Office Politics: The Inner Circle

In ancient courts, kings and queens were constantly surrounded by courtiers, all competing for a chance to whisper into their ears. Why? Because having access to the sovereign was often the only way to further their interests. It was the key to power, and alliances at court were maintained or broken to retain this privilege.

The Inner Circle

Things aren't always that different in the workplace today. While competent managers recognize that intrigue lowers morale, reduces productivity, and drives employee turnover, you might find yourself in a situation that makes you think you're in a Machiavellian court.

The heads of departments (the bosses) still make the big decisions, and they're still surrounded by people looking for ways to influence those decisions – some for the betterment of the department, its staff, and patients – and some for their own benefit. While the former tend to have open discussions, the latter are the ones whose voice we always hear through the boss's closed doorway, or behind whom the door is quickly closed when something big is being discussed.

And whether for good or ill, the reality is that the boss needs this inner circle. The boss may be responsible for making decisions, but s/he, in turn, depends on input and information from others in order to make decisions. And the more complex the organization, the greater a boss's dependency on others for information and advice.

So if I am working in a Machiavellian court, I should …

Even if you're not in that inner circle – and even if you don't want to be – figuring who is in it is to your advantage. First, you will know which individuals you shouldn't alienate. Also, should the rumor mill start churning, of if change or "threats" are in the air, you will know whom to approach for accurate information and whom to speak with to ensure that your opinions reach the boss. Being informed will also enable you to gauge the level of threat, and this will help you to know when to get involved and when to mind your own business.

Avoiding the Dark Side

On the other hand, you may want to be a member of the inner circle. Every boss needs a person (or a few) that s/he can trust to help make the right decisions, so it might as well be you. But keep in mind that at work, the "inner circle" is not the same thing as the "in crowd" – the boss doesn't need spies or flatterers.

A boss will, ideally, rely on and trust information coming from someone who is well-informed about the work to be done, who can offer creative or original solutions about how to make changes or address issues and problems, and who is committed to the well-being of the department, its staff, and patients, and not just to their own self-interest or only to the comfort and convenience of the staff. In summary, a wise boss will trust information coming from someone with ideas, who is concerned about quality care, and how it can be best provided and best maintained.

Now, some may wonder if it's worth bothering about all of this. Isn't it more important for us just to focus on doing a great job? True. But if you happen to work in an environment containing intrigue worthy of a royal court, understanding hierarchy and inner circle will help you safely negotiate the peril without getting caught up in the dark side of office politics.

And if you get on the inside, you may be a force for improvement of your department, which will benefit your coworkers and your patients. In addition, you might find that your work life becomes more interesting. Or, you may discover you have innate talents – such as in problem solving or people management skills – that you didn't know you had. And all this may lead to other developments and forward movement in your career.

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