From my experience, project managers should avoid organizational politics for several key reasons. First and foremost, our role requires neutrality. When leading a project, any hint of bias or favouritism can quickly undermine team trust and collaboration. Staying neutral ensures I’m seen as fair and focused on the project’s success, not on gaining personal advantage or aligning with certain power groups.

Diving into politics is also a huge distraction. Time and again, I’ve noticed that political maneuvering takes energy away from what matters: delivering on project milestones and solving the inevitable problems that arise. When you get caught up in office politics, you lose sight of your priorities, and the project can suffer as a result.

Politics in organizations often revolve around power plays and conflicting agendas. From my experience, getting involved in these power struggles only leads to unnecessary conflict. I’ve seen peers become tangled in issues that had nothing to do with the project itself, and it pulled their focus away, not to mention it harmed their relationships with key team members and stakeholders.

There’s also the matter of professional integrity. I’ve learned that being perceived as playing political games can damage a project manager’s reputation. Stakeholders look to us for leadership and ethical decision-making, and when we let politics get in the way, it’s hard to rebuild trust. It’s critical to keep my conduct above board—professional and focused on the task at hand.

Lastly, relationships are everything in project management. Our success relies on strong, collaborative relationships, whether it’s the team, clients, or other stakeholders. I’ve seen how engaging in politics can quickly erode these bonds. Staying out of political conflicts ensures I can focus on building a positive, cooperative environment where the team can thrive.

At the end of the day, while politics is often part of any organization, it’s something I’ve learned to navigate cautiously. By keeping my focus on leading with integrity and delivering results, I’m able to avoid the distractions of politics and keep my projects on track.