Many people shy away from workplace politics – and for a good reason. These activities, often used by individuals to improve their status and advance their personal agendas, can sometimes come at the expense of others. But what if playing politics is exactly what you need to thrive?

When Sally Gift began her career in international development after earning a degree in communication, she was excited. Eager to prove herself, Gift worked tirelessly but soon realised that workplace success required more than just hard work.

“There were people who didn’t get much work done but managed to survive through regime [changes] and retrenchments,” Gift said. “At the time, I didn’t have a name for it; all I knew was that I didn’t want to engage in it.”