22/10/2026
WORKPLACE POLITICS ARE DESTROYING ORGANISATIONS MORE THAN POOR PERFORMANCE
Some employees are no longer competing to become better at their jobs. They are competing to become closer to the boss. Instead of improving their skills, they are improving their relationships with powerful people in the organisation.
Instead of delivering results, they are busy reporting colleagues, spreading rumours, forming alliances and influencing management against people they consider a threat.
AND THE SADDEST PART?
Some managers are actually entertaining this nonsense. Imagine an organisation where a hardworking employee becomes a target simply because they are competent, confident and respected by colleagues.
Their achievements are questioned. Their mistakes are exaggerated. Their ideas are deliberately frustrated. Meanwhile, the employee who spends half the day gossiping in the manager's office is considered loyal and trustworthy.
WHAT KIND OF ORGANISATION ARE YOU BUILDING?
☑️ When gossip becomes more powerful than performance, talented employees suffer.
☑️ When managers entertain rumours, trust disappears.
☑️ When promotions depend on connections rather than competence, motivation dies.
☑️ When employees fear being reported more than failing to deliver results, innovation suffers.
☑️ When departments compete against each other instead of working together, the entire organisation loses.
HERE IS THE HARD TRUTH!
Some organisations are not struggling because they lack qualified employees. They are struggling because workplace politics has made it difficult for qualified employees to do their jobs.
People are afraid to speak in meetings. Good ideas are rejected because of who suggested them. Employees deliberately withhold information to make colleagues fail. And instead of focusing on customers, productivity, profitability and organisational growth, people are busy fighting invisible wars in the corridors.
LEADERS, PAY ATTENTION!
That employee who brings you gossip about everyone might also be the person creating divisions in your team. That employee who agrees with everything you say might not necessarily be your most loyal employee.
And that quiet employee who avoids office politics might actually be one of your most valuable people.
STOP CONFUSING FLATTERY WITH LOYALTY AND OFFICE POLITICS WITH LEADERSHIP!
An organisation cannot become excellent when employees spend more energy protecting their positions than performing their responsibilities.
MANAGEMENT, YOUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO BUILD A WORKPLACE WHERE PEOPLE SUCCEED THROUGH PERFORMANCE, NOT POLITICS.
Because when workplace politics becomes the culture, the best employees eventually leave, the politicians remain, and the organisation pays the price.
Emmanuel Mukula
Managing Partner - Splendid Trainers Zambia 🇿🇲
