Office politics is as ubiquitous as the 9-to-5 grind itself. If you believe your workplace is an anomaly devoid of this frustrating dynamic, then you're either too naive or just too lucky.

My intention here isn't to sling mud at anyone in particular. I'm merely shedding light on the reality of office politics, a performance that dances around a tune of manipulation and deceit.

I had a boss once who used to say how he believed in "open door" communication. I bought into it seduced by the idea of a worklace where ideas are freely exchanged without fear of exploitation. But a few months later, guess whose idea was being pitched in a meeting by this same boss without a single mention of the original creator? Yours truly ofc

Next came the ass kissers. The ones who take no shame in sucking up to the higher-ups, achieving promotions through sheer flattery and cunning charm, passing over those who toil relentlessly in the shadows. They're like chameleons, blending into whatever colour suits their agenda, thriving in the shadows.

Perhaps the most dangerous are the backstabbers, lurking in the darkness of the break area, whispering secrets into the ears of anyone willing to listen. They claim friendships, earn trust, and just when you let them in, they faithfully deliver unsuspecting victims vulnerabilities on a silver platter to anyone who promises them a step up the corporate ladder.

What's the solution? I’ve come to realise there isn’t a surefire antidote to this shitty culture. However, there is a benefit in understading the puppet show.

Keep your ideas to yourself until presentation time, be wary of the wolves in sheep clothing and above all, deliver your best work. It's not always the loudest in the room that gets recognised, sometimes it’s the quiet ones changing the world while others are too busy playing games.