How to Deal With Office Politics (+ Tips For Career Advancement)

Technical skills alone won’t get you ahead at work; you have to master office politics as well. And by "politics," I don't mean toxic gossip or manipulation. I mean understanding who holds influence, strategically building relationships, and making your contributions visible so you can move your career forward.

What Office Politics Really Are (and Why They Control Your Paycheck)

Office politics are simply the relationships among people at work and how those relationships affect decisions about money, promotions, and opportunities. 

Every workplace has office politics because humans naturally form alliances and preferences when they work together. This means you’re participating in office politics whether you realize it or not—from choosing who you eat lunch with to deciding which coworker to collaborate with on a project.

The difference between toxic politics and strategic relationship-building

It’s easy to confuse smart politics with toxic ones. Toxic politics are what you're used to hearing about: backstabbing, lying, and undermining others to get ahead. These behaviors might lead to a temporary win, but they always damage your reputation in the long run. 

Strategic politics, on the other hand, are about building genuine relationships, understanding how decisions are made, and positioning yourself for advancement. Think of it this way: When you complain about a colleague, you're creating negative politics that are likely to backfire. But when you offer your manager solutions instead of just problems, you're engaging in positive politics. 

This builds your reputation as someone who makes other people's lives easier, which will always lead to better opportunities, promotions, and pay raises.

6 Steps for Navigating Office Politics & Using Them to Your Advantage

Instead of avoiding office politics, here's how to master them and leverage them for your career—ethically.

Step 1: Don’t overlook how workplace decisions really happen

Many professionals assume merit alone drives success, but top performers know that relationships and visibility matter just as much as skills. In fact, most career advancement happens because of relationships and visibility, not just technical ability. 

To start, identify three people who have the most influence on your career. Over the next month, schedule one-on-one conversations with each of them. These can be casual coffee chats or quick check-ins—the goal is simply to build trust, understand what they value, and get on their radar for new opportunities.

Step 2: Learn to read the room and build strategic relationships

High earners notice subtle dynamics that others might  miss: Observe who talks to whom in meetings, whose opinions actually shape decisions, and which projects get priority when it comes to resource allocations.

Every workplace has an invisible organizational chart of who truly makes decisions, and it is often different from the official listed hierarchy. Practice “power-mapping” by sketching out your workplace’s influence network so you know who really controls promotions and budgets.

It’s also helpful to look out for red flags: body language that doesn’t match words, decisions made before discussions, or certain people who are consistently excluded from key conversations. The better you get at spotting these patterns, the faster you’ll know where to focus your time and how to build the right relationships.

Step 3: Build your workplace reputation systematically and ethically

Your reputation is your personal brand, often impacting your earning potential more than any other factor. A strong workplace reputation rests on three pillars:

• Competence: consistently delivering results
• Character: being trusted to do the right thing
• Connection: being someone people want to work with

Document your wins regularly and share credit generously with team members. Helping others succeed creates allies who will support you and help you advance in the future. 

Never lie, misrepresent, or overpromise. These shortcuts destroy long-term trust and can undo years of credibility. 

Guard your reputation as carefully as your paycheck. It's worth even more because it will follow you throughout your entire career.

Step 4: Master effective communication

Many people confuse talking with persuading. But only persuasive communication changes minds and drives the actions that lead to promotions and raises.

Three types of workplace communication matter most for your income:

• Upward: to your boss
• Lateral: to your peers
• Downward: to your direct reports

Practice one new communication skill each week. For example, try active listening in meetings or ask sharper questions that show you understand a project's bigger picture. 

Remember that basic body language can signal confidence and competence before you even speak. The more intentional you are with both your words and your presence, the faster your influence and career will grow.

If you’re looking to become more confident at work, check out my guide on building confidence with actionable strategies that can help. 

Step 5: Position yourself for promotions and raises

Promotions are not just about doing your current job well. Here’s how to prove you can handle the responsibilities and relationships at the next level:

• Volunteer for high-visibility projects that showcase your skills to the right people. Even if this means extra work in the short term, the payoff will be worth it.
• When you’re working on a key project, send weekly updates to your boss, highlighting tangible progress. Visibility drives advancement far more than perfect, invisible work does.
• Build relationships beyond your immediate team. Your next opportunity may come from another department where someone remembers your contributions.

When it’s time to negotiate your salary, use your political intelligence to identify who makes the compensation decisions and frame your contributions in terms that resonate with them. Advancement is never automatic—it goes to the people who make their value impossible to overlook.

Step 6: Turn workplace relationships into career opportunities

Your next job will likely come through someone you know, so invest in building genuine professional relationships that create mutual value over time. These relationships should not end when you leave a company. Former colleagues often move to new places, and they may become the very people who hire you or recommend you for future roles.

One of the best ways to strengthen alliances is to become known for a specific expertise. When people see you as the go-to person in your field, you become indispensable and create natural opportunities for advancement.

Finally, remember that the most powerful relationships are built on generosity. Helping others achieve their goals ensures you have a network of people who are equally invested in seeing you succeed. Avoid gossip or negativity, since those habits will eventually damage your credibility and your career. When you nurture your professional network with trust and consistency, opportunities will come to you instead of you having to chase them.

For more on building connections the right way, check out my guides on how to build a network and 33 networking tips that actually work. 

Common Office Politics Scenarios and Exactly How to Handle Them

Office politics are impossible to avoid completely, but you can learn to handle them strategically. Here’s how to navigate a few of the most common scenarios:

When someone takes credit for your work

Credit-stealers know that visibility drives advancement, but their unethical behavior will eventually damage their reputation. 

If this happens to you, your first move should be to document everything going forward. Keep clear records of your contributions, but avoid calling anyone out in public right away. If you do that, it can make you look petty—even if you’re right. A smarter strategy is to present your work directly to decision-makers and maintain paper trails that highlight your role. That way, your contributions speak for themselves. 

When you need to have a conversation with your boss, prepare a clear script to raise the issue professionally. Frame it around your impact and avoid sounding like you're just complaining.

For a more in-depth guide, feel free to check out my article on how to deal with difficult coworkers. 

When you get excluded from important meetings or decisions

Being left out of key conversations usually happens because you have not yet established yourself as someone whose input consistently adds real value to the discussion. 

The best way to earn a seat at the table is to contribute valuable insights in smaller settings first. As you become indispensable to a project’s success, your presence in higher-level discussions becomes natural. In the meantime, make it a priority to stay informed without appearing pushy or entitled. Build relationships with people who attend those meetings and position yourself as someone they want to keep in the loop. 

Think of it this way: your goal is to be proactive and invested in the company’s objectives, not to be included just for the sake of looking important.

When office cliques form and you find yourself on the outside

People naturally form alliances for security and advancement. Instead of resenting it, focus on the bigger picture and how you want to show up.

Forcing your way into an existing clique can make you seem pushy and even unlikable. A better approach is to build meaningful one-on-one relationships. Over time, these individual connections give you more influence than chasing clique approval ever could.

Remember that cliques often fuel gossip and negativity. You will go further by building positive, supportive relationships with skilled, ethical colleagues who share your career goals and reflect your professionalism.

When your boss plays favorites and you are not the favorite

Favoritism often develops because a certain employee has a stronger personal connection or consistently makes the boss look good to their superiors. 

You can't change your boss’s preferences overnight, but you can make yourself indispensable by solving the problems that matter most to them. Pay attention to what stresses your boss out and find ways to reduce that stress through your work and communication. 

Keep your visibility tied to professional performance, not attempts to get into your boss’s good graces. Trying to please one person is rarely worth the effort, especially when recognition from a broader group of leaders carries more weight; build relationships with other leaders in the organization so your career doesn’t depend entirely on one person’s opinion. And again, document your contributions carefully, as favored employees sometimes receive credit for work they didn't actually do.

When rumors and gossip spread about you

Workplace rumors often begin because someone feels threatened by your success or wants to damage your reputation for their own advantage.

Your first response should be to stay calm. Getting defensive usually makes the situation worse and makes you appear guilty. Instead, address the rumor directly with key stakeholders. Share the facts calmly, focus on your performance, and avoid emotional reactions.

Use this as an opportunity to strengthen relationships with the people who matter most by being transparent and professional in how you respond. Also, consider the source of the gossip. If this person has a pattern of spreading negativity, their behavior will usually damage their own credibility more than yours.

Common Mistakes That Keep You Stuck in Lower-Paying Roles

Even smart, hardworking professionals can stall their careers by falling into patterns that quietly hold them back. Here are some common mistakes to avoid:

Thinking that good work automatically leads to recognition and advancement

This mindset keeps talented people stuck in junior roles because their bosses never see them as leadership material. Avoid the "visibility gap" by showing you have the political awareness and communication skills required at higher levels. 

The key is knowing your audience and timing your communication so it feels natural and valuable. Showcase your work without coming across as arrogant or pushy.  Hard work builds credibility, but visibility turns that work into career growth.

Avoiding all workplace relationships to stay neutral

Neutrality may feel safe, but it is still a political position—and not a powerful one.

Isolation limits your access to information and opportunities because important decisions are often made in informal conversations, long before a meeting even happens. The solution is to build professional relationships rooted in trust and respect. This is completely different from joining gossip or drama; instead, it's about forming meaningful connections that help you grow. 

Being involved ensures you don't miss out on critical conversations and gives you a chance to demonstrate your influence, collaborative spirit, and leadership potential. These are the key qualities decision-makers look for when considering promotions.

Copying someone else's political style instead of developing your own authentic approach

People can sense when you are being fake, and it damages trust quickly.

Instead of trying to mimic someone else, adapt others’ strategies to fit your own personality and values. Building on your natural strengths creates an approach that feels sustainable, rather than forcing yourself into behaviors that go against your instincts. 

Trust that you have something unique to offer. Visibility comes from leaning into your own strengths, not from copying someone else’s style.

Focusing only on technical skills while ignoring relationship-building

Many high performers get stuck because they assume their expertise alone should earn them promotions and raises.

Office politics are essentially the ability to influence, collaborate, and manage relationships effectively. Technical skills might get you hired, but people skills determine how far and how fast you advance once you are there. The higher you go in any organization, the more success depends on people skills.  

To move into leadership roles, invest at least 20 percent of your work energy into building relationships and understanding organizational dynamics. The people who rise fastest are the ones who pair strong technical abilities with equally strong relationship and communication skills.

Office politics aren’t about playing games. Just like communication or leadership skills, navigating office politics is a soft skill you can develop over time. The better you become at understanding people, building trust, and making your contributions visible, the more opportunities you’ll unlock and the closer you’ll move toward living your own Rich Life.