We have already discussed sycophancy—how leaders increase their status by appeasing those in positions of authority and silence—how employees learn to keep their heads down to survive. What occurs when these two forces come together is the politics of survival, which is even more destructive. People spend more time at many institutions learning how to survive than how to serve.
There are several unspoken norms in the hallways, such as never outshining a colleague, always greeting the boss first, aligning with this person, and not crossing that person. Staff quickly learn that playing the game is more important for moving up the ladder than their level of ability. We refer to this as the politics of survival.
People tend to focus on reading emotions, forming alliances, and defending themselves rather than on the mission and solving issues. Instead of adding value, the workplace turns into a chessboard where every move is made to stay safe.
And under this system, who thrives? Not the most imaginative nor the most diligent, but the most politically adept—those who understand when to remain silent, how to flatter, and how to align themselves with authority. They have mastered the skill of avoiding conflict when it arises and agreeing when it is appropriate. Put differently, survival becomes a professional skill..
Organizations that prioritize political scheming over performance gradually undermine their own goals. Because no one wants to anger the powerful, projects stall. And innovation dies because taking risks is dangerous. Since the primary concern is now “Will this keep me safe?” rather than “Is this right?”, even integrity becomes negotiable. As I keep saying, without Integrity, nothing works!
Let’s face it, this issue isn’t unique to public institutions. It occurs in non-profit organizations, commercial businesses, and even religious institutions. The mission suffers, and mediocrity takes over wherever survival politics are prevalent. The best people either quietly quit, experience burnout, or comply. A shell of devoted survivors—safe, amiable, but frequently ineffectual—remains.
Not all leaders, of course, let survival politics thrive. Some consciously cultivate cultures of transparency, merit, and confidence. However, those are the exceptions. For many, surviving is the goal, and politics is the currency.
To the leaders: ask yourself whether your team members are striving to further the purpose or merely to survive. You are in charge of a delicate system if your institution’s efforts are diverted from output to political games. Survival politics are destroyed by true leadership and replaced with justice, trust, and clarity.
When survival becomes the goal, the true goal has already been lost.
You can buy our books on Amazon or at https://marymugo.com/shop/
Or at Nuria Bookshop by clicking the links,
https://nuriakenya.com/product/growing-a-business-empire-by-dr-mary-mugo/
https://nuriakenya.com/product/the-winning-strategy-by-dr-mary-mugo/
https://nuriakenya.com/product/dissecting-the-heart-of-leadership-by-dr-mary-mugo/
Have you ever found yourself, or seen colleagues, expend more effort navigating office politics than putting in the necessary work? What happens to the mission if survival has turned into the game? Post your thoughts in the comments section.