Poltical Savvy and Employees

Guest post by: Dia Sutton
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Tis the Season for Social Events at the Office - By Dia Sutton

Also called political intelligence, political ability, political astuteness, political acumen - political savvy is the totality of skills for successfully navigating the political dynamics of an organization to accomplish one's career goals. Think of political savvy as strategies used to build and maintain a competitive advantage - the ability to control people or resources, or to get others to do things you want done.

So what can you do? The following are suggestions that people in all job levels can use to gain a competitive edge or just to survive the politics of others.

1. Check out the chemistry between you and your supervisor

2. Understand and support your supervisor - look at the organization through the eyes of your boss

3. Avoid upstaging your supervisor

4. Reward your supervisor - use please and thank you

5. Shine at Meetings

Appear articulate, poised and successful
Ask set-up questions
Allow others to talk
Take notes when influential people speak
Avoid daydreaming

6. Show that you can identify with the Manager

7. Appear cool under pressure

8. Show an interest in your organization and its mission

9. Display business manners and etiquette

Respect people's senses
Show class at lunch and meals
Avoid smoking on the job unless you work for a tobacco company
Remember names
Make appointments to talk with high-ranking people (never try to just drop in)
Be diplomatic

10. Get your hands dirty before the right audience - be willing to do menial work in a pinch to get the job done

Pick and choose from the political strategies presented. Decide which tactics are best suited to your skills, position, style andtheculture of your organization. You have nothing to lose but plenty to gain.

Moe to come

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Tis the Season for Social Events at the Office - By Dia Sutton

About the Author: Dia Sutton

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Dianne Floyd Sutton is President of Sutton Enterprises, author, trainer, educator, expert witness, coach and actor. She has over twenty years of combined experience in Human Resource Development (HRD) processes, Diversity, Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), and Communication training. Sutton Enterprises (SE) is a full service human resource development organization which offers a variety of Human Resource Development (HRD)services, i.e. training, keynotes, facilitations, EEO interventions, organizational development, etc. For more information about SE go to www.suttonenterprises.org

Dianne Sutton has the skills to create a safe learning environment where diverse participants are able to ask questions, experiment with new behaviors and development new skills. She also has the ability to present models and techniques in a straight forward, clear and humorous manner. She started her career as a mathematics instructor in the St. Louis, Missouri Public School System while attending graduate school at Washington University. Before founding Sutton Enterprises in 1987, she held a variety of positions at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in training and employee development.

Her most recent publication is Workplace Etiquette: A Guide to Thriving and Surviving in Today’s Workplace. In 2010 Dianne was awarded the Spencer Logan Leadership Award from the Training Officers Consortium (TOC) in Washington, DC. This is the organization's highest honor. For more information go to www.trainingofficers.org

Dianne is on a civility crusade as Ms. Etiquette. Ms. Etiquette offers a down-to-earth, in-depth presentation peppered with real life examples and appropriate humor. She demystifies the rules and gives insights into behaviors that increase respect, collaboration and trust in the workplace. Check out Ask Ms. Etiquette for answers to questions about appropriate etiquette in the workplace at www.suttonenterprises.org

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