micropolitics

Etymology

From micro- + politics.

Why this word is great

MICROPOLITICS — [Noun] The use of formal and informal power by individuals and groups to achieve their goals within organizations, as opposed to macropolitics. From micro- ("small") + politics ("activities associated with governance or power"). Unlike "macropolitics" (which concerns nations and institutions) or "bureaucracy" (which codifies hierarchy in sterile rules), micropolitics thrives in the unspoken—the sidelong glance in a boardroom, the strategic delay of an email reply, the careful cultivation of alliances over coffee breaks. It is the quiet war of influence fought in hushed corridors, the way a subordinate learns to phrase requests so they sound like suggestions, or how a manager’s offhand remark can shift an entire team’s priorities. Beneath every organizational chart lies this shadow dance of power, proof that human nature persists even in the most polished systems.

noun

The use of formal and informal power by individuals and groups to achieve their goals within organizations, as opposed to macropolitics.“We don’t like talking about power. But if it is accepted that micropolitics is part of the practice of leadership, it becomes possible to talk about the day-to-day choices leaders make about the way they use information, communication and meetings, especially around sensitive issues.”