Q: I missed another opportunity this week, but it was one I had been looking for. This included building a strategic team of individuals from all areas of the company to develop key initiatives for the future. I had a lot of ideas for exciting directions we could take, so I’m really disappointed that we missed out on that.
The woman that the company management selected from my area has been with our company for less than a year. I’m not against her, but I know her background and skill set. She doesn’t bring as much to the table as I do. She excels in some areas. She knows how to play the game.
When an executive from the head office visits the branch, she goes all out to the point where it makes me angry. I also don’t go to dog shows or pony shows because it’s a waste of time when I have a serious job. During that time, I worked here for three years. I’m a professional and dedicated to my job. I’m a hard worker and can do my job well, but I have one drawback. I didn’t want to get involved in office politics.
I pulled some articles from the internet on this topic and found one of them. I’ve been reading your articles for years and I’ll admit I didn’t like them. Still, one line you wrote caught my attention: avoiding office politics is like “saying you’d rather be a pawn than a queen on a chessboard.”
So, is there a way to have office politics without turning into an elaborate kiss-up?
A: You don’t have to flatter yourself to get promoted. You don’t have to sell your soul or sacrifice your ethics. In fact, I hope not. We need more honest, hard-working people in politics and fewer “slick kiss-ups.”
This is my suggestion. Be politically smart and stop thinking of office politics as a disgusting waste of time played by sycophants. Understand that it is a skill set that you can acquire and that will allow you to expand your thinking and move forward. Office politics involves two elements: relationships and influence.
If you want to seize your next opportunity, you need to build relationships with the key leaders who will shape your future. Consider the opportunities you have described. That means being part of the team that develops important initiatives that are submitted to company leadership for approval. To be successful, you must 1. have sound ideas and 2. understand the priorities and perspectives of your company’s leaders. To do this, you need to engage with them and find out what they want and what ideas they will reject outright.
Colleagues who “play the game” spend time with “company executives.” You are focused on the work that appears on your desk, and you realize that part of your job involves preemptively gleaning insight into how your company’s leaders are thinking. No. Therefore, even though you are doing a great job, you are unable to attract the attention of the company’s leaders. I believe you when you say you have some exciting ideas. To give your idea the best chance of success, you need to build relationships.
The next time a company leader visits your branch, attend a meeting. If your company offers manager-led Zoom sessions, listen. Learn what results matter. How decisions are made. and who and what influences decisions and decision makers. Learn who others turn to for advice in your area of the company. And hopefully, you can be one of the people others turn to for advice.
Be proactive. Identify the key leaders in your company and learn something about each. Next, send a specific email to someone you admire letting them know something admirable you’ve accomplished. I’m not trying to flatter them. Pick something authentic that you really admire and give them seven minutes of their time. During these seven minutes, ask two to three honest questions. Thank you to those who ask searching questions and listen.
Political skills serve a practical purpose. Those who own them can be successful in their careers and gain influence to achieve their goals.
