Organisational

Politics and
Leadership
• Politics is inseparable from organizations. This is obviously
because of the involvement of people in organizations. And
involvement of a large number of people cannot but lead to
politics.
• Organizations over-run by politics are typically identified by
the type of managerial decisions, which encourage hypocrisy,
secrecy, deal-making, rumors, power brokers, self-interests,
image building, self-promotion, and cliques. These
organizations lack in effective teamwork.
• ‘Secrets keep organizations sick’. Everything that affects the
workplace should be made transparent to dissuade employees
from cooking stories and spreading rumors and to restrain
them from deal-making and favoritism.
Political Subsystem
Reasons for organizational
politics taking place:
• Organizations are coalitions composed of varied individuals
and groups.
• There are enduring differences among individuals and groups
in their values, preferences, beliefs, information, and
perceptions of reality.
• The most important decisions in organizations involve the
allocation of scarce resources.
• Conflict is central to organizational dynamics, and power is the
most important resource.
• Organizational goals and decisions emerge from bargaining,
negotia­tion, and jockeying for position among members of
different coalitions.
Organizational politics can be reduced if organizations
follow the principles indicated below:

• Transparently measure performance of its employees.

• Make payments strictly on the basis of the performance so
measured.
• Publicize performance data.
• Reveal the reasons for decisions.
• Openly consider all good ideas.
• Shun deal-making.
• Shun secret deals.
• Avoid all political behaviour.