Basis Of Singaporean Spirit - People Power: Playing Politics and Basis of Organisation

[This is part of the book: Basis Of Singaporean Spirit - People Power, click here to go to the main page]

If you look up dictionary.com for "play politics" you will see the following definition: "to deal with people in an opportunistic, manipulative, or devious way."

But what exactly is Playing Politics? Is it good to have it in organisation?

Well, first of all, we don't have a choice - it is everywhere, no matter whether you like it or not.

Playing Politics can be good, depending on what types of politics are people playing. For a start, we need to know that there are 2 types of politics.

The first type is what I called "Baby Politics". I called it "Baby" because this is what my little boy always played:

"He is not my friend!"; "I don't want to share my toy!"

Don't laugh. This is exactly what happened in the workplace as well as in the political landscape.

Surprisingly or not surprisingly, Baby Politics is the main politics that people play. In Baby Politics, people formed groups to defend themselves and fight against each other - at the expense of the organisation.

Baby Politics divides. Baby Politics destroys. Baby Politics is very bad.

Do you remember HDB Upgrading Carrots[i]? Well, it is an example of Baby Politics.

Another example of Baby Politics is the infamous "fix the opposition" as shown below.

The next type of politics is what I called: "Value Politics". Value Politics is the good politics.

In Value Politics, people look for value-add to the organisation and fight to be the one adding that value.

Value Politics is usually played by very smart people. And these are the people who are liked by all and constantly get promoted as the organisation expands. A win-win for everybody and the organisation is a nice place to work in.

Taking a step backwards, although Value Politics is good, we need to know that people cannot play it when there is no clear value, which is why, the basis of an organisation is important.

The basis of an organisation is the value-add it provides to its ecology.

Only when we inculcate this basis within an organisation, will we be able to see Value Politics in play.

BOSS Wisdom: "Basis and value are critical to any organisation. When an organisation loses its core principle or deviates from it, it loses its soul." - BOSS

The book is also available at Amazon.com:
BasisOf Singaporean Spirit - People Power: A Wake-Up Call for Leaders around theWorld

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[i] HDB Upgrading Carrots is an election tactics PAP used. If you vote for PAP, PAP will invest in upgrading your neighbourhood. BTW, note that the investment money is from Singapore, not from the PAP party itself.

[This is part of the book: Basis Of Singaporean Spirit - People Power, click here to go to the main page]