Polical Savvy is s good way.

May 8, 2017

For some of you if I called you politically savvy you would feel insulted.  For some political savvy is total manipulation of others - unethical behavior to get ahead  at others expense.  I have been writing about it for years.  I think of political savvy as the ability to build influence through relationships and results.  

For some of you if I called you politically savvy you would feel insulted.  For some political savvy is total manipulation of others - unethical behavior to get ahead  at others expense.  I have been writing about it for years.  I think of political savvy as the ability to build influence through relationships and results. 

I think of it as:

• The subtle and informal ethical methods (attitudes and behaviors)of gaining power or a competitive edge
• The ability to understand what you can and cannot control, when to take action, who is going to resist your agenda, and whom you need to get on your side.
• Understanding how people operate on the job (the strategies and motives involved
• Mapping out the political terrain
• Getting others to side with you, as well as leading coalitions

For some being politically savvy is  about pushing others down or being untruthful.  It means picking fights over issues that aren't critical.  Political savvy is not about being negative.  It is about being smart and pro-active.  The truth is at the lowest level of office politics, you can engage in several activities without considering yourself a “political person.”  For example:  relationship building, networking, team involvement and persuasive communication

Political Savvy has little to do with one’s place in the hierarchy.  It means building   networks—relationships—with people inside and outside your organization who can provide useful information and assistance.  Most of all think of it as defending yourself  from others' devious politics.

Just a few questions to answer:

• Identify the people who you eat lunch with on a regular basis
• Identify your enemies
• Identify your allies, advocates
• Identify at least one person at work that you can trust to  give you honest feedback
• Identify one person at a higher level than you in your organization who is willing to meet with you and give you advise

You get the idea.  Maybe it is time to expand your network and enhance your political savvy.