Workplace Etiquette: The Political Savvy Individual
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Workplace Etiquette: The Political Savvy Individual
To be successful in today’s evolving workplace, you need talent, hard work, good job performance, a share of good breaks as well as political savvy. Political Savvy means ethically using office politics to your advantage. To some office politics means deceit, deception, and selfishness. However think of political savvy as the ability to practice sensible and ethical office politics.
At one time, it was assumed that office politics were played primarily by supervisors and managers who were attempting to climb the ladder of success, and executives who were still either climbing or trying to maintain. Not only are office politics tougher today, but the stakes are at their highest. In an era of organizations trimming down to reduce costs, corporate takeovers, downsizings, and mergers the use of political savvy is needed for survival.
Office Politics are played to obtain power – the ability to control people or resources, or to get others to do things you want done. Understand that office politics are omnipresent – every where – all the time.
People who understand and use office politics to their advantage are much likely to succeed than their politically naïve counterparts. Therefore, to gain a competitive edge you need more political skill and knowledge. To ignore office politics is to ignore those underlying forces that account for the success between equally talented people.
Let’s Start With Some Definitions
Political – the use of strategy or intrigue in obtaining power, control or status; to deal with people in an opportunistic or manipulative way, as for job advancement.
- Random House Webster’s College Dictionary
Savvy – understanding, knowing how, shrewdness
- Webster’s New Century Dictionary
Ethical – being in accordance with the rules or standards for right conduct or practice
(the body of moral principles and values held by or governing a culture, group, or individual); conforming to the principles of proper conduct, as established by society.
- Webster’s New Century Dictionary
Think of political savvy as a practical understanding or shrewdness of how people operate on the job including the strategies and motives involved. Think of office politics as the subtle and informal methods of gaining power or a competitive edge.
Characteristics of a Political Savvy Individual
- Chooses to become an active, ethical player
- Believes in and cares about the issue at hand
- Plays above board
- Legitimizes the task; avoids the political blind spot
- Uses power to get things done
- Spreads the credit
- Is an effective team player
For Federal employees political savvy is listed under the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Executive Core Qualification of Building Coalitions/Communication. As a leadership competency it identifies behaviors such as:
- Keeping current with internal and external political and issues that impact
the work of the organization
- Approaching problems with a clear perception of organizational and
political reality
- Anticipating the internal and external implications of statements and
Actions
- Recognizing the impact of alternative courses of action
- Considering political and organizational reality, the media and special
interests in decision making.
There are fundamental reasons as to why people politic. Knowing these reasons can help you in developing your political savvy or when it is likely that others will be using political tactics to win or discredit you.
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Free PDF Download Tis the Season for Social Events at the Office - By Dia Sutton |
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About the Author: Dia Sutton 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 Click here to visit Dia's website.   What I Learned About Leadership as an ANC Commissioner The Four Bs of Dress in Todays Workplace Boob Envy I Dont Think So Politcal Savvy Tips for Work Political Savvy 101 |
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