Political Savvy An Essential Skill for All Employees Jose Lopez - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Political Savvy An Essential Skill for All Employees Jose Lopez - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Political Savvy An Essential Skill for All Employees Jose Lopez Katheryn Houston November 04, 2014 Politics is the art of getting things done Harry Truman 2 What is Political Savvy? Totality of skills for successfully navigating


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Political Savvy

November 04, 2014

An Essential Skill for All Employees

Jose Lopez Katheryn Houston

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“Politics is the art of getting things done”

Harry Truman

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What is Political Savvy?

  • Totality of skills for successfully navigating political

dynamics of an organization to accomplish one’s goals

  • Ethically building a critical mass of support for an idea

you care about

  • Awareness of the culture and relationships within an
  • rganization
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Why is Political Savvy Important?

  • Political savvy is necessary to:
  • Manage office politics and get things done
  • Protect oneself from other’s political tactics
  • Avoid political blunders
  • Position oneself for the future

Technical skill alone is no longer enough to survive in today’s workplace

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Who Needs to Be Politically Savvy?

Political savvy has little to do with one’s place in the hierarchy…anyone can have political savvy regardless of position in the company ~ Joel DeLuca, Author of Politically Savvy

  • Leaders
  • Managers
  • Employees at all levels
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What is Your Political Style?

Negative Neutral Positive

Initiates Machiavellian Responsible Leader

  • Manipulator
  • Looks out for #1
  • Obligation
  • Comes with

territory

  • Play Maker
  • Impact player

Predicts Protector Speculator Advisor

  • File Builder
  • Defensive

Grapeviner Counselor

Responds Cynic Fatalist Spectator

  • I told you so
  • Gossip

Que Sera Sera

  • Fan
  • Encourager

Politics viewed as Action Orientation

From “Political Savvy” by Joel DeLuca

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What are the Characteristics of a Politically Savvy Person?

  • Uses intuition
  • Has focus and orientation towards goals
  • Uses relationship knowledge
  • Discusses controversial issues in non-offensive way
  • Manages impressions
  • Obtains support for one’s ideas
  • Knows when to follow chain of command
  • Acts friendly and social with co-workers
  • Supports boss
  • Avoids gossip
  • Uses organizational grapevine wisely
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Exercise: What Does it Mean to be Politically Savvy at the IRS?

  • Split into three equal groups
  • Review the scenario on the note card and

discuss/decide how a politically savvy person would act and respond (each group has a different scenario)

  • 3 minutes to discuss and 3 minutes per group to

report out and discuss

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How do I Become Politically Savvy?

Choose to become an active, ethical player

  • Put the organization first
  • Understand your own political style
  • Believe strongly in your change initiative
  • Play above-board
  • Avoid the moral and rational blocks

Work the human system

  • Understand the culture
  • Identify the key players
  • Gauge power and influence
  • Assess relationships
  • Develop a strategy
  • Build momentum
  • Determine appropriate involvement level

for each player

  • Employ interpersonal diplomacy
  • Anticipate and handle dissenters