HBR Guide to Navigating the Toxic Workplace

CHAPTER 19

When Office Politics Shortchanges Women and People of Color

by Madeleine Wyatt and Elena Doldor

There’s no escaping office politics. It might get a bad rap, but the ability to network, build relationships, and influence others is critical in any workplace.¹ Unfortunately, research has shown that all too often, office politics is a white man’s game, as women and people of color often have less powerful networks and benefit less from engaging in politics than their white male counterparts do.

To make matters worse, attempts to address this inequity often focus on “fixing” the people who are excluded, encouraging them to develop their political skills, get more comfortable with politics, or temper their reactions, rather than acknowledging ...