Navigating office politics can make an office worker feel as anxious as a new high school student. But there are tangible methods to grapple with the gossip and cliques as well as meet deadlines and quarterly targets.

Jeff Mowatt is a business strategist in Calgary, Alberta, an award-winning professional speaker and the author of Influence with Ease. Since Mowatt opened his business more than 20 years ago, he has advised clients in many sectors including automotive; banking; the beauty industry; and transportation, to name a few.  He answered the Globe & Mail's challenge recently about handling office politics and here, he expands his advice.

I just got a promotion and it’s awkward to delegate and discipline my colleagues who were my friends up until last week. Your advice?

Call a meeting. Explain publicly how ‘the old story about nothing changes with me being the boss’ is a myth. Things will change; they’d change with any new supervisor. Explain how you’re the one who is now accountable and responsible for what happens with the group. That means you will ask for their input, but ultimately you make the final decisions. You’ll give them one-on-one feedback, both positive, and areas they need to improve upon. This is new to you also, so you’ll ask for one-on-one feedback from them about how you’re doing. If they have a concern about your leadership, they are to discuss it directly with you; not behind your back. That won’t prevent it from happening, but it will make them more conscious when it does begin.

How do I handle a colleague who is bad-mouthing me to the boss without looking like a whiner?

You don’t [because] you will look like a whiner. If your boss has a problem with you, he or she will bring it to your attention sooner or later. Make sure you’re doing your job well and ignore the other person. If they write something defamatory about you that is untrue and you read it, then refute it – truthfully in writing, without exaggerating – and cc your boss. Stick to facts; your opinion will make you look desperate.

I feel awkward trying to find mentors in the office just so I can get a promotion. What’s an authentic way of meeting influential people?

Join your professional association and get involved. Plumbers have plumbers associations; dog walkers have dog-walking associations. They are starving for volunteers, show up, be reliable, use good judgment and get involved in the local and national boards. You’ll develop your network and your expertise. Eventually people will want you to be their mentors.

I’m 10 years older than most of my colleagues and I have kids. What can I do to overcome the stereotype that my family is more important than my job?

Do you want to give the impression that your job is more important than your children? Yikes!  Working for an organization doesn’t mean you need to sell your soul (or sell-out your family). If the issue is that you won’t have as much in common with them, you’re right – you won’t. The good news is you don’t need to be buddies with everyone at work. Trying too hard to be friends just looks pathetic and tends to have the opposite affect. Organizations have ‘teams’ charged to do a task. They are not ‘families’ that are expected to love each other. Do an outstanding job, be nice to people. Then go home to your family.

How do I handle team members who don’t pull their weight?

Have a conversation with them along the lines of: “Bob, you and I are going to be working together a long time I hope, so it’s important we understand expectations. We are all expected to do X. That includes you. So far you have done Y. This is messing up Z. What do you suggest we do to address this?” When Bob grumbles he’ll get to it, leave him alone. Don’t expect him to be happy. He won’t. Don’t try softening it with a bunch of compliments about the other things he’s doing well. That just muddles the message. You’re getting paid to do a job, not to tiptoe around lazy people’s feelings. Make sure you have friends and family at home and a dog. They love you no matter what!

Amber Nasrulla is an ex-pat Canadian writer based in L.A. who specializes in profiles from business leaders and scientists to Hollywood celebrities. Her work has appeared in North American and British publications including L.A. Times, The Globe and Mail, Los Angeles Magazine, ELLE Canada, Chatelaine and London Weekly Times.