Last week we co-hosted a seminar in Kigali on The Antidote for Office Politics, bringing together HR leaders and senior managers to discuss a challenge that most organisations recognise, but few address directly.
Low transparency and low accountability were the biggest frustrations our audience faced. In their experience, office politics thrives when decisions are not explained and when leaders do not take accountability for the outcomes of their actions. Setting clear expectations on appropriate behaviour and sharing information early and openly were the antidotes they cited as more effective.
Our panel shared real-world insights into power dynamics at work. Sara Leedom spoke about power as a normal part of organisational life. Everyone has influence, from junior roles through to senior leadership. The key is to use that influence in a way that supports shared outcomes. Lilian Mutesi focused on the role of leadership in addressing behaviour directly. Clear feedback, given early, helps prevent issues from spreading. Martin Mugisha added a pragmatic perspective. In some environments, deeply embedded dynamics take time to shift, and people make decisions based on what they see around them.
We also worked through a simulation which showcased political behaviour. Teams developed strong insights, which really challenged some of my preconceptions about where responsibility for addressing office politics lies in Rwandan workplaces. In particular, teams put a great deal of responsibility on the most senior leaders to communicate thoroughly and to ensure political behaviour doesn’t arise. Perceived unfairness is seen as a potent catalyst for politics, even where there were good reasons for differentiated outcomes for different interests.
What I learnt is that office politics becomes less prominent when people understand how decisions are made, what is expected of them, and where they can raise issues directly. I am, as always, very grateful to our panellists, partner Q-Sourcing Servtec and audience members for a lively and valuable discussion.