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Identifying Symptoms and Cures For The Problem of Politics In Your Business

Written by: Glenn Ebersole

Article Overview: A business savvy person already knows that “politics” is not limited to governmental organizations. Unfortunately, there is “company or corporate politics” that exist and create issues that cause problems, deteriorate a positive company culture and impede productivity. Business owners, executives and managers must be astute enough to recognize this when it happens and to be vigilant enough to address and resolve the “political” problems before they get out of control. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach Here offers some insight into identifying nine symptoms and proposed cures for resolving the “political problems” in your business or organization.

Identifying Symptoms and Cures For The Problem of Politics In Your Business

A business savvy person already knows that “politics” is not limited to governmental organizations. Unfortunately, there is “company or corporate politics” that exist and create issues that cause problems, deteriorate a positive company culture and impede productivity. Business owners, executives and managers must be astute enough to recognize this when it happens and to be vigilant enough to address and resolve the “political” problems before they get out of control. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach Here offers some insight into identifying nine symptoms and proposed cures for resolving the “political problems” in your business or organization.

Symptom #1: Your business is not moving forward and is literally at a standstill or moving backwards because there is no agreement or commitment on the direction for the business.

Cure: Develop a clearly defined and focused vision, mission, core values and appropriate goals and objectives to achieve the vision for the business.

Symptom #2: Your business has become a big bureaucracy and there is so much red tape, rules and paperwork that productivity and efficiency are severely constrained.

Cure: Commit to reviewing your processes, procedures and rules and identifying the problems and opportunities that exist with them. Then, be proactive in developing and implementing a plan to cut the red tape, reduce the paperwork, and modify the rules and procedures to become more efficient.
?Symptom #3: There is an increase in passive aggressive behavior by employees and an increasing avoidance to talk directly to coworkers when there is a problem.

Cure: Strive for openness and a safe environment for people to ask questions and challenge the status quo. Provide opportunities for open forums on a regular basis. Commit to being accessible to your employees.

Symptom #4: More and more “self-serving” actions that benefit only a few people with a total disregard for the majority of people and other parts of the business beyond what they are overseeing.
?Cure: Business owners and managers must establish criteria for budget allotments and selection of projects based on how they will contribute to achieving the company’s vision, mission, core values, and the short and long term goals.

Symptom #5: No one in the company wants to or will take responsibility for anything and everyone loves to point fingers and assign blame to others.

Cure: Adopt a zero tolerance toward the finger pointing and blame game. Do not enable people to work in silos, but facilitate them working as a team toward the company’s vision.

Symptom #6: The absence of a good work ethic. This is evidenced by laziness and people constantly watching the clock. In today’s world more and more people believe they have an entitlement to their pay and all they have to do is “put in their time.”

Cure: Create a system of feedback on performance and establish a system of rewards. Ask employees what they think. Try to find out about their likes, dislikes, interests, talents, hopes, and dreams and take a more personal interest in them as people. Share the company vision with them. Celebrate successes.

Symptom #7: The presence of obvious dishonesty, stealing, cheating, etc. People are actually stealing from the business, falsifying reports, or engaging in other unethical or illegal activities. ??Cure: Adopt a zero tolerance for unethical behavior or improper personal conduct. The business owners and managers must exemplify the appropriate behaviors that they want to see in others. Create a company culture that will not punish someone who brings unethical or unlawful actions to the attention of management and owners.

Symptom #8: There are too many people who pay lip service to ownership and management people and/or their ideas, rather than making a real commitment to implementing change that is needed. ??Cure: Develop a Strategic Action Plan with goals and objectives that have assigned leaders and are broken down into specific tasks and due dates. Hold the leaders accountable for each goal and objective to be achieved.

Symptom #9: The company has people who say what they believe people want to hear. ??Cure: Commit to creating and fostering an atmosphere of openness and safety where employees can feel comfortable sharing what they think without fear of any retribution. Open, honest, and direct feedback should be encouraged and reinforced.
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Your strategic thinking business coach encourages you to fully realize the benefits of business coaching to be able to recognize and remedy the symptoms of “company or corporate politics”. If you would like to learn more about how a strategic thinking business coach can facilitate and guide you in that endeavor, please contact Glenn Ebersole today through his website at www.businesscoach4u.com or by email at jgecoach@aol.com

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