Law and Legal Expert

political expert

For many years it’s what people called me. It was not a title I proudly wore.

I worked my way from novice programmers to senior management in a large telecommunications company. I knew a lot of people, and I had a good feel for how to work within “the system”. I knew how it would overwhelm you, and I got good at knowing when to ignore it and when you want to play with.

the job I had, the most important contribution I could make in the long haul was to develop the skills of the managers reporting to me. The more effective I could do them, they would be easier and more successful my life to be. It was frustrating for me when I coach people and they would respond with comments like “I could pull this off if I had your political skills.”

I was offended. I’m not politics!

course I did. I did not want to admit it. When you run for office, political skill is an important advantage. When you’re the guy runs a business office, politicians are a label that reduces your true leadership abilities.

If someone accused me of being an expert on office politics, I denied it vigorously. I worked hard to get where I was, and nobody would take it away from me.

When I changed jobs

same industry, more titles, more people, new city. I was not well connected, of course. But I recognized the challenges of the job and I was ready to go to work on them. Costs were out of control and results were inconsistent. I had to fix both. It was made clear to me that I was being taken in from outside, because inside the culture needed a shakeup. I could not wait to jump in.

Was I successful? Without a doubt, I accomplished more in two years in this job than any five years of my career. We were reduced, in fact better morale while we did it, and got our operational statistics up where they need be. My clients were internal, and they were effusive in their praise. Personally, I was rewarded with a good trip and a really good bonus.

Six months later I experienced a career first – I got fired. Yes, okay, I let a very respectable severance pay. But I did not see it coming, and it did not feel good. What happened?

When I took the new job, lots of people who whispered in my ear about politics in my new company. It was not very complicated either. There were old guard when insiders and outside executives brought in the old guard finally rejected them how the body rejects tissue in a transplant.

I would not get stuck in it. I had a job to do and I would do it. No political contortions to me. I was in complete denial.

So I worked very hard and got some of the main results of my career. While I was doing it, there was a change at the top. The new CEO was a former executive of the company who had left and now came back. He was a hero of the old guard.

I was not satisfied with the Board’s choice, but I was not worried. My hard work and achievements would stand up to scrutiny, regardless of who was responsible, right? Wrong.

learn the right lesson here!

obvious lesson may be that politics is real and you better play the game well if you will succeed, no matter where you go. But that’s not it.

Yes, office politics are real, not denied. As leaders, it is important that you have an understanding of the political landscape in which you work. Not that you can play the game – so you can avoid getting stuck in it.

Think of successful leaders you know, those who rise up. Most of them know I do not get where they are today by crushing their competition in the house of office politics game. They got there by crushing their external competitors and provide its customers better than anyone else.

Along the way they were politically aware but not politically active. They built relationships with all they could. While others around them came and went, they thrived because of these circumstances and because of its relentless focus on the match.

live in denial and smarter politicians in office will decide your fate for you. You will not even know it.

be good at office politics and you will score some wins, a promotion or two, a few awards here and there. For most, however, catches the game to end with them and their political nature will be career limiting.

Understand office politics well enough to avoid getting stuck in the wrong debate. Focus on customers, growth and other key targets. Build relationships with everyone you meet. Knows the game, and then refuse to play. So the best get up.