Stop Avoiding Politics Most engineers cringe at the word "politics," associating it with manipulative games and thinking that real engineers only need to focus on code. The author once felt the same but now argues that politics itself isn't the problem; bad politics is, and ignoring politics allows bad politics to prevail. Key Ideas Politics is inherent to human organizations. It's the network of relationships, influence, and informal power that exists in every workplace, not just a dirty game. Refusing to engage means decisions happen without you. Poor technical decisions often stem from the absence of informed voices, not from stupidity but from lack of political engagement. People, not ideas, win. Those who understand organizational dynamics and influence get their ideas heard and implemented. Good politics is strategic relationship-building. Actions such as explaining technical decisions in accessible terms, building alliances across teams, and understanding stakeholders' motivations all count as politics. The best technical leaders are highly political, though they rarely call it that—they prefer terms like "stakeholder management" or "organizational awareness." Avoiding politics leads to bad outcomes: Wrong decisions getting pushed through. Good projects dying due to lack of advocacy. Talented people leaving because they can't navigate politics. Good politics versus bad politics: Good politics aims to support good outcomes without manipulation or self-promotion. What Good Politics Looks Like in Practice Building relationships before you need them: Casual meetings can turn into powerful advocacy later. Understanding real incentives: Align technical proposals with what leaders truly care about. Managing up effectively: Keep managers informed, flag issues timely, and propose solutions. Creating win-win situations: Help others while advancing your own goals—avoid zero-sum mindsets. Being visible: Share successes through presentations, documentation, and communication. Conclusion Ignoring politics is not staying "above it" but surrendering influence. Every engineer is part of organizational politics whether they like it or not. The choice is to get good at it or lose to others who already are. --- Tags: career, culture, organizations, teams Category: opinion --- Subscribe to Terrible Software for more insights on software careers and culture.