High flyers play office politics
By TJ (11-10-2007)
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People who play office politics are 'racing ahead in their careers'.
Politics is an increasingly important part of daily office life and those that can play the game stand a better chance of getting ahead in the career stakes.
Adrian Hitchenor, CEO of the executive search and selection consultancy Hitchenor Wakeford Group, says:
"Politics is no longer a dirty word in the workplace. Politicking is an increasingly important skill for managers but it still has negative conotations, and few would openly claim to being good at office politics.
"The harsh reality is that having technical skill simply isn't enough to excel these days and ambitious execs need to hone their political skills, too.
"As business becomes more competitive, today's leaders need to be able to forge external partnerships, promote their organisation's reputation, influence key decision makers and mitigate risks - all of which requires political skill.
"If companies are to compete on a global scale, their leaders must have the skills to cope in a more collaborative environment.
"Enlightened business leaders view politicking as partnership and alliance building, as reconciling and overcoming differences - as something that is for the collective good of the business.
"Only the ignorant and weak still think politicking is about protecting their turf or pursuing personal advantage.
"Despite its importance, too many organisations leave the development of political skills to chance, rather than formalised training.
"Most executives learn their political skills through bitter experience. Research by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) recently found that 88% of managers claimed to have honed their political nous through their mistakes and by being thrown in at the deep end when having to manage a crisis. In some cases this is inevitable, but it is also far from ideal - organisations should help individuals develop political capability by arranging secondments, coaching and formal mentoring to develop political skills.
"Switched on executives need to understand the external environment in which their business operates. They need to be aware of the competition, regulation and trade agreements, media interest and public opinion affecting their sector.
"They also need knowledge of the strategic context of any partnerships or alliances their organisation develops. They must develop an appreciation for how power blocs operate, both internally and externally. All of this requires political skill. In today's business environment, no company or individual can act in isolation.
"Politics in the workplace is no longer about back-stabbing your colleagues to get ahead. It's about working for the greater good, and the individuals who do this are the ones who will get noticed and succeed."
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