Workplace politics is a fact of life with some people believing that the ability to act and think politically feels more like a necessary evil. They typically believe that not “playing the game” will hurt their progression and career opportunities. Others describe politics in their organization anywhere from bullying, favoritism right up to back stabbing all in the name of self-interest. Because there is no clear, understood way of doing things people tend to make their own interpretation of what is right and wrong. This is often the main reason politics is associated with zero-sum game mentality where people work the system to their own advantage and to the disadvantage of others.

This workshop tackles the topic of politics not as good or bad, but rather more like the air we breathe in the organization. How you view and respond to politics in your organization can have a significant bearing on how well you do your job and how you feel about your organization and coworkers. Once people consider, understand and accept politics as neutral and a natural part of everyday occurrences in the workplace, they can build their capability to work successfully in this environment. This capability is commonly referred to as political savvy.

The goal of this workshop is to demystify the topic of office politics by providing participants with a proven motive and method framework for making sense of today’s volatile, uncertain, complex and unquestionably ambiguous environment. Participants will receive a refresher in what good looks like for constructive conflict resolution and conducting effective crucial conversations. Practical experience will be included with tools and techniques for responding constructively to challenges with bosses, colleagues and the organization in general. Participants will be expected to identify critical stop, start and continue behaviors necessary for sustained growth in this critical soft skill.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Participants will gain the ability to be able to:

• Confront the reality that organizations are politically complex requiring political, organizational and interpersonal savvy – everything is connected!
• Make the necessary adjustments in your leadership, management and communication capabilities at the mindset, skill set and tool set levels – communication is the lubricant!
• Make the connection between proficiency in the political domain and foundational levels of ethics, values, integrity and trust at your personal level – work on yourself first!
• Build your capability to manage conflict constructively by understanding that being politically sensitive includes being people sensitive – soft skills especially mindfulness have a hard impact!
• Develop the willingness and capability to build relationships with difficult people, form alliances, and work through tough but productive conversations – adopting a growth mindset!
• Make the connection with specific practical examples of office and team politics involving your boss, your colleagues and your organization profiled in this workshop – realizing you’re not alone!
• Identify and commit to personal behaviors and attitudes that need to be stopped, started or tweaked because of this workshop – implement personal change that works!

PREREQUISITE

This course has no prerequisite.

MATERIALS

You will receive a course binder containing a copy of the presentation slides.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN