Secrets to Winning at Office Politics

Playing politics is like having sex.

Playing politics is like having sex. Almost everybody does it, but nobody is comfortable discussing exactly what they do. Politics is natural. Office politics emerges whenever people with different goals, interests, and personalities work together. It's not inherently good or bad, but a fact of organizational life. Winning at office politics means acquiring the political power necessary to accomplish your goals, whether they involve promotions, autonomy, or job satisfaction. Political Intelligence is key. Developing Political Intelligence allows you to: Define steps to achieve your goals Recognize power relationships Capitalize on opportunities to increase influence Identify true motives and hidden agendas Remain focused on important objectives Build positive relationships, even with difficult people Respond appropriately to attacks Turn conflicts into productive discussions

The person with the most power wins. Accept reality. Organizations are not democracies. Some key Organizational Facts of Life (OFOL) include: Organizations are power hierarchies Some people have more power than others Virtually all decisions are subjective Your boss has control over much of your life Fairness is an impossible goal Manage upward. Once you accept these facts, focus on effectively managing your boss. Understanding and meeting their expectations, making them look good, and finding ways to work productively within the organizational structure will increase your influence and success.

Invisible contributions have no political value. Leverage is power. Leverage means your ability to get others to do what you want. To increase your leverage: Deliver results that make your organization more competitive Develop impressive expertise in your work Maintain a consistently positive and helpful attitude Show empathy and understanding for others' problems Build a strong network of connections Include others in decisions and activities Maintain objectivity and detachment when appropriate Forget fairness. Obsessing about fairness wastes energy. Instead, focus on increasing your leverage and taking actions that move you toward your goals.

Positive relationships build political capital. Cultivate allies. Allies provide information, advice, assistance, and support. They are your most valuable political asset. Types of allies include: Friends: Colleagues you naturally click with Partners: Those who depend on you to accomplish results Connections: People you can temporarily link up with for assistance Expand your network. To build a stronger network: Identify people you need to know Seek opportunities for interaction Try to attract people, not repel them Strive for predictability in your behavior Get outside your comfort zone Look for shared interests or experiences Be helpful to others

To get other people to change their behavior, you have to change your own. Understand power. Accurately assess the distribution of power in your organization. Consider both position power (from one's role) and personal power (from individual characteristics and abilities). Avoid power mistakes. Common errors…