Winning at Office Politics Without Selling Your Soul

By Marty Nemko

You're unlikely to want to stab someone in the back who offers to stay late to help you with a project. You're unlikely to badmouth someone who writes you a thank-you note in appreciation of that Microsoft Word tip you offered. And you're unlikely to hate someone who uses my personal favorite office politics weapon: home-baked cookies brought to share at the office. So, a key strategy for winning at office politics without selling your soul: do non-random acts of kindness.

What can you do today?
Just for today, keep your antennae out for opportunities to do non-random acts of kindness. Do them! At the end of the day, assess: Should you do more non-random acts of kindness tomorrow?