Office Politics Isn’t Just for the Corner Office
We often associate office siasat (politics) with ambitious managers and C-suite power plays. But if you want a masterclass in subtle influence, look beyond the boardroom. Look to the receptionist.
Let me introduce you to Sana Siasat (a pseudonym, but you know her). She’s the gatekeeper at a candy factory I once visited, a 30-plus-aged woman with a permanently suspicious expression. To her, every entrant is a potential threat to her morning chai’s sanctity.
Sana doesn’t play office politics; she is office politics. She proudly calls it “meri strategy.” She casually mentions how she once had a supervisor reprimanded for “looking at her desk the wrong way.” She speaks of a stolen stapler that sparked an HR inquiry, only for it to be discovered later in her own drawer. She hints, with a dramatic sip of lukewarm tea, that she can make or break careers with a single, well-placed phone call.
Her power is a blend of intimidation and oversharing. In one breath, she’ll confide that she’s single because “abhi tak koi kabil mila hi nahi” (I haven’t found anyone worthy yet), while giving you a long, evaluative stare. You immediately pray you don’t qualify.
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Her philosophy is simple and delivered with a wry smile: “Yahan sab ko seedha karna parta hai warna factory jungle ban jati hai.” (Here, everyone must be straightened out, or the factory becomes a jungle.)
She dispenses what she calls ‘thappar level discipline’ and has a particular knack for predicting the fate of new ‘boss log’ with unnerving accuracy, often dismissing them as a ‘bechara’ (poor thing) who won’t last the month.
The lesson? Office politics isn’t always about grand strategies for promotion. It’s the undercurrent of influence wielded by those who control access, information, and perception. It’s a reminder that real power often lies with those who manage the gateway. Underestimate them at your peril.
What’s the most unexpected lesson in workplace dynamics you’ve learned?
P.S.: This article was conceptualized by a human named Ronald Imran Inayat with a bit of drafting help from AI (DeepSeek); supervised, of course!
P.P.S. This story is adapted from my upcoming humor book about working at a factory. Keep watching this space!
#OfficePolitics #WorkplaceCulture #PowerDynamics #Influence
