Political Dilemmas at Work: How to Maintain Your Integrity and Further Your Career

Turn On Your Political Antenna and Learn to Fit In

If your well-honed skills are failing in the new environment, and you don’t know why—it could be that you’re not appreciating the culture differences. You need to accept this possibility by being honest with yourself and start paying attention to how the group has reacted to your arrival. How many good connections have you made so far? Are people open and welcoming of your suggestions? If not, you need to turn on your political antenna. This is your internal device for noticing how people get along with each other.

All organizations are complex social groups. Within these groups, friendships and loyalties are created, and sometimes, personalities clash. Each group forms an identity and culture that helps it unite and work toward its chosen goals. The way the members interact with each other is governed by a complex set of ground rules—its culture. And charitable organizations are no different from Fortune 500 companies.

When you join a new group, the existing members will be watching carefully to see if you will fit in or not. This is an important activity for them because they naturally seek to maintain their culture. If you don’t fit in, they will attempt to influence a change in your behavior so that you do. Failing to get the message and adapt to their way could lead to isolation—or in extreme cases—expulsion from the group. You need to take this seriously.

Appearing dismissive of your new coworkers’ ways and ignoring ...