political dramas and its myriad ways. These events are present as long as there are two people interacting but there is no better stage for these dynamics to take place but in office. Hence, we have the term office politics.

The problem is that most people are not well-equipped in handling these cases. They either succumb to being the victims or become the bullies themselves. Time and time again without proper advice these people will continue to do it their way, thereby creating the concept of dirty politics. Fortunately, we have a book that can guide all of us through this.

The HBR Guide to Office Politics by Karen Dillon provides a refreshing, practical, and easy to follow insights on how one can navigate the ocean of political dramas at work. Written for any professionals at work, the book is an easy to use guide that one can use whenever he or she encounters a challenging political situation.

The following are the attributes that made the book worth reading by any worker or professional:
· Collaborative ideas. Even though it was written by just one author, this book consists of ideas from different industry experts. The author interviewed experts in communication, leadership, branding, business, and management to come up with a balance and wide perspectives on how one can resolve specific political dilemmas. You can read here the views of Dorie Clark, Ron Ashkenas, Herminia Ibarra, Kathryn Heath, and others. These experts were consulted and their ideas are spread throughout the book.
· Easy to follow book structure. This book is for busy professionals and the structure of the book will really help in getting in to what a person needs to see faster. Each chapter has the same layout: problem; why it happens; and what to do about it. For example, if one has to deal with a bully, he or she has to look at the specific chapter for the topic. The chapter will describe the problem and explain why it happens. Then this is followed by specific steps on how to deal with it.
· Anecdotes. Each chapter includes a snippet of another person’s account related to the topic at hand. This clearly put the problem in the right perspective therefore reinforcing the lessons more effectively. Their stories may not be similar to yours but you can relate to some of it by putting yourself in their shoes.

Clearly, one does not have to be totally helpless in dealing with any political situations. These are normal part of our working lives and we owe it to ourselves to develop and learn how to handle these situations. Being politically astute does not mean being a sucked up. It means having the right mindset in dealing appropriately with other people by being sensitive to what is happening within us and around our environment.

I would recommend this book to anyone working with others especially those who are in leadership position.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

My office has been undergoing a rather bumpy transition recently, complete with new boss, possible promotion potential and employees leaving for other office locations, leaving us severely short-staffed. It hasn't been pretty.

I was passed over for promotion before and after reading this, I think it had a lot to do with my decided lack of interest in playing office politics. This book isn't about how to "play the game", but more about how to maintain your dignity and self-respect as you deal with the office politics around you.

Much of it is common sense, but it is great to get refreshers on common sense and to read things from the point of view of someone who has been there and done that a few times. This is definitely a re-read. I do not believe that the information in this book will ever get old or stale and that it would be useful to refresh the topics and ideas in this book every few years or whenever a difficult work situation presents itself.

It was easy to read, was broken down into logical sections and I really enjoyed the use of the pronouns "her" and "she". Usually in a self-help style book, at least in the ones I have read, the only pronoun usage was masculine when referring to a hypothetical person. Unless the gender of the hypothetical person was important to what was being discussed, usually it's male. Both gender pronouns were used here, with the feminine being slightly more used I believe. I didn't do an exact count, but I noticed it a lot. I wasn't expecting it, but I enjoyed it.

I would definitely recommend this book, even for those who don't have an office or office politics to deal with. The situations are general enough that they happen in everyday life, not just in an office environment, but specific enough to assist those reading with office issues. It's more about how to deal with others in a respectful way in order to garner positive results. Helpful for all, not just those in the business world.

My thanks to NetGalley and Harvard Business Review Press for an eARC copy of the book to read and review.

[Archit · Rating 4 out of 5]

A crisp guide to grappling with office politics. Although it's evident that one should not indulge in subterfuge and underhand tactics to gain an "upper hand" over others, this book incisively mentions a step-by-step approach to dealing with practically any difficult workplace situation.
Its divided into 4 sections:
1. Political Challenges with your boss
2. Political Challenges with your colleagues
3. Political Challenges with your organization
4. Build your skills

Key points:
1. “It’s easy to use politics as an excuse for a lack of achievement
or an outlet for your frustration. But it’s a lot more effective to use politics
as a way to get things done.”

2. Question your reaction, try to remove yourself from the equation, Accept that not all conflict is bad, keep cool

3. Don’t try to be the boss’ pet, be everyone’s pet!

A. Section 1 – challenges with your boss
1. Boss who holds you back
a. Think about what you share with your boss rather
than what divides you: If you have only “transactional” conversations,
Pryce-Jones says, you’re unlikely to warm to each other. But looking for
personal similarities will make it easier for you to connect professionally.
Did you grow up in the same area? Do you admire the same people?
Finding common ground will help you interpret events and
interactions more positively.
Tap his former direct reports – ask them for insights

Network with his peers – fortify a relationship with them

Confront him -
Approach your boss in the most constructive way possible. Let him
know that you’re on his side. Say you want to find better ways to support
him. No good will come of sulking with your arms folded or ranting about
how unappreciated you are. Even if that’s true, your boss won’t respond
calmly to that—he’ll get defensive.
2. The boss who pits you against your colleagues
Make a pact - Rather than engage in passive-aggressive games, Heath decided to
have a straightforward discussion with him about how they could work
together on a level field. “It was a tough conversation,” she recalls,
“because we were held accountable for different things.”
What if your colleague is playing dirty—by
one-upping you in meetings, for example, or leaving you out of the loop so
that you’ll look clueless? Describe exactly what you see him doing, and
ask him to stop. You may not feel comfortable confronting him, but work
up the courage to do it.

Manage up -Tell your boss how you feel about the situation, but be diplomatic and
constructive.
3. Control freak boss –
Tell your boss you want him to feel he can count on you
and your work. Frequently report to him on your progress—before he can
even think to check up on you. And use language that signals active
listening. Tubbs recalls one young man who said “Consider it done” at the
end of every meeting with his boss. Another young woman said
“Understood” to show that she was engaged and on board. This isn’t about
simply placating your boss, notes Tubbs. You have to earn his trust by
performing well.

Scrutinize yourself - If your boss doesn’t appear to have faith in your ability to do your job,
consider whether you’ve given him a reason to feel this way. Have you
missed important deadlines? Delivered presentations that fell flat?

4. Boss’ pet -
Build your own positive relationship with your boss instead of looking for
ways to dethrone the pet. That’s how you’ll get the resources and attention
you want without picking—and losing—a fight.
Comment on news stories and industry trends, share useful articles
recommended by members of your network, that kind of thing. This may
help your boss realize that you’ve made smart contacts and you’re in tune
with important ideas.
Shine your own light –
They don’t talk about their accomplishments in the first person. They say ‘the team did this’ instead of ‘I led the team doing this.’” Does this sound like you? .

5. Disaffected Boss problem
Speak up -You don’t want him to take offense or resent your
ambition and energy—so how do you gently encourage him to delegate to
you?

Fill in the gaps – showcase relevant skills

B. Section 2 – challenges with colleagues
1. Hypercompetitive peer problem

Address the root – talk to superiors, frame the situation, tell them its not healthy for the company as a whole
Talk to him – be specific
And privately, here’s how you might put her on notice: “Barb, it’s
hard for me to see how calling my work irrelevant would ever serve the
team or even you. If anything, it makes you look bad. What was that all
about?” She might surprise you with a contrite response—or she might
refuse to acknowledge her behavior. Either way, you’ve established that
you’re not an easy target and that attacking you probably isn’t worth her
effort.

Charm and disarm – ask for inputs
Advocate for yourself – don’t assume your work will speak for you

2. The bully problem
Gut-check your feelings with a work friend, or discreetly ask a trusted
colleague to sit in on a meeting where the problem usually arises. A
neutral perspective may help you see that the bully is not out to get you.
Perhaps he’s insecure in a new role and overcompensating, for instance, or
he lacks the emotional intelligence to see how cutting his words and
actions are. If he doesn’t realize how he’s coming across, you can pull him
aside and ask him if everything is OK. “You seemed angry about that
report. Is there something we should talk about?”

offer an olive branch – maybe I should have approached your before taking it to the board

Confront - Stick with the facts. Don’t
attack him, as in “You always do such and such . . .” Instead, be specific
and neutral, Clark advises. Say something like, “In today’s meeting, you
were muttering to yourself when we went over the process proposal. I
wanted to discuss it because the same thing happened at last week’s
meeting, and I’m concerned about the way we’re interacting. Can we talk
about how we’re working together so that we can both be more effective?”
Be direct, but give him the opportunity to express his point of view

3. Clique problem
Work with existing clique
“You can say to your boss or colleagues, ‘I know I’m not on that assignment, but could I sit in on a status meeting to learn more about it?’” And once you’re in the room, offer to pitch in. Raise your hand for any role to start with, says Ashkenas: “Be willing to do some scut work to prove yourself.”

4. Credit stealer
Stop it before it starts – plan, chalk out responsibilities

Clear the air - If you’re not able to preempt the credit stealer, have a candid conversation
with her. Give specific examples. For instance: “Sophia, when you
presented our report, I was a little surprised when you said, ‘I stayed up all
night . . .’ because we both did. Can we talk about why you said that?”
Many times just pointing out the behavior will put an end to it, says
communication and branding expert Dorie Clark. Your colleague may
immediately apologize and say, “I didn’t realize it came across that way.”
Or she may simply deny the charge: “That’s ridiculous—I did almost
all the work on this project myself.” Don’t accept that answer. Push back.
Showing her that you won’t quietly step aside makes it harder for her to
gloss over your efforts next time.

Go to your boss – but, keep the tone neutral

What if your boss is the credit stealer? Even though your boss doesn’t give you a nod for every
accomplishment, your overall impact may not be lost on her. Does she
have a track record of eventually rewarding those who’ve paid their dues?
If so, it’s probably worth being patient. If not, you may need to have a
chat.

5. Disgruntled former peer
You can end the conversation with a
statement such as “It’s not appropriate for me to say right now.” If you
dismiss the question quickly but firmly, he will probably stop asking. If he
persists, be direct: “You know I can’t share confidential management
information with you. Please don’t keep asking me. I promise I’ll fill you
in when the time is right.”

C. Section 3 – challenges with your organization
Office outing problem
Always attend, connect with people, DON’T check your inhibitions out the door

Layoff problem - When forces beyond your control threaten to reshape your organization,
don’t just passively await your fate. Create a survival strategy. You’ll have
a far better chance of sticking around and maybe even improving your
position. This isn’t about playing games or backstabbing others—it’s about
managing how decision makers perceive you and the value you bring.
Also, tweet about industry trends you’re noticing, smart articles you’re reading— anything to show your contacts that you’re still engaged in your work.

D. Section 4 – build your skills

Conflict – don’t make it personal, conflicts take place due to 3 reasons – different perceptions, different agendas, personality styles

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karen Dillon's HBR Guide instills purely practical, easily implementable advice. There's essentially no theory or high-level management practices, but what it does offer is a great crash-course in basic political commonsense, emotional intelligence, and effective communications applicable to nearly all levels of the organization all bundled up in one.

Dillon's work isn't earth-shattering or a completely and thorough guide through every problem or improvement process one might want to tackle, but this is an essential supplement to anyone who ever has, ever will, or currently does work within an office environment of any kind.

For what it's for and what it's promised, this is absolutely must-read material.

[سامح دعبس · Rating 4 out of 5]

مقدمة
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شكوت إلى مديري ذات مرة ضجري من كثرة الألاعيب السياسية في الشركة التي نعمل فيها وكيف أن الشركة التي كنت أعمل فيها قبل ذلك كانت خالية من مثل هذه الألاعيب، فقال لي أنت واهم؛ جميع الشركات فيها "سياسة" لكنك كنت صغيرا وكان هناك من يحجب عنك هذه المشاكل.
.
هل عملت مع شخص يسرق إنجازاتك وينسبها لنفسه؟ هل عملت مع شخص حاد الطباع يسخر منك بسبب وبغير سبب؟ هل تعاملت مع مدير يثير التنافس بينك وبين زملائك؟ هل عملت في شركة فيها عصابة (لوبي) يأخذون كل المكاسب لصالحهم؟ إذا كنت تواجه مشاكل مثل هذه وأشباهها، فمرحبا بك، هذا الكتاب سيفيدك…
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موضوعات الكتاب:
----------------
الكتاب يتعرض لمشاكل "سياسية" داخل الشركات من وجهة نظر الموظف في الحالات الفردية، بمعنى أن المستفيد من هذا الكتاب هو الشخص الذي له مدير، وليس من وجهة نظر المدير الذي يحاول أن يحل مشاكل الموظفين، فهذا موضوع آخر، والمقصود بالحالات الفردية أي أن الموظف يتعرض لمثل هذه المشاكل، ربما بصورة متكررة، من أشخاص معينين في الشركة. ولا يتعرض الكتاب باستفاضة لبيئات العمل المدمرة التي تستنزف الموظفين حتى آخر قطرة دماء في عروقهم وتضغط عليهم باستمرار.
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أصدق مقولة توضح خلاصة الكتاب، ما يُروى عن أمير المؤمنين عمر بن الخطاب - رضي الله عنه -: "لستُ بالخِبِّ (أي المخادع الغادر)، وليس الخِبُ يخدعني"
فأول شيء أن تكون إنسانا شريفا، لا تغدر ولا تخادِع، وفي نفس الوقت لا تكون إنسانا يسهل خداعك. كيف ذلك؟ أن تعرف أساليب المخادعين، ثم تتعامل معها بشرف.
الكتاب فيه استطرادات كثيرة ولغته الإنجليزية ليست سلسلة نوعا ما، لكن خلاصة أسلوب التعامل مع المشاكل -كما يوضحها الكتاب هي:
1- تأكد أن المشكلة ليست عندك أنت، وليست متوهمة، وقد تستعين بشخص آخر محايد تثق به للمشورة
2- واجه المشكلة ولا تؤجلها = تكلم مع الشخص الذي يسبب لك الإزعاج - إن كان الأمر يستحق -
3- تفهم وجهة نظر الطرف الآخر ودوافعه، وكن مستمعا جيدا
4- لا تفكر بمنطق المكسب والخسارة، فيمكن للعلاقة أن تكون رابحة للطرفين
5- كن هادئا دائما وإياك أن تغضب فتغلط وتندم
6- لا تصعد إلا عندما تخرج الأمور عن السيطرة وبعد استنفاد جميع الحلول الممكنة
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تقسيم الكتاب
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الكتاب مقسم إلى أربعة أقسام:
1- مشاكل في التعامل مع مديرك، مثل المدير الذي يعتمد عليك في كل شيء ثم عند توزيع المكاسب لا يكاد يذكر اسمك. يذكرني ذلك بقول عنترة:
ينادونني في السلم يا ابن زبيبة *** وعند صدام الخيل يا ابن الأطايب 😅
ومن المشاكل التي تعرض لها هذا القسم أيضا: المدير الذي يثير التنافس بين مرؤوسيه، والمدير الذي يتدخل في أدق التفاصيل، والمدير الذي يفضل بعض مرؤوسيه على بعض، والمدير غير المبالي لا بنفسه ولا بفريقه، فيضيع نفسه ويضيعهم معه.
2- مشاكل في التعامل مع زملائك، مثل التعامل مع زملاء شديدي التنافسية والإنجاز (نجوم الشركة)، والزملاء المتنمرين، والعصابات داخل الشركة، وسراق المكاسب، وكيف تتعامل إذا صرت مديرا لزميل كان لك مكافئا فسخط عليك لما ترقيت.
3- مشاكل في بيئة العمل، مثل الأنشطة الترفيهية التي تقوم بها الشركة، وهي رسميا اختيارية، لكن يجب عليك حضورها!، وكيف تتصرف إذا انتشرت شائعات أن الشركة ستقوم بتسريح بعض العمالة.
والمشاكل في بيئة العمل أكثر من ذلك وأظنها تحتاج لكتاب مستقل.
4- الجزء الأخير يتعرض لمهارات عامة ستحتاجها لتستطيع التغلب على العقبات السياسية في الشركة، مثل إدارة الخلافات، والعمل مع أشخاص لا تحبهم، وتكوين التحالفات داخل الشركات.
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خاتمة
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إذا ظننت أنك بمجرد "شطارتك" الفنية ستترقى داخل السلم الوظيفي في الشركة وسيزيد راتبك وأن إنجازاتك ستتحدث عن نفسها، فيؤسفني أن أقول لك أنك تحتاج إعادة التفكير في الموضوع من جديد قبل أن تتعلم الدرس بالطريقة الصعبة، وأرجو أن تكون هذه المراجعة مفتاحا لك لهذا المنظور الجديد.

[Sofía · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tuve un bloqueo lector tan desagradable que básicamente consistió en "tengo que leer algo referente al trabajo (no puedo, porque particularmente no me interesa) pero debo porque es lo que me corresponde hacer" y fue un círculo vicioso que duró meses.
Aún así, debo admitir que esta guía de HBR es bastante útil. Tiene algunos consejos notables y me ayudó a encaminarme en cierta forma, no contiene nada específico ni referente a mi área pero nadie puede darte consejos que se aprenden con la experiencia. Lastimosamente para mí.

[Rachel Gustafson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should be required reading for anyone working in business// I wish I’d had this guide at twenty-five. The information is practical, insightful, and clear. The authors break down common interpersonal issues in the workplace and provide clear guidance on how to navigate. The book provides great, practical examples, recognizing that not every situation will have an ideal outcome, but how we carry ourselves as professionals creates the real win.

[Archita Mitra · Rating 3 out of 5]

An intuitive deep-dive into office culture and politics, the book offers tips on communication and negotiation, while trying to survive in a workplace.

[Darren · Rating 4 out of 5]

The promise was good: how to navigate through the choppy seas of office politics and avoid making a drama out of a crisis. Learning how to accept and tolerate your co-workers even if their behaviour would otherwise be destructive and make you want to hate them.

There is a broad range of information on offer, compartmentalised in relatively short chapters that cut to the chase. Four main sections frame the book – political challenges with your boss, political challenges with your colleagues, political challenges with your organisation and build your skills.

The advice on offer is broadly sound, relevant and actionable. There is nothing controversial or alarming there but maybe even more advice and hand holding would have been necessary for the reader to admit that there is a problem they wish to address. This can often be the most difficult step – to admit there is a problem. Fixing it might not be easy or even possible, but you cannot do anything until you really know there is an issue and what it is.

Unfortunately this reviewer could not really establish a connection with this book. A certain spark was missing. That is not to say that it is a bad book but it really struggled to stick its head above the crowd. It is reasonably priced and gives a fair amount of value for money, so it could be worthy of consideration even if you don’t get totally connected to it. What doesn’t work for one might work for another. It just felt a bit defocussed and lacking in identity at times.

There is sadly a need for books like this. As the author noted, a 2011 survey by the UK-based management-consulting company Revelation revealed that 95% of respondents said that manipulation and hidden agendas in the workplace had affected them personally. So if a book like this can reduce even if it cannot replace the problem, it could be a very cheap form of therapy. The company would benefit too, but here let’s be selfish and think about our own well-being first.

In conclusion, this is a book worthy of consideration if you even think there is a possibility that office politics are destroying your workplace. It is cheaper than a bottle of spirits and will do you a lot more good in the long run.

HBR Guide to Office Politics, written by Karen Dillon and published by Harvard Business Review Press. ISBN 9781625275325, 208 pages. YYYY

[Dominique · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Foundational Read on Office Politics

I thought that the HBR (Harvard Business Review) Guide to Office Politics was a good, short and easy read on the inevitable and I regret not having read it sooner.

The book reviews the obvious topics of dealing with: difficult employees, preventing or surviving layoffs, being promoted and dealing with the envy that results from it, and other topics. In most chapters, there are case examples that help conceptualize what was read in the chapter.

My only issue with the book was that the topics being discussed were not as pragmatic as in what really goes on in office settings. Or, it could be that I just so happened to work in unusually political office environments.

I can see myself using this book as reference material in the future when dealing with difficult employees.

Dictionary/Reference Review Word Count: 16
Grammatical Error Count: 1
Book Recommendation Review: 6
Note: Book review could be subject to modification after reading other books on relevant subject matter.

[Pranusha Kulkarni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I needed to read this book, as I have made more than one mistake in my first real work life. For the uninitiated, this book might sound too pedantic, but then, I find it to be giving practical advice and tips to navigate difficult workplaces (almost all!). It basically urges us all to be reflective, empathetic human beings who also value our own emotions and professional needs.

It urges us to be tactful and not to get too involved in any office “cliques” - to always keep our own counsel regarding what matters to us and where we are headed to, professionally. It urges us also to be vocal wrt voicing out issues that are bothering us, instead of bottling them up within ourselves.

Read it to get some realism instilled in your psyche, antithetical to idealistic views of “how a workplace ought to be”, because, well, no one cares, and “it is what it is”.

[kushal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Careful and insightful. Loaded with practical example which are applicable on a real life scenario

[Braden Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It was well put together and an interesting read.

[Kumar S Ayyagari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brief but Illuminating

A Great read and a definite recommendation to anyone that needs help with navigating through the quagmire of office politics.

[Pablo María Fernández · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can’t escape politics —no matter what your role or function.

Quoting those words from the expert Franke James (officepolitics.com), Dillon makes it clear that even if you don’t like it, you need to become good or at least decent at office politics. This book is part of the Harvard Business Review Guides. I found out about it at El Ateneo bookstore and decided to read it after discovering Dillon co-author a book with Clayton Christensen.

I skimmed through it and stopped only in the sections that resonated with my current needs (fortunately, there weren’t a lot). The content is organized in four sections: boss, colleagues, organization, skills and sixteen chapters in total. I found Surviving the Office Outing magnificent for introverts like me and Forging Alliances provides useful advice on how to build your own avengers league. Some of the suggestions sound rather naive in complex and toxic cultures, but I still found many others quite useful and will put them into practice.

The main take-aways are that we have to accept that not all conflict is bad (great performance can come out of being challenged), not trying to be your boss’s pet—be everyone’s pet, to charm and disarm, that you have to be in the right circle or build it (find your own crowd), confirmed that the key to getting a new job is networking, building bridges (before you need them!), that part of connecting is letting more people know who you are, that a problem that is never articulated is unlikely to be solved and that innovators cannot work in isolation if they want their concepts to catch on.

This book is from 2015. Probably post-pandemic some things changed, with hybrid and remote work. But at least in traditional companies many of the pains described here are still valid and the techniques provided seem to be reasonable and doable.

In summary, this book provides good tips on how to handle many types of situations as an individual contributor or manager, with different types of peers and bosses. I think that probably everyone will find something useful (or become grateful discovering they don’t have any of these issues and stop taking for granted their healthy work relationships).

[Ali Safwan · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I came about this book, a whole world of HBR (Harvard Business Review) books was unleashed to me and I never thought I’d like it nearly as much as I do. This ‘Guide to Office Politics’ is informative, concise and surprisingly witty.

Here’s why you NEED to read this ASAP:

🐍 All the snakes you find around the office on an average Monday? This book will teach you how to protect yourself against all the drama in the workplace and that too in just under 200 pages. Worth re-reading every page. Multiple times!

🐍 The book is hilarious in some places, which comes as a welcomed surprise considering the subject matter. The vibe of the book reminded me of Erin McGoff’s Tiktoks. (If you don’t know who that is, Google her rn. You’re missing out.)

🐍 Whether you’re just starting in your industry or a veteran of the field, there’s something of value in here for everyone. However, some ideas do leave you a bit confused and wanting more explanation.

All and all, for anyone dealing with toxic bosses, nosy cubicle neighbors, and backstabbing BFFs at work, this one is a must-read.

[Dalan Mendonca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everybody in the office better watch out! I got political skills now!
*Game of Thrones music plays in background

This is a decent book. It has purely good advice; no shady, murderous, or machiavellian shit.
The basic outline of the solution to everything is:
- Detach emotionally and look at situation objectively. Develop a positive mindset where you believe a solution is possible.
- See if you can find common ground, understand if you're genuinely making a mistake, communicate better, or do something move the status quo from the current one
- Make/Use friends and alliances when the source of the problem can't be tackled directly
- Worst case; go to HR or quit.

I think this is genuinely useful stuff and enough to get most people to think correctly about office politics; instead of being angry, ranty, and vindictive.

[Robin Bhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book.
Reading this brought a few instances I have seen in the previous organizations I worked in.

Few nuggets from this book:

Focus on problem
Try to be collaborative
Be a problem solver
Try all the ways using which you can have a discussion rationally
No need to react in heat of the moment. Appear calm and try your level best to handle the situation in a positive way. Instead of creating a scene.
Find ways using which you can prove yourself as a team player rather than someone who is jealous.
Be a giver and try level best to convince that you are here to help the other person

[Darya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are we still facing office politics while working from home? We always will because we have colleagues! Ironically office politics has nothing to do with an office environment or working within a corporation, it is enough to have projects, work and interact with other professionals! Fantastic book to read from Harvard Business Review in HBRGuideto series. My separate appreciation goes to the author Karen Dillon !! My video review link: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/dariya...

[Arun Narayanaswamy · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of those rare hbr collections where content from different sources cohesively comes together into one good book.
Enjoyed this thoroughly. What makes it interesting is the way office politics is portrayed in an opportunistic way. Even more important is the proscribed approaches to how to deal with various scenarios, and how to make it a win-win in most cases.

One aspect I loved also is the way diversity and inclusion have been bought in. The author talks about a boss as a ‘she’ in most cases. That’s such an ignored aspect of many books and even our perceptions.

[Alika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite a comprehensive summary of possible situations or relationships you may have at work and how to navigate through them. The biggest thing I got out of this is not to endure bullying and remembering those whole roles are in admin. These guys may often get overlooked, but if you have a good relationship with them, you might learn a thing or two that are crucial information to the business.

[Ronald Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome to the planet! You will find office politics in every working environment, and there is nothing you can do about it if you don't read this book.
Learn how to respectfully deal with snoopervision, cliques, credit stealers, hated coworkers, political challenges, difficult conversations, and so much more. Another great guide to keep in your professional development library.

[Joselyn Fernandes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Talks about different scenarios and best practices. HBR Guides usually read out like textbooks. It is a quick read. You can finish it in a few hours. Relatable. Some chapters gave me flashbacks and I wish dealt with a few instances differently in the past (credit stealing, micro managing bosses), maybe if I read this earlier I would have been better equipped.

[Fatma Al-sayegh · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book (maybe) is more valuable to western society rather than middle eastern..
but yet its a very informative and interesting book to read!

Shifting from being an employee to a boss and vice-versa was a bit challenging.

It has lots of very helpful recommendations on how to deal with bosses, colleagues and self improvement or confidence.

[Luis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like other HBR books, very informative and relevant is you're in a corporate environment. It gives a fresh perspective on office politics, and topics as difficult conversations, forming alliances, dealing with crisis, conflicts, etc. I'll probably revisit later for a refresh.

[Kaustubh · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good generalized framework of reference for dealing with different types of people found around in most organizations. Lot of commentary and credit giving throughout the book made it unnecessarily lengthy.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was very informative, but reads like instructions. It was incredibly boring, and I set the book back down a few times before I finally finished. I'm glad to have read it, and I know it will come in handy down the road, but man was it a long haul for such a short book!

[Jens · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too many toxic scenarios described as something 'you just need to deal with', or unavoidable.
Felt too much as working in a corporation is like playing the game.
The later chapters are somewhat more constructive but also feel as common sense. Your mileage may vary, I guess...

[Prabuddha Das · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book to refer to if one is tensed with Office. Its on understanding types of the boss, and the behaviour of coworkers. Quite helpful.