Office Politics 101

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Office Politics 101

• Louise Sevold
• Technical Services Director
• Cuyahoga County Public Library

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What is office politics?
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• Politics the unwritten rules of how things are
  done or not done.
• Pat McBride, The Black Collegian

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• Stop pretending that it doesnt exist Decrying
  the fact the system is political is like
  complaining that water is wet.
• Gerard Egan

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Less Political
Overly Political

• What is the right thing to do?

• What is right for the library and its customers?

• What is best for me?

• High integrity

• High integrity

• Low integrity

• High level of political skill

• High level of political skill

• Low level of political skill

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Understand the culture Accept the political
reality Assess the interests and clout of key
players
Fight the right battles Play your strong
hands Cut your losses
Build a network Seek key partnerships Challenge
ideas without embarrassing others
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(No Transcript)
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THINK
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Knee jerkShrill voiceWhining
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Instead

• Breathe
• Ponder
• Ask for time

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It usually takes me more than three weeks to
prepare a good impromptu speech.Mark Twain
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It is that simpleand that complicated.