The office barbarian

The moment anyone uses the word “politics” in business, Mary Portas says she wants to run for the hills. London’s Queen of Shops left corporate life managing high street department stores to set up her own business because she couldn’t deal with office politics. But little did she know it was because no one had told her how to.

Now Jane Clarke, who has worked in consulting for 20 years, has identified five office “types” to watch out for in her book Savvy, Dealing with People, Power and Politics at Work, to which Portas has written a foreword.

Hard economic times can breed bad behaviour and it is not always possible to steer clear of difficult people. Sometimes, perish the thought, you might even have to report to one of them.

Here are the five office “types” and how to deal with them.

The Barbarian

These mouthy characters constantly belittle others while talking themselves up and sucking up to the boss.

Barbarians are masters of the backhanded compliment, undermining, gossiping and bullying their colleagues in an obvious way. Don’t risk getting too close to them and being tarred with the same brush. It is important to be assertive with them. Many Barbarians are insecure. If you stand up to them, you are less likely to become a victim.

To prevent bullying, make sure you ask them to clarify any briefs they give you, and keep a record of this to avoid confusion later on.

The Machiavellian

A dangerous type. Their motives are every bit as negative as the Barbarian’s but they are so skilled in handling office politics that it’s much more difficult to identify them. There is frequently a strong inclination to give them the benefit of the doubt.

Watch out for people whose status seems to outstrip their ability, whose name is associated with successful projects although it’s difficult to identify their contribution. Be alert for people who confide in you for reasons you can’t understand and who seem to know everyone in power but don’t bother with those who aren’t.

Once identified, handling the Machiavellian is a challenge because it is difficult to outwit them. It helps if they respect you, so be assertive. Be careful with emails and ask lots of questions when they ask you to do something.

It is possible to out-Machiavelli the Machiavellian. Building a good relationship with them means access to their information and networks.