Workplace
politics, whatever the reason, could hamper an employee's performance
and affect team fabric. Hence it is crucial for team leaders to be able
to handle such situations deftly. Rica Bhattacharyya finds out how they can do so.
Keep the Structure Lean
"Bureaucracy adds to the competitive and negative environment. Lean
structures, on the other hand, reduce the chances of such situations,"
says Sudhir Dhar, senior VP & head — HR, Motilal Oswal Financial Services.
Create Open Forums
Dhar gathers his entire team at the start of each week to discuss the
action plan. Each team member is given an equal chance to communicate,
and all other members are aware of the required information about his
work. "Open communication channels like these can stem the opportunity
for politics within teams," he says.
Resolve it Immediately
If a leader sees even a hint of politics at the workplace, he or she
should deal with it immediately. "Confrontation meetings, counselling
and mediation can prevent major damage at the workplace," says Dhar.
Depend on Informal Networks
A leader should have first-hand knowledge of such through his or her
internal networks. "Building relationships within the team and
cross-functionally helps in building this informal network, which can
keep you updated and ultimately help in knowing about workplace
politics," says Dhar.
Maintain Openness
It is the responsibility of the leader to maintain and encourage an open
and transparent culture at the workplace so that such situations can be
best avoided or nipped in the bud. "If enough transparency is
maintained when any team member is appreciated or criticised, an open
culture develops throughout the organisation. This will leave no scope
for biases or gossip," says Dhar.
Source : http://economictimes.indiatimes.com
