Office Politics

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Office Politics

• How to harness the monster and achieve positive
  results - with integrity.

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(No Transcript)
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Have you ever been the victim of politics?
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My Political Credentials
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Profile of a skilled politician

• Nick is the Marketing Director
• He knows what he wants and is very determined
• He plans ahead, and foresees obstacles
• He manages his PR profile very well
• He has built a strong relationship with the MD
• He knows who is with him and who is against him
• His motive is personal he wants the MDs job
• He has little regard for anyone who gets in his
  way

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Motives

• NEGATIVE
• Empire building
• Promotion
• Insecurity
• POSITIVE
• Achieving a result
• Winning commitment

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Political skills

• Clear Goal
• Plans
• Anticipates
• PR profile
• Cultivates Allies
• Recognises Opposition

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Power sniffing

• Find out where the decisions are made
• Who is involved
• How people speak about the decision makers
• What people dont say about them!

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The Formal Organisation Chart
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The Informal Organisation Chart
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The Political Chart
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The Political Map
The Outer Circle
The Middle Circle Circle Of Influence
The Inner Circle
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Never Assume
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
MANAGING DIRECTOR
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Plan of influence
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Your Plan of Influence
Opportunity
Problem
Solution?
You
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Foresee Obstacles
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Finding leverage

• Making politics work for you

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Finding leverage

• Making politics work for you
• Key leverage points
• HR Professionalism
• Face saving

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Organisation Case Study

• US takeover of UK company
• New VP for Europe appointed from USA
• UK MD retiring
• Harry, HR Director briefed to identify successor,
  with your help
• Two strong contenders for MDs job
• Jerry suspected of harassment
• Brad powerful, with a hold over Harry?

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Case Study Your Aims

• To impress Ray, the VP of Europe
• To protect Harry, and help him be seen to do a
  good job
• To identify the best person to run the UK
• To identify the best team around the MD
• To identify winners and losers, and create a
  positive relationship with as many winners as
  possible

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Case Study - Actions

• Meet the VP asap
• Find out if he has views on who to promote
• Find out from Harry about Brad
• Draw a political map
• Involve all inner circle members (and possibly
  some middle circle directors) in the process
• Stay away from the harassment issue
• Design a visibly impartial selection process
• Ensure that decisions are seen to be taken by the
  VP

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Half full or.

• Politics does not exist for the powerful For them
  its about successful relationships
• Politics is seen as a negative force by the
  victims
• It can be a convenient scapegoat for their
  inadequacy

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Politicianor Polished Professional?

• I dont do politics really.
• I just build the right relationships with the
  right people to make things work successfully.