office politics
Corporate social gamesmanship
Office politics refers to the informal power dynamics, maneuvering, and social strategies people use to advance their interests at work.
It encompasses alliances, rivalries, favor-trading, and behind-the-scenes influence that operate alongside official hierarchies: She's good at her job but terrible at office politics.
The term usually carries negative connotations, suggesting manipulation or self-serving behavior rather than merit-based advancement.
Crafty and calculating
- maneuveringSkillful directional control
- backstabbingCovert betrayal of trust
- underminingWeakening by covert means
- intrigueSecret plotting or fascination
machination · subterfuge · conniving · deception · sabotage · gossip · rumors · favoritism
Ranked authority structure
- influencePower to affect others
- authorityPower to enforce obedience
- dominanceSuperior influence over others
- controlAuthority to direct
clout · status · pecking order · chain of command · gatekeeping · territory · turf wars · fiefdoms
Building professional relationships
- cliquesExclusive social groups
- factionsDissenting internal groups
- coalitionsAllied groups acting together
- campsTemporary outdoor lodgings
in-group · out-group · allies · loyalties · schmoozing · rapport · connections · relationships
Stretched or strained state
- rivalryOngoing contest between opponents
- disagreementAbsence of shared opinion
- frictionResistance between touching surfaces
- feudsProlonged bitter conflicts
grudges · resentment · animosity · hostility · infighting · discord · clash · competition
Negotiation between nations
- tactSensitivity in speech
- reading the roomPerceiving social cues accurately
- savvyPractical shrewdness
- self-promotionPublicizing one's own merits
visibility · optics · perception · strategic · survival · documentation · boundaries · neutrality
scheming
Crafty and calculating
- maneuveringSkillful directional control
- backstabbingCovert betrayal of trust
- underminingWeakening by covert means
intrigue · machination · subterfuge · conniving · deception · sabotage · gossip · rumors · favoritism · scapegoating
hierarchy
Ranked authority structure
- influencePower to affect others
- authorityPower to enforce obedience
- dominanceSuperior influence over others
control · clout · status · pecking order · chain of command · gatekeeping · territory · turf wars · fiefdoms · inner circle
networking
Building professional relationships
- cliquesExclusive social groups
- factionsDissenting internal groups
- coalitionsAllied groups acting together
camps · in-group · out-group · allies · loyalties · schmoozing · rapport · connections · relationships · patronage
tension
Stretched or strained state
- rivalryOngoing contest between opponents
- disagreementAbsence of shared opinion
- frictionResistance between touching surfaces
feuds · grudges · resentment · animosity · hostility · infighting · discord · clash · competition · jockeying
diplomacy
Negotiation between nations
- tactSensitivity in speech
- reading the roomPerceiving social cues accurately
- savvyPractical shrewdness
self-promotion · visibility · optics · perception · strategic · survival · documentation · boundaries · neutrality · playing it safe
- corporate worldCEO, CFO, COO, VP, executive
- office lifecubicle, desk job, desk jobs, full-time job, nine-to-five
- work problemslayoff, firing, low pay, burnout, deadline pressure
- business fictioncorporate drama, boardroom drama, corporate intrigue, corporate crime, white collar crime
- officedesk, desk job, desks, desk lamp, desk lamps
- workjob, 9 to 5, jobs, labor, employee
office politicstransparency
State of being see-through
straight talk · straightforwardness · directness · candor · plain dealing
office politicspsychological safety
Freedom to voice concerns
esprit de corps · teamwork · team spirit · collegiality · mutual respect
office, officer, official, politics, offices, officers, officially, officials, officiate