If you missed Zikoko’s Twitter space on navigating office politics, you basically missed a masterclass in workplace survival. Esohe Igbinoba, Director of Programs at Businessfront, and Felix Bissong, Lead Consultant at GenzHR, shared gems of wisdom that will help you achieve success in your career. Here’s how it went down.
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
Imagine killing it at your new job, high-fiving your managers, and feeling on top of the world. That was Esohe Igbinoba early in her career, loving her dream job and counting down to her confirmation. But a misunderstanding with a colleague led to a workplace clash, and before she knew it, her dream job slipped away from her.
Instead of dwelling on the setback, Esohe bounced back, learning an important lesson: building great relationships with everyone, managers and peer, creates a support system that fuels your success. So, the next time you’re at the office, flash a smile, grab lunch with a teammate, and watch how those connections light up your career path.
Felix Bissong’s story is just as inspiring and reasonable. He was the office ‘doer’, putting in 110% effort, but during a performance review, there was a twist. His hardwork wasn’t getting the spotlight it deserved. No promotion, just a raise. Felix refused to dwell on this, instead he got strategic. He turned up his visibility by networking across offices, hosting fun office events, and dazzling teams with stellar presentations at meetings. Felix’s story is proof that hardwork plus a sprinkle of show-and-tell can easily make you the office MVP.
Setting Boundaries: Your Workplace Superpower
Esohe shared some serious knowledge on setting boundaries with a smile. If you want your evenings to be calls-free, politely let your team know that your off-hours are sacred. If you have a name and title that you’re proud of, make sure people use them right. And if someone’s comment about your style or space feels off, speak up, kindly but clearly.
Esohe’s tip is to blend your boundaries with respect for your workplace. It’s just like setting the rules for a board game: clear, fair and keeps everyone playing nicely. Communicating with confidence ensures that you’re respected.
Mentors and Sponsors are your Career Cheerleaders
Have you ever wished for someone to guide you through your career? Esohe and Felix broke down how beneficial it can be to have mentors and sponsors. A mentor is your wise guide, sharing expertise to help you navigate your field. A sponsor, on the other hand, is your VIP advocate, opening doors when you’re not in the room and hyping you up when you’re not in the room.
Esohe refers to this as building an “Emotional Bank Account”, invest in relationships by being awesome and consistent. Felix shared a fun example where he pitched an office exchange program, wowing his colleagues and catching the eyes of potential sponsors. So, show initiative, add value, and you’ll have a crew cheering you on.
Esohe and Felix’s stories remind us that with teamwork, visibility, clear boundaries and career cheerleaders, you can navigate any workplace with confidence and a smile.
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