Office Politics
How to harness the monster
and achieve positive results with integrity.
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Have you ever been the victim
of politics?
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My Political Credentials
ANNA HIPKISS
GENERAL MANAGER
FINANCE / IT
SERVICES DIRECTOR
SOFTWARE
MARKETING DIRECTOR
CONSUMER PRODUCTS
& SOFTWARE
HEAD OF TRAINING
ENGINEERING
& CONSUMER PRODUCTS
INTERNATIONAL
MARKETING CONSULTANT
CONSUMER PRODUCTS
PERSONNEL OFFICER
ENGINEERING
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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 MD’s 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
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


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 don’t say
about them!
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The Formal Organisation Chart
PAUL NEWMAN
MANAGING DIRECTOR
KATE WINSLETT
ASSISTANT
AMY JOHNSON
HR DIRECTOR
ELVIS COSTELLO
SALES DIRECTOR
TIGER WOODS
FINANCE DIRECTOR
ROBBIE WILLIAMS
ASSISTANT
JOHN MAJOR
MARKETING MANAGER
GEORGE BUSH
MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANT
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The Informal Organisation
Chart
PAUL NEWMAN
MANAGING DIRECTOR
KATE WINSLETT
AMY JOHNSON
HR DIRECTOR
ELVIS COSTELLO
SALES DIRECTOR
TIGER WOODS
FINANCE DIRECTOR
ROBBIE WILLIAMS
ASSISTANT
JOHN MAJOR
MARKETING MANAGER
GEORGE BUSH
MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANT
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The Political Chart
PAUL NEWMAN
MANAGING DIRECTOR
KATE WINSLETT
ASSISTANT
AMY JOHNSON
HR DIRECTOR
ELVIS COSTELLO
SALES DIRECTOR
TIGER WOODS
FINANCE DIRECTOR
ROBBIE WILLIAMS
ASSISTANT
JOHN MAJOR
MARKETING MANAGER
GEORGE BUSH
MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANT
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The Political Map
The Outer Circle
The Inner Circle
The Middle Circle
Circle Of Influence
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Never Assume…
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
MANAGING DIRECTOR
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Plan of influence
MANAGING DIRECTOR
NEUTRAL
MIDDLE CIRCLE
SERVICES DIRECTOR
INNER CIRCLE
ALLY
MARKETING DIRECTOR
INNER CIRCLE
ENEMY
FINANCE DIRECTOR
MIDDLE CIRCLE
NEUTRAL
SALES DIRECTOR
INNER CIRCLE
NEUTRAL
MARKETING MANAGER
INNER CIRCLE
NEUTRAL
FINANCE MANAGER
INNER CIRCLE
NEUTRAL
SALES MANAGER
MIDDLE CIRCLE
ALLY
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Your Plan of Influence
Opportunity
Problem
You
Solution?
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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 MD’s 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 it’s 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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Politician
or
Polished Professional?
“I don’t do politics really.
I just build the right relationships
with the right people to make things
work successfully.”
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