Stop hating office politics. It is often the only thing keeping your team’s resources, projects, and sanity alive.
After 21 years in the IT industry, I’ve seen a recurring pattern. Young, brilliant engineers often look at “office politics” with disdain. They see it as a dark art—a game of whispers, favoritism, and manipulation. They believe that if the code is clean and the sprint is delivered, the rewards should follow automatically.
But here is the hard truth I’ve learned over two decades: The world is not fair.
In a perfect world, merit alone would win. In the real world—the world of multi-billion dollar IT firms, competing business units, and limited budgets—merit is just the entry ticket. To survive and thrive, you need a leader who understands the "hidden architecture" of the organization.
The "Dirty Word" Needs a Rebrand
We need to stop calling it "politics" and start calling it "Strategic Advocacy." When a manager spends time in "useless" meetings, has coffee with a VP from another department, or navigates the ego of a difficult stakeholder, they are building a protective shield around their team.
If your manager is "politically savvy," they aren't playing games for their own ego; they are ensuring your team is the last one on the chopping block when the next "headcount freeze" arrives.
1. Politics as a Resource Shield
In the high-stakes world of IT, resources are a zero-sum game. Whether you’re eyeing high-octane GPU clusters for an AI breakthrough, fighting for niche certifications amidst a grueling delivery cycle, or vying for a coveted seat at the promotion table, nothing is ever "handed" to you on a silver platter.
In this ecosystem, visibility is currency, and silence is a disadvantage. There are always competitive teams led by managers who are just as hungry. If your leader doesn’t know how to lobby or build a case behind the scenes, your team will always get the leftovers. A politically astute leader knows which doors to knock on before the formal budget meeting even starts.
2. Protecting the "Quiet Geniuses"
The IT world is full of brilliant introverts—the people who save the production server at 3:00 AM but wouldn't dream of bragging about it. Without a politically savvy leader, these geniuses remain invisible.
A leader who knows the political landscape understands they must be the Chief Marketing Officer for their team. They strategically share wins with the right people to ensure credit doesn't get "hijacked" by a louder, more aggressive department lead.
3. Countering the "Pull" of Other Leaders
Let’s be honest: there are leaders in every organization who excel at "pulling." They pull credit toward themselves and pull benefits toward their own favorite sub-teams at the expense of yours.
If your manager is a "politics-hater" who stays neutral, they are effectively leaving you defenseless. You should thank your manager for having the "political muscle" to push back, to secure that "Exceeds Expectations" rating for you during moderation, and to ensure your team isn't the one burdened with all the legacy maintenance while others get the "cool" Greenfield projects.
4. Strategic Alliances: The IT Glue
No modern IT project is an island. We need the DevOps team to prioritize our pipeline and the Security team to approve our architecture. A manager who is "good at politics" has built these alliances months in advance. Because they did a favor for the DevOps lead last quarter, your team’s ticket gets moved to the top of the pile today. That isn't "cheating"—it's high-level stakeholder management.
The Manager’s Sacrifice
Being a "pro" at office politics is exhausting. It requires immense emotional intelligence and the patience to navigate bureaucracy. Most technical leaders would much rather be looking at an architecture diagram than a political map.
When your manager does this effectively, you don't even see it. You just see a smooth workflow and fair rewards. You only notice "politics" when it’s bad—or when your leader is failing at it.
Conclusion: To my fellow IT professionals, if you feel safe, recognized, and well-resourced, take a moment to look at your leader. They are likely fighting "resource wars" in the shadows and building bridges so you can focus on what you love.
Stop viewing office politics as a sign of a toxic culture. In the hands of an ethical leader, it is a tool for justice, protection, and team success. Don't just work hard—ensure your leader is working the system. And if they are, thank them.
- Have you ever had a manager who fought a political battle for you behind the scenes?
- How has "Strategic Advocacy" helped your team secure the resources you needed?
