Political Savvy Skills

“The number one thing people wish they had known in their career is about organisational politics, becoming visible, and advocating more for themselves, that “just” working hard is not enough to succeed”

The Unwritten Rules – What You Don’t Know Can Hurt Your Career, Catalyst Report 2010

Without political savvy skills, it may be that you:

• Get overlooked on the career ladder

• Miss out on the credit for your ideas or achievements

• Are unaware of how to influence behind the scenes

• Get left out of key networks

The term workplace politics fills many people with dread - it’s often something that’s associated with conflict and struggle. We have a different view. Companies are complex, messy and full of diverse agendas. People with political savvy recognise this and know that it’s the informal and behind-the-scenes processes that have the greatest impact on how things get done and how decisions get made. The key to organisational politics is building strong working relationships based on trust and confidence, being yourself, having integrity and building your credibility based on results.

“Warm thanks to you for an excellent seminar this morning. I much enjoyed the learning and sharing, plus well thought-out and diverse exercises. Thanks for enabling a super group to accomplish so much in so short a time”

Olga Siddons, Senior Consultant, ABB Ltd UK

Benefits you'll gain:

• Re-framing how you think of politics. Instead of viewing it as a negative, create a more positive definition for yourself that is all about getting your ideas heard and implemented and making a difference.
• Operate with political savvy using your influence in order to get the right things done through the formal and the informal channels and influencing others beyond your area of responsibility.
• Grow your skills in being highly politically savvy while acting from high integrity, psychology of consensus and values.
• Think through who needs to know who you are and how to develop better relationships with them and get things done.
• Develop your win-win, ethical, organisational focus and not the win-lose, competitive, personal gain mindset often associated with being politically savvy.
• Create a sustainable action plan to implement immediately that will take your political savvy skills to the next level. 
• Expand your external network by meeting an inspiring and small group of senior women from across organisations and industries.