Being pressured with work is fine but experiencing departmental politics is actually bothersome - eventually affecting you emotionally and intellectually. Likewise, office politics may hinder you to perform your tasks efficiently and refrain you from speeding your way up to the corporate ladder. Here are some ways you could do to survive:
Don't be ashamed of letting other people of your accomplishments. If no one knows about your good work, you may lose at the game of office politics when you really deserve to win. Tooting your own horn whenever you get the opportunity can make you succeed. Just be mindful of not exaggerating your achievements and taking the sole credit when the entire team actually deserves it.
Living at peace with others and getting along with everyone means being professional, accommodating and courteous at all times. Staying away from gossips and being careful about taking sides during office power struggles to avoid factions are also some things to consider.
Staying out of those "talk-down-the-boss" sessions as this could definitely do more harm than good. And since you surely not want to mess up with your superiors, you'd want to just smile and keep your mouth shut. Remember the rule of thumb: less talk, less mistake.
Learn to communicate persuasively. Developing an assertive style, backed with solid facts and examples, focusing your attention on your ideas and proposals, and being to work both as a leader and a team member can help you create an alliance that works closely toward a common goal, for the benefit of the team and the company.
If someone in the workplace tries to denigrate your credibility, blame you for something you didn't do or steal credit for your work, make sure to keep your cool. Don't let your emotions drive you to a certain situation that you would eventually regret. Try to seek an advice from a trusted colleague or a mentor. If this still doesn't work, you may consider elevating the issue to the HR department or talking to your boss in private.
As they say, wherever you go, office politics is always around. It's actually how you handle it as well as its circumstances, and of course, how you deal with the concerned individuals. And if things still get worse each day and all else fails despite doing all those in the list, then you can decide. Perhaps, the game is the one you can't play, prepare to move on.
