What do you think of when you hear the words office politics? Is it all about backstabbing, spreading malicious rumors, and sucking up to the right people? If so, you'll likely want to stay as far away from it as you can.

The most important assets of any business are intangible-its company name; its brands, symbols, and slogans, with their underlying associations; its perceived quality; its name awareness; its customer base; and its proprietary resources such as patents, trademarks, and channel relationships. These assets, which comprise brand equity, are a primary source of competitive advantage and future earnings.

What do you think of when you hear the words office politics? Is it all about backstabbing, spreading malicious rumors, and sucking up to the right people? If so, you'll likely want to stay as far away from it as you can.