Workplace politics - a factor that has affected the way an organization operates

Workplace politics have always been a factor that has affected the way an organization operates and in-turn effects people in leadership positions. The military is no different from the private sector when it comes to this. Workplace politics is the use of power and social networking within an organization to achieve changes("What does workplace politics mean?," n.d.). This politics can be negative or positive depending on the action that will come out of the politics that are being done. A person in a leadership position in the military must make many decisions. Some are easy and don’t require much thought, but some do and affect people’s lives. If the stress of that decision is not enough a military leader has to deal with the politics that come along with the position. How the leader handles and is affected by these politics affects how well they can lead and grow themselves as leaders. 

One of the studies that have been done on this is a dissertation done by a Walden University student that focuses on organizational politics and employee behavior (Elkhalil, 2017).Her research shows that workplace politics have a large impact on how an organization functions and how it affects employees’ behaviors. This is going to be my focus in my research to show how workplace politics affect the development of leaders, with a focus on military. It is known that a workplace will always have politics and how these politics can determine a raises, promotions and even job security("Defusing the 5 Trickiest Workplace Situations," 2011). Workplace politics have a direct affect on the leaders within organizations and the development of the leaders. 

Purpose of Research 

There has always been workplace politics and always will be, so it is important that we understand how it affects an organization. Having the ability to better understand it will allow us to work to prevent it or at least teach organizations how to handle it as leaders. Some of the things that can result from workplace politics are concentration, ambience or morale and stress (Juneja, 2020). Not having the ability to stay focused or concentrate on the task at hand can have deadly results in the military. Leaders must be able to stay focused on what is going on around them as they may have to decide later in a stressful situation using the information. The effects of low morale in the military is proven to cause a reduction in efficiency and retention of soldiers in the military (Miller & Medalia, 1955, p. 93). 

In the military by having a strong understanding of how workplace politics affect leaders they will be able to better tailor their polices to put actions in place to train leaders on how to handle them. The focus of this research may be on the military, but workplace politics is in the private sector and anywhere else that a group of people must work together to complete a task. 

The general public can benefit from my research as the military is just like a business in the private sector. The private sector has leaders at many different levels just like military so the research can be translated to be applied to it as well. The more the world understands and pays attention to this information the better we will be able to handle the politics. Leaders at all levels need to have strong cultural values as they present an outline for all team members in the workplace(Keijzer, 2019).It is important that leaders understand the affect politics have on their workplace and how their actions can make it worse or better. 

Significance of Study

My research will add to the body of knowledge by strengthening and providing more celerity on how workplace politics within the military affect the development of leaders.A gap in the research that I have found is that there is no specific research focusing on workplace politics regarding how it affects a leader’s development in the military. This gap I will be able to close with my research as it will provide real life experiences from current leaders in the military. Studies have been done in the private sector that show the affect workplace politics have on leaders, but there is none on the military and how it effects their leaders’ developments. The purpose of this paper will be to explore how military leaders are affected in the workplace by negative and positive politics. This research will show how workplace politics have influenced developing leaders and how it affected their abilities to be an effective leader. 

Ethical Considerations

Ethics is one of the key foundations of research work and thus it is of fundamental value that the study undertakes the necessary steps to ensure full compliance. In research, ethic refers to the particular codes of practice that a researcher applies to protect the dignity of the subjects involved in the whole process (Smith, 2020). As such the following is a brief outline of the research considerations that the research will incorporate in the whole process: 

Consent of Participants 

The study, after successful sampling of the interview population, it will seek to acquire the consent of the participants to use the information provided in the interview questionnaire 

Beneficence 

This paradigm refers to the ethical principle to ensure that the research process abides by the provisions of the research standards that allows that the outcome of the research positively impacts the constituents that the sample population. In this case, the study will ensure that the study makes contributions that positively help to improve the military profession. 

Respect for Privacy and Confidentiality of Participants 

The research in acknowledgement of the necessary need for the privacy of the participants will use a coding process that will alphabetically assign each participant a specific code. This ethical consideration is in part to ensure that the participant’s confidentiality is upheld as per the research code of ethics. In addition to these considerations, the study will also ensure that they adopt approach in the data collection process that allows the researcher to refrain from any form of coercion of the participants through incentives that may manipulate the information. More importantly, the researcher will put place strategies that promote objectivity of the research interview questions and that all the participants understand the goals of the research and how the research information collected will be4 used and analyzed. To this end, the structure of the question will refrain from using language that is discriminatory or in any way inappropriate. 

Literature Review

For the last two decades, researchers and academic scholars have shown interest in political behavior within the military. While workplace politics can have both positive and negative results on the military, most authors have focused on the negatives. Courpasson, Dany, and Clegg define political behavior as behaviors that are against an organization's policies and are therefore considered illegitimate (Courpasson, Dany, & Clegg, 2012). The political behaviors are often characterized by self-interest, decisions based on favoritism, coalition building, and personal attacks on others. Politics tend to disrupt the peace and harmonious environment of an organization. Moreover, politics reduces organizational efficiency and effectiveness (Jones, 2013). However, workplace politics have a positive effect on the development of leaders in the military that most authors fail to highlight. As such, this literature review will highlight some of the issues surrounding workplace politics in the military and discuss the positive impact of such politics on military leadership development. 

Atinc, Darrat, Fuller, and Parker note that the military is one of the most sensitive departments in any country (Atinc, Darrat, Fuller, & Parker, 2010). In particular, for countries such as the United States that have their soldiers in Iraq, Afghanistan and other parts of the world, the military is well organized with a clear hierarchical command structure. Soldiers are expected to follow rules at all times and not to question their superiors (Whelan, 2006). These soldiers must always stay alert because they are constantly under the threat of enemy attacks (Blair, 2012). A military leader is therefore expected to make timely decisions and to act quickly in case of an impending attack or ambush. The leader cannot be effective at leadership if he is being second-guessed by his juniors or has to deal with workplace politics (Owens, 2015). Decisiveness in the military can be misinterpreted as a dictatorship. However, it is the leader’s decisiveness and ability to hold a position and stand by it that saves lives during battle. The military leader is expected to dictate control and advocate a particular position without fear. 

Any workplace – the military included – should encourage freedom of speech (Timothy Frye & Szakonyi, 2014). However, when this freedom is used to advance political agendas, it can be toxic. Jones (2013) insists that a partisan workplace can have a polarizing effect on employees. Jones attributes workplace politics to an overall decrease in productivity and concentration, and changes in the attitudes of employees. More so, the author mentions that politics can increase stress among employees and demotivate them (Jones, 2013). In a military setting, politics can lower the output of the soldiers and eventually affect the productivity of a whole unit or battalion. If soldiers are not happy with their leadership, they may lose concentration while in battle or make mistakes for their focus may be elsewhere. 

Butler and Tregakia (2015) opinion are that power corrupts. As such, when individuals are entrusted with power, they can be carried away and have a negative influence on others. In a study conducted by Atinc, Darrat, Fuller, et al. (2010), respondents were given the power to supervise their teammates. Half of the participants was also given the power to punish their colleagues in case they did not finish their assigned tasks (Atinc, Darrat, Fuller, & Parker, 2010). The individuals who were given the power to punish their colleagues were more likely to use threats and intimidation on their colleagues than the individuals who were denied the power to punish. As such, when politicking employees are not controlled, they can become bullies and have a negative influence on the other workers’ productivity. 

McMaster reiterates that the military is always supposed to act as a single unit with one center of command (McMaster, 2011). However, when politics can permeate the military workplace, it can weaken the bond that holds the soldiers together and disrupt unity. McMaster notes that socially adept soldiers can misuse their influence to build cliques within the military (Moriarty, 2010). When this happens, teams become divided with each clique having its agenda. When this situation is not contained, it can lead to competition for influence among the soldiers (Rodgers, 2016). Rival troops can claim credit for a task they did not complete just to make other soldiers feel bad. This behavior breeds animosity among the soldiers. The problem may escalate if the commandant takes sides in the political battle of supremacy. 

It is worth reiterating that office politics is inevitable in many workplace settings (Gay, 2014). Therefore, it is upon the military leadership to seek an effective way of dealing with office politics instead of seeking ways to eliminate it which often proves futile (Gill, Lapalme, & Séguin, 2014). The leaders must always be able to navigate tricky political situations for the safety of the soldiers and those that they protect. 

A burgeoning body of studies has explored the role that politics plays in leadership development in the military. Gay mentions that a military leader who can successfully navigate the murky waters of workplace politics emerges as a strong and dependable leader (Gay, 2014). Such a leader gains the respect of the troops and can easily rally his soldiers to victory even in the trickiest and toughest of battles. In this regard, Johnson advocates for leading by example, setting a clear code of conduct and condemning unwanted behavior as soon as it happens as an antidote to toxic military workplace politics (Johnson, 2014). 

Despite the negatives associated with office politics, there is also a good side of office politics that is rarely explored. Khalid and Ishaq denote that politically savvy individuals are good at what they do and are respected by their workmates (Khalid & Ishaq, 2015). Therefore, while some authors would advocate for nipping the bud in the root in as far as politically savvy individuals are concerned, Khalid and Ishaq are of the contrary view. The authors instead reiterate the organizations should use the politically savvy workers to their advantage (Khalid & Ishaq, 2015). One effective way of doing so is by balancing alliances. 

As noted in Khalid and Ishaq’s study, politics is all about juggling alliances. A military leader is therefore supposed to know how to balance their superior’s requirements with their soldiers’ happiness and productivity. Instead of simply acting as a conduit for communication between their superiors and their troops, the leader should demonstrate that he is part of his team and is also willing to stand by his team whenever things go wrong in battle. Also noteworthy is the fact that politics depends on friendships (González-Ricoy, 2014). It is, therefore, the responsibility of a military leader to network within his team. By doing so, he can address individual complaints before they escalate into a full-blown problem (Timothy Frye & Szakonyi, 2014). The military leader should know that he may need help to control his soldiers as much as he is the one in command (Landemore & Ferreras, 2016). Networking with junior soldiers can also neutralize toxic political influences among the soldiers. When the commander is close to his soldiers, he does not need to fight all battles by himself. Instead, he can have his foot soldiers fight for him. In a few words, a military leader must be reachable and sociable as well as developing interest in his soldiers' personal lives. 

A study conducted by Oeij, Dhondt, and Korver on workplace innovation concluded that employees value sincerity in their relationship with their superiors (Oeij, Dhondt, & Korver, 2011). What is more, politically savvy soldiers in the military exude genuineness and sincerity. It is for this reason that they are trusted by their colleagues. As such, instead of constantly condemning and constantly criticizing individuals who politic at work, command should instead pay attention to their soldiers' feelings and try to understand their grievances. Landemore and Ferraras insist that military leaders should at times sit back and listen to their soldiers' stories to connect with them and potentially neutralize negative workplace politics (Landemore & Ferreras, 2016). 

Particularly important is the fact that workplace politics can destroy potential leaders or help in the development of future commands (Whelan, 2006). For instance, if a soldier is always outspoken about mistreatment but is also a performer in battles, he may be considered for a future leadership role due to his concern for the wellbeing of his fellow soldiers. Contrastingly, if the soldier is involved in spreading false rumors for his interests and is constantly questioning decisions made by his command, he can be demoted from his position or even expelled to restore sanity among the soldiers and to rid them of negative influence (Tshoaedi, 2012). Hence, even if the soldier possesses some leadership skills, he may not be allowed to take on a future leadership post. 

Research Methodology

The research methodology to be used for this research wills a mixed incorporating both qualitative m3ethods to conduct the study. The conceptual framework for the study is anchored on the qualitative process that will collect the views of the sample population identified from a pool of career military personnel of various ranks. In concept the research design will incorporate various procedural frameworks that include an empirical literature review of 10 peer-reviewed sources and interview sessions with the military leaders to determine their views on the how the internal politics affect their operations. 

Population Sampling

The sample population for this research will mainly rely on a pool of military men identified from major general of the US military serving in various bases across the US. The total number of respondents will be identified from a pool of 200 military leaders serving in The US Navy, Army and Air force that are the main branches of the military. The research intends to identify 50 participants to provide data for the research study. Purposive sampling is an effective way of identifying the potential respondents in a better position to provide information relevant to the topic. That is by identifying the respondents from a pool of participants with ranks of major general, the study ensures that it will interview respondents with experience on the how the leadership of military is affected by the politics. 

Research Instruments

The principal research instrument used will interview questionnaire that will help to collect evidence on the information regarding the topic. The research interview will be structured in the following way: 

Data Collection

The data collection process will mainly be online-based with the survey instruments administered through email correspondence. The collection process was adopted because it allowed the researcher to interview participants from different jurisdiction. More so the process of the data collection ensured that the whole process engages with the potential respondents. This process is viewed to be the best in that it will provide more personal appeal on the parties involved and that it provided more accurate and real data. The data obtained will also vital in that it helped in the support of a sound and much effective information that was vital and useful for that determination of military success operations. 

The main aim for the adoption of this online means of data collection method is due to its fast speed. Online surveys administered via emails will be the fastest and the most effective means of data collection in that for its more precise in comparison to all other traditional methods of data collection. It is also cheaper in comparison to other possible, means of data collection methods that might have been applied in this case. By the use of online questioners, we save much money since there is no allocation of time and resources in the process of entering information in the database. 

In this data collection method we experience more accuracy in that the margin of error id greatly minimized. With an online survey the we find that the process of collection of data is more liable and accurate in the sense that information is directly entered by the participant and this is much helpful in minimizing any human error that might be witnessed in the process. This therefore will provide a quick result analysis. Reading an online survey is very easy and takes less time since the results are just exact and straight from the question administered to the leadership forum. 

Data Analysis

Qualitative analysis was used to analyze the data collected from online surveys. Qualitative analysis refers to the analysis of qualitative data, like text data from a survey. Qualitative methods were used in the research to create a better understanding and explanation of how workplace politics affect leaders in the military. This method involves digging deep into the transcripts to identify some similarities and, consequently, finding a pattern or themes from the data (Wong, 2008) . An online survey was used to collect data from each participant. The survey was sent through emails to the participants, and the respondents answered the questions embedded in the email before sending the results back. 

The data from the survey was organized and prepared for further analysis. The survey answers were printed and organized for easier analysis. First, the data was thoroughly reviewed several times to capture the main ideas. During the review and exploration of the data, the outstanding information was recorded in a notebook. This was just speculative information through thoughts and ideas that predicted some patterns in the data. The handwritten notes were recorded using Microsoft word before further analysis took place. This information played a significant role in identifying the major patterns in the data showing how workplace leadership impacts leaders in the military. 

The deductive approach was used in the research to analyze the data. A deductive approach is a method used to test or develop a hypothesis based on already existing theories (Azungah, 2018) . This research was not involved in developing a new hypothesis but was only meant for testing the already formulated hypothesis in identifying the impacts that workplace politics have on leaders in the military. In this research, online surveys were used to obtain the feedback of people regarding the implications of workplace politics to leadership, particularly in the military. Since the feedback was in qualitative form, manual methods of analysis were used to analyze the data. This was done by comparing the responses of various respondents and determining how the data compare. 

The patterns in the data were identified through coding. Coding is the process of labeling information on the research that can be grouped that can be used to develop relationships. The patterns were identified by identifying the common patterns observed from the data. The patterns in the survey results were identified through the use of concept maps. Concept mapping is a technique that can be used by individuals to represent information from a finding in a pictorial form (Conceicao, Samuel, & Biniecki, 2017) . When using concept maps, outstanding ideas, and information in the research were identified. This information was used to build upon previous information by linking information back to it. This helped show concepts and ideas from the data and help establish a connection between them. Notes were also made on the margins of the survey papers answers to identify any connection between the data. During the coding process, the previously identified codes were identified and were altered to allow and fit new data passages. Some of the codes were discarded as they were rendered false or irrelevant to the research. 

The list of codes was divided into three major categories. The categories were associated with each other and involved identifying the connection between workplace politics and leadership in the military. The categories were obtained from the divisions of the online survey. The categories identified include workplace politics, leadership positions, and impacts of politics on leadership in any organization, particularly in the military. These categories or sub-topics were used to classify the data obtained from the research project using an online survey. 

Discussion of Results

According to the research findings, 80 % of the respondents attested to politics having a central role in the way that the promotions were issued. In essence, the majority of the participants alluded to the influence of politics on their day to day decisions. Accordingly, most of the participants were in consensus that the dimension of politics influenced the results of the research study. 50 % of the respondents agreed that there is a correlation between the way that the military decisions are made in regards to the topic. For the most part, the findings of the research attest6ed that the respondents applied such an understanding of how an individual related to the leadership towards the kind of promotions that they received. The findings of the research were in harmony with the literature review findings that the majority of the researchers arrived at when investigating the concept. Interestingly, the research framework included insights on the way that the military, despite professional indications that they desisted from including such approaches that jeopardized their position in their careers, the leaders engaged in activities that supported their decisions. The decisions that the military personnel make are intrinsically linked to the nature of the information available to them. 

Conclusion

The findings of this study found that the concept of politics affect military decisions in that the parties involved rely on the information that they receive to make the decisions regarding the promotions of officers. In retrospect, the majority of the decisions that the military leaders make are mainly anchored on the level of power that they possess. Towards the future, there is a need to ensure that there is adequate research to ensure that there is an understanding of the role that politics play on the decisions that military personnel make regarding their subordinate staff. As noted in most of the literature, office politics is toxic, and it can cause disruptions in an organization if it goes unchecked. The politics can also result in stress among soldiers and a lack of concentration while on the battlefield. However, when a military leader effectively handles office politics while avoiding fallout among the soldiers, he gains the respect of his soldiers and enhances unity among troops. Moreover, a politically savvy soldier can be considered for a future leadership position due to the positive influence he or she wields over his colleagues. 

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