Why Acting Like an Ethnographer is so revealing
Ethnographic research—or acting like an ethnographer—is one of the most effective tools for understanding the complex landscape of office politics.
What do you do, when you act as an Ethnographer?
You simply observe. You observe your colleagues in their natural work environment. And no, you don’t need binoculars or hide behind a tree. Whilst you go about your daily business, by observing, you can gain insights into the different behaviours as well as the types of interactions and exchanges.
Office politics is far from boring—for some, it can be both serious and stressful. Today, I’ll share with you why observation is the best tool for dissecting office politics. Permit me to do it with a bit of tongue in cheek. That way, I hope you become fascinated enough to start acting like an ethnographer.
Why Observation is your best tool
Learning by observing. Being in the office every day, you are not only part of—you also have unique and unfiltered access to—the social dynamics and power structures at play.
How to act as an ethnographer
You simply immerse yourself in the daily routines, discussions, and activities of your colleagues—sharpen your observation skills and begin to identify the subtleties that often go unnoticed. Take, for example, a new project or process—you might have experienced resistance when introducing a change management project. As renowned organisational psychologist Edgar H. Schein once said, “You cannot understand a system until you try to change it” (Schein, 1996).
Quite quickly, your observations will turn into understanding and you need this understanding of personal and group behaviours. It is your foundation for addressing and managing office politics.
Interpreting Behaviours and Reactions
In meetings or in conversations, your observations will help you identify key players, understand their roles, and determine how they influence the office dynamics. Here are some of my recommended cues to identify the dynamics of the organisational, political landscape:
Leadership Styles:
Notice how different managers and leaders interact with their teams. Are they collaborative, authoritative, or hands-off? Understanding their style can reveal much about the power structure.
Social Circles:
Observe who tends to spend time with whom. Recognising social circles can help you map out the informal networks within the organization.
Communication Patterns:
Pay attention to who initiates communication, who listens, and who gets interrupted. These patterns can highlight the hierarchy and influence within the group.
Identifying Interactions and Exchanges (“the Dynamics”)
Interpersonal interactions and exchanges are crucial to understanding office politics. They reveal the underlying relationships and power dynamics. Here are some suggestions on how to decode them:
Meetings:
Notice who speaks the most, who listens actively, and who tends to dominate the conversations. This can indicate their influence and standing within the group. (Just try not to doze off during those endless PowerPoint slides!)
Casual Conversations:
Pay attention to coffee machine talk or casual conversations. These informal exchanges often reveal more about the office dynamics than official meetings.
Email and Messaging:
Observe the tone, frequency, and responsiveness in email and messaging communications. It can give you insights into the flow of information and the hidden influencers.
Interpreting Behaviours and Reactions
Understanding different behaviours and reactions is essential to navigate office politics effectively. My suggestions for what you should look for:
Body Language:
Pay attention to non-verbal cues like eye contact, posture, and facial expressions (and try not to jump to conclusions if someone always crosses their arms—maybe they’re just cold).
Conflict and Resolution :
Observe how conflicts arise and get resolved. It reveals the power dynamics and problem-solving approaches within the team.
Support and Sabotage :
Identify behaviours that support or undermine others. Recognising allies and saboteurs helps you create allies and improve your internal network.
Interested in learning more about strengthening your internal network? Read more HERE.
The Benefits of Your Ethnographic Research
- Holistic Understanding: Gain a comprehensive view of the social dynamics and power structures within the organization.
- Unbiased Insights: Obtain unbiased insights based on real-world interactions and behaviours.
- Strategic Advantage: Use these observations to develop strategies that enhance your influence and effectiveness in navigating office politics.
While being an ethnographer might not become your full-time career, honing your observation skills will enable you to gain a useful understanding of the intricacies of office politics.
Acquiring a detailed understanding of the work dynamics, you can build a strong foundation for further developing your leadership skills and your individual strategies and tools for navigating successfully in office politics.
Great leaders want to foster a positive and collaborative work environment.
