The document discusses strategies for navigating office politics. It begins by establishing that politics are an inevitable part of human interaction. It then describes different political types like "corporate sharks" and "climbers" and how to assess one's own political style. The document provides tips for sizing up the political climate of an office and determining the key players. It offers winning strategies like helping one's boss succeed. Finally, it outlines seven habits of politically savvy people like not participating in gossip and making emotional deposits with coworkers. The overall document aims to help readers understand office politics and provide strategies for effectively navigating political dynamics.

1. Winning Office Politics
By
Arise Roby
ARISE TRAINING & RESEARCH CENTER

2. Topics
 Politics are real and unavoidable
 How political are you
 About political types
 How to size up the political climate
 Winning strategies
 Rising above it all
 7 Habits of Politically Savvy People
ARISE TRAINING & RESEARCH CENTER

3. Politics are Real and Unavoidable
 Not all politics are bad
Realize that this is reality
Expect politics in all situations
Politics are part of human interaction
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4. What is Office Politics?
 Communicating indirectly
 Using covert tactics to advance
 Controlling other people
through
psychological manipulation
 Being cautions about telling the
truth
 Hiding vulnerability
 Currying favor
ORGANIZATIONAL
POLITICS
“Involves intentional acts of
Influence to enhance or protect
The self interest of individuals
Or groups”
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5. What Creates Office Politics
 Scarcity of resources
 A too competitive work
environment
 Subjective performance
standards
 Unclear job definitions
 Emotional insecurity
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6. How Political Are You
 Answer the question with
your first impression
 Think most of the time
when answering
You can also use these questions
to help identify people in your
office.
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7. About Political Types
 Corporate Shark
 Climber
 Survivor
 Straight Arrow
 Lamb for Slaughter
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8. Corporate Shark
 Score of 90 plus
 Tends to use others to
enhance career
 Power-hungry, ruthless,
and devious
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9. Example: Looking Good
 Pete is a supervisor who is ambitious to a
fault. Everything he does is for effect. One
of his ground rules is that only positive
information makes its way from him to his
boss. Negative news is totally ignored. He
makes it clear that anyone in his group who
says bad things about him or the
organization risks getting fired. If an
employee openly disagrees, he or she is
labeled a non-supporter. Everyone who
reports to Pete agrees the best practice is to
fall into line and be a “yes person
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10. Climber
 Score of 75 to 89
 Shrewd politician
 A moderate score (75-85)
suggests you might have a
good chance of success
 Politics are everything -
let’s campaign
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11. Example: Power by Association
 Mike is a young marketing manager. He
sees work as a game and compulsively
seeks to be a winner. He gets turned on by
challenging, competitive activities where
he can prove himself. He hates being
pushed around. His goal is to become more
powerful because power means freedom.
To expand his influence and to increase his
chances of advancement, he is developing
very strong relationships with major
customers who can make demands on his
company
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12. Survivor
 Score of 50-75
 Practices some office
politics and is aware of the
political climate
 Ok, what do I have to do to
survive
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13. Example: The Copywriters’ Clique
When Kate became a copywriter for a
newspaper in a large city, she was invited to
join her group for lunch her first day on the
job. She discovered the group met informally
once a week to gossip, to exchange inside
tips, and to get to know one another better.
Kate quickly learned the value of trading
information at these events. The message was
clear: lunch was political. A final note: It’s
important to remember that to be human is to
be political. Whenever people’s priorities,
values, and interests diverge, some type of
politicking usually takes place.
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14. Straight Arrow
 Score of 35-49
 Not perceived as office
politician
 May neglect cultivating key
people for career
advancement
 Honesty is the best policy
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15. Lamb for Slaughter
 Score of less than 35
 Doesn’t believe in office
politics
 Commonly boasts of never
practicing office politics
 Easily eaten by sharks
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16. Sizing up the Climate
 Who’s related to who
 About my boss
 Irritations
 Enemies
 Personal facts
 Politics practiced
 Identify the true power and players
 Look below - motivations
 What are favored behaviors and
status symbolsARISE TRAINING & RESEARCH CENTER

17. What’s Your Corporate Climate
 Answer the question with
your first impression
 Think most of the time
when answering
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18. Winning Strategies
 Help your boss succeed
 Be loyal, avoid disloyalty
 Praise your boss to upper
management
 Imitate your boss’ slogans
 Present options
 Be visible
 Teach your boss a skill
 Be different - not part of whining
masses ARISE TRAINING & RESEARCH CENTER

19. Rising Above it All
 Shine at meetings
 Compliment influential people
 Talk big, outside the box
 Appear cool under pressure
 Display good corporate manners
 Learn new skills and sell them
 Be a team player
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20. 7 Habits of Politically Savvy People
1.Politics are part of human
interaction - you can set the
tone by:
 Not participating in
gossip
 Telling the truth
 Checking out praises and
criticismARISE TRAINING & RESEARCH CENTER

21. 7 Habits of Politically Savvy People
2.Help design/define clear job
roles and compatible
teams.
3. Expose dirty tricks used by
the sharks.
4. Don’t allow anyone to “get”
something on you that can
be used later.
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22. 7 Habits of Politically Savvy People
5. Make emotional deposits
with the people you work
with.
6. Be known as a producer
and not a politician.
7. Lift others up with you and
forgive failures.
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23. Review
 Politics are unavoidable
 How political are you
 What’s your corporate climate
 How to rise above it all
 7 Habits of Politically Savvy People
ARISE TRAINING & RESEARCH CENTER