Politics and networks at work are aspects of organizational dynamics, but they serve different functions and have distinct characteristics. One of my clients is struggling with that, as he sees both as something negative and wrong. I must confess that I was there too, and when you start doing something to improve and see the first results—you can do things either easier, faster, or better—then you realize that is a choice that might help. If you are doubting those “tools” as well, let me decode them below Workplace Politics Definition: Workplace politics refers to the activities and behaviors employees engage in to gain power, influence decisions, and achieve personal or organizational objectives. It often involves informal, unofficial, and sometimes behind-the-scenes efforts to shape opinions, form alliances, and advance personal or group interests. Characteristics: Examples: Workplace Networks Definition: Workplace networks refer to the web of relationships and connections that employees develop within and outside their organization. These networks can be formal (structured, organizational charts) or informal (personal relationships, mentorships). Characteristics: Examples: Key Differences Conclusion While both politics and networks involve interpersonal interactions and influence within the workplace, politics focuses on power and influence, often through strategic and competitive means, while networks emphasize building relationships for mutual benefit, support, and professional growth. Understanding both dynamics is crucial for navigating organizational life effectively.
As we look ahead to 2030 and the coming decade, leaders must adapt their strategies for an increasingly complex future. Here are 5 vital areas to prioritize:
Finding Clarity in Complexity Through Emotional Agility One of this year’s discussion topics with leaders was chaos. There’s a part of it in our minds and another in reality. Let’s decode the chaos in reality, as it impacts our mental state. The extent of external influence on the mind varies. Some seek clarity and order—we could call it a “pharmacist mindset”—while others embrace chaos as a… The definition I resonate with is that chaos arises when our minds struggle to make sense or calculate due to complexity or when we lack the senses to connect. No wonder AI is increasingly present; it handles unpredictability and chaos better. Accepting chaos is crucial today. Embracing it reduces anxiety, letting us focus on what we can do instead of expending energy on what we can’t. Enter the Stacey matrix—a simple way to explain chaos, starting with simplicity. It’s Ralph Stacey’s approach to decision-making based on two variables present in any decision: Life isn’t a neatly packaged Hollywood flick. It’s messy. It’s complicated. It’s chaotic. The narratives we craft may falter against reality’s harsh light. In moments of despair, remember our narratives aren’t fixed but fluid. We’re the authors of our stories, shaping our pain into purpose and meaning. When you cannot live in the chaos with fluidity, it’s eating up all your energy. That is why you need to realize this truth and address it somehow. One of the ways to move forward, better, is through emotional agility. Emotional Agility at Work Empathy fatigue” or “compassion fatigue” isn’t caused by having “too much” compassion or empathy. Dialing back empathy when exhausted perpetuates burnout rather than reducing it. We need to nurture our innate connections with others instead of numbing ourselves. Rather than suppressing empathy, enhancing emotional management skills like self-care, setting boundaries, and understanding our sphere of influence can help combat this fatigue. You can read more about emotional management here. Becoming more compassionate involves noticing moments when we unintentionally withhold compassion. Sometimes, we’re so absorbed in our thoughts that we miss chances to care for ourselves and others. It’s the small gestures—taking on extra chores to support an anxious spouse or reaching out to a lonely friend in a new city—that truly make a difference. I will give you a few tips and tricks on how to exercise and develop your empathy and compassion: Let’s strive to enhance our empathy and compassion by recognizing these opportunities in our daily lives! And let’s move on with fluidity through chaos! You can actively develop your emotional skills with me! Schedule a meeting here and let’s start this journey together!
Tips and tricks that help you manage your emotions Emotional management and difficult relationships are closely linked because effective emotional management is essential for navigating challenging interpersonal dynamics. Regulating your emotions means taking responsibility for your feelings, reactions, and your internal world. Have your emotions work for you, not against you. There are a lot of debates and discussions this year on emotional regulation/ management, and from my experience, I noticed that the more uncertainty we have, the less we can regulate/ manage our emotions. Tips and tricks for emotional management: The more my clients took emotional management as their objective, they went easily through the 3 phases of learning: Emotional management is a problem within the problem. Most people stop working on emotional regulation after the first phase of learning, being afraid or emotionally interfering with the possibility of not making it. It might look too scary or to hard work to solve it once you know. And they stop taking action, that would be the way to change habits and beliefs. The more you feel your emotions consciously and on your terms, the more you can stay present and manage difficult conversations in an effective way. Do you have a plan before starting a difficult conversation? When you notice yourself putting off a difficult conversation, take the proactive step of planning for the discussion. Start by answering the following questions (from Judy Ringer’s ‘checklist for difficult conversations’): These questions can help you reflect on your motives, and then imagine the other person as a potential partner, rather than an opponent. In today’s world, we can add value whenever we consider a win-win conversation with a partner. When we think win-lose, difficult conversations might bother us for a long time. You can actively develop your emotional management skills with me! Schedule a meeting here and let’s start this journey together!
Type of boundaries and how to protect them There are many different types of boundaries. One of the most frequent ones is the time boundary or when we are busy all the time and it becomes busy to be busy. Building awareness of your boundaries will protect your time, your energy, and your emotional capacity. Time boundary is what we all hear all the time when we meet someone and when we want to schedule a meeting. It happens when we have a low level of awareness and we let the outside world take us hostage. 1. Time boundaries Time boundaries protect your most precious resource (time 😊). They manage how many hours you dedicate to relationships and activities. We respect these boundaries by allowing others to define for themselves how to manage their time. Exercise – food for your thought: 2. Emotional boundaries There are many different types of boundaries. One of the most overseen is the emotional boundary when we are fighting our emotions and we make decisions based on our logic only. Emotional boundaries drain your energy and keep you in a victim’s mental status, taking a lot of time to come back to the state of mind that you had before. Emotional boundaries include not only how we want to feel but also how we want others to feel. In short, it means separating your feelings from the feelings of others. We respect emotional boundaries by letting each person have their own emotional experience without trying to manipulate it. It means feeling safe to experience our own authentic emotions and give others that safety as well. Exercise – food for your thought: 3. Psychological boundaries One of the most recurrent boundaries is psychological boundaries. Psychological boundaries deal with your thoughts, beliefs, and ideas, as well as how, when, and how much you want to share them. Each person is entitled to their worldview and personal way of interpreting reality. We respect psychological boundaries by honoring different belief systems and refraining from manipulation or pressuring others to share when they don’t want to. Exercise – food for your thought: You can actively work on your boundaries with me! Schedule a meeting here and let’s start this journey together!