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It's All Politics: Winning in a World Where Hard Work and Talent Aren't Enough
From It’s All Politics
Like business in general, politics is not a spectator sport. You cannot afford to be apolitical at work if you have any aspirations for advancement. The only way to avoid politics is to avoid people—by finding an out-of-the-way corner where you can do your job. Of course, it’s the same job you’ll likely be doing for the rest of your career.
In any job, when you reach a certain level of technical competence, politics is what makes all the difference with regard to success. At that point, it is indeed all politics. Everyday brilliant people take a backseat to their politically adept colleagues by failing to win crucial support for their ideas. Sometimes politics involves going around or bending rules, but more typically it’s about positioning your ideas in a favorable light, and knowing what to say, and how and when to say it.…
Keep in mind that people benefit from perpetuating the image of politics as something you either know or you don’t. Ignore them. Political acumen is largely learned from observation. And then it’s a matter of practice, practice, practice. When a journalist suggested that golfing great Gary Player was very lucky, he “It’s funny, but the more I practice, the luckier I get.” The same is true of politics. An indispensable guide to mastering the ins and outs of office politics—the single most important factor in getting ahead in your career
As management professor and consultant Kathleen Reardon explains in her new book, It's All Politics , talent and hard work alone will not get you to the top. What separates the winners from the losers in corporate life is politics.
As Reardon explains, the most talented and accomplished employees often take a backseat to their politically adept coworkers, losing ground in the race to get ahead—sometimes even losing their jobs. Why? Because they’ve failed to manage the important relationships with the people who can best reward their creativity and intelligence. To determine whether you need a crash course in Office Politics 101, ask yourself the following
Do I get credit for my ideas?
Do I know how to deal with a difficult colleague?
Do I get the plum assignments?
Do I have a mentor?
Do I say no gracefully and pick my battles wisely?
Am I in the loop?
Reardon has interviewed hundreds of employees, from successful veterans to aspiring hopefuls, examining why some people who work hard and effectively at their jobs fall behind, while those who are adept at “reading the office tea leaves” forge ahead. Being politically savvy doesn’t mean being unethical or devious. At heart, it’s about listening to and relating to others, and making choices that advance everyone’s goals. Like it or not, when it comes to work, it’s all politics. And politics is all about knowing what to say, when to say it, and who to say it to.
Like business in general, politics is not a spectator sport. You cannot afford to be apolitical at work if you have any aspirations for advancement. The only way to avoid politics is to avoid people—by finding an out-of-the-way corner where you can do your job. Of course, it’s the same job you’ll likely be doing for the rest of your career.
In any job, when you reach a certain level of technical competence, politics is what makes all the difference with regard to success. At that point, it is indeed all politics. Everyday brilliant people take a backseat to their politically adept colleagues by failing to win crucial support for their ideas. Sometimes politics involves going around or bending rules, but more typically it’s about positioning your ideas in a favorable light, and knowing what to say, and how and when to say it.…
Keep in mind that people benefit from perpetuating the image of politics as something you either know or you don’t. Ignore them. Political acumen is largely learned from observation. And then it’s a matter of practice, practice, practice. When a journalist suggested that golfing great Gary Player was very lucky, he “It’s funny, but the more I practice, the luckier I get.” The same is true of politics. An indispensable guide to mastering the ins and outs of office politics—the single most important factor in getting ahead in your career
As management professor and consultant Kathleen Reardon explains in her new book, It's All Politics , talent and hard work alone will not get you to the top. What separates the winners from the losers in corporate life is politics.
As Reardon explains, the most talented and accomplished employees often take a backseat to their politically adept coworkers, losing ground in the race to get ahead—sometimes even losing their jobs. Why? Because they’ve failed to manage the important relationships with the people who can best reward their creativity and intelligence. To determine whether you need a crash course in Office Politics 101, ask yourself the following
Do I get credit for my ideas?
Do I know how to deal with a difficult colleague?
Do I get the plum assignments?
Do I have a mentor?
Do I say no gracefully and pick my battles wisely?
Am I in the loop?
Reardon has interviewed hundreds of employees, from successful veterans to aspiring hopefuls, examining why some people who work hard and effectively at their jobs fall behind, while those who are adept at “reading the office tea leaves” forge ahead. Being politically savvy doesn’t mean being unethical or devious. At heart, it’s about listening to and relating to others, and making choices that advance everyone’s goals. Like it or not, when it comes to work, it’s all politics. And politics is all about knowing what to say, when to say it, and who to say it to.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published June 28, 2005
64 people are currently reading
271 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 1, 2010
Kathleen Kelley Reardon's book, It's All Politics, at first blush appears to be a trite self help book. The title and the first three chapters do much to cement that perception for the reader. And yet if you try hard to get past the first chapters, you may find some useful principles for use. Here' s a summary of her principles. In the book she gives several good examples of how to practice these.
Political Advantage #1: Political intuition is not uncanny clairvoyance but rather uncanny attentiveness to what others say and how they act.
Political Advantage #2: Developing Empathy for the art of political advantage starts with an interest with other people, what they have to say and how they think and feel. Translation: those who can understand others in the organization have the political advantage.
Political Advantage #3: Because they devote the necessary time to study and practice, experienced politicians are rarely blindsided by the unexpected. They have asked themselves in advance what they might say should a delicate discussion go in any variety of directions.
Political Advantage #4: Of all the skills important to the development of political intelligence or ingenuity, the ability to see things as others do is paramount.
Political Advantage #5: The most effective politicians convey a strong interest in what other people are saying to them. They don't impose their views on others so much as manage their interactions so that other s will feel they contributed considerably to the development of those views.
Political Advantage #6: Each of use is at least 75% responsible for the way we're treated, because we have the choice to influence what others think and say about us and the obligation to learn how.
Political Advantage #7: Becoming a skilled interpreter of meanings at a number of levels is hard work. Yet that is exactly what it takes to move up from benchwarmer to star.
Political Advantage #8: You don't need to become a "duck"; you just need to be able to communicate with one.
Political Advantage #9: If you are going to be labeled, you might as well have some input into what the label will be. Your reputation should not be manufacturered solely by others but rather crafted with your own skilled assistance.
Political Advantage #10: An ability to learn from others, to listen to their stories and discover how technical knowledge merges with prac5tical and evaluative knowledge, is indispensable to gaining political power.
Political Advantage #11: The less personal the veiled threat, the better. To use a dental analogy, you don't want to hit a nerve when you only intended to fill a tooth.
Political Advantage #12: Politically courageous people know one very important fact of life: that achieving a goal is often not as important as the way it's achieved. They realize that there's truth in the adage that winning a battle is not always the way to win a war.
Political Advantage #13: Without a political compass, it's a lot easier to slip into political way of acting and being that go against what you truly believe in.
Political Advantage #14: One thing to remember about business. Any question that seems too personal probably is.
Political Advantage #15: When creating a political compass, you don't need to set a goal to become the "Mother Teresa of Politics" - a model of selfless devotion to humankind-but to be rather more like her than not.
Some of the tips I found most useful:
Quality of Talk - The Reliability and Accuracy of the talk
Repeating the phrase "I think" weakens the speaker's credibility
Keep favor banks - When thanked - don't just say you are welcome - tell them - I'm sure you would help me out in the future.
Practice Scarcity: Save your availability for high visibility tasks
Use metaphors and images with emotion rather than long explanations
Don't respond to attacks with counterattacks. Rather ask questions to find a path to a more favorable way to your goal.
Keep up your appearances: professional attire, clean office.
I would recommend this book, just breeze through the first three chapters.
Political Advantage #1: Political intuition is not uncanny clairvoyance but rather uncanny attentiveness to what others say and how they act.
Political Advantage #2: Developing Empathy for the art of political advantage starts with an interest with other people, what they have to say and how they think and feel. Translation: those who can understand others in the organization have the political advantage.
Political Advantage #3: Because they devote the necessary time to study and practice, experienced politicians are rarely blindsided by the unexpected. They have asked themselves in advance what they might say should a delicate discussion go in any variety of directions.
Political Advantage #4: Of all the skills important to the development of political intelligence or ingenuity, the ability to see things as others do is paramount.
Political Advantage #5: The most effective politicians convey a strong interest in what other people are saying to them. They don't impose their views on others so much as manage their interactions so that other s will feel they contributed considerably to the development of those views.
Political Advantage #6: Each of use is at least 75% responsible for the way we're treated, because we have the choice to influence what others think and say about us and the obligation to learn how.
Political Advantage #7: Becoming a skilled interpreter of meanings at a number of levels is hard work. Yet that is exactly what it takes to move up from benchwarmer to star.
Political Advantage #8: You don't need to become a "duck"; you just need to be able to communicate with one.
Political Advantage #9: If you are going to be labeled, you might as well have some input into what the label will be. Your reputation should not be manufacturered solely by others but rather crafted with your own skilled assistance.
Political Advantage #10: An ability to learn from others, to listen to their stories and discover how technical knowledge merges with prac5tical and evaluative knowledge, is indispensable to gaining political power.
Political Advantage #11: The less personal the veiled threat, the better. To use a dental analogy, you don't want to hit a nerve when you only intended to fill a tooth.
Political Advantage #12: Politically courageous people know one very important fact of life: that achieving a goal is often not as important as the way it's achieved. They realize that there's truth in the adage that winning a battle is not always the way to win a war.
Political Advantage #13: Without a political compass, it's a lot easier to slip into political way of acting and being that go against what you truly believe in.
Political Advantage #14: One thing to remember about business. Any question that seems too personal probably is.
Political Advantage #15: When creating a political compass, you don't need to set a goal to become the "Mother Teresa of Politics" - a model of selfless devotion to humankind-but to be rather more like her than not.
Some of the tips I found most useful:
Quality of Talk - The Reliability and Accuracy of the talk
Repeating the phrase "I think" weakens the speaker's credibility
Keep favor banks - When thanked - don't just say you are welcome - tell them - I'm sure you would help me out in the future.
Practice Scarcity: Save your availability for high visibility tasks
Use metaphors and images with emotion rather than long explanations
Don't respond to attacks with counterattacks. Rather ask questions to find a path to a more favorable way to your goal.
Keep up your appearances: professional attire, clean office.
I would recommend this book, just breeze through the first three chapters.
July 25, 2008
A thoughtful read. Yes, I am naive...in a sense. I thought (skipping along) that my work and efforts would open any door and speak for me. This book represented for me the need to assert myself more, that it takes much more than 'simply' hard work and effort in todays world.
Finally, with this book, and some other books by the author, I 'got a clue' and I am going to use it!
Finally, with this book, and some other books by the author, I 'got a clue' and I am going to use it!
July 27, 2013
Insightful. Though my current work environment isn't pathologically or even highly political, the issues raised here are still of importance.
June 13, 2021
Lessons learnt and potential spoilers:
- Political Insight: Reevalutate your network. Getting connected with people in the know is a necessary secret in most organisations. Be sure you are not out of the loop, this might take an insider or two.
- At times, aggression is the necessary response to an aggressive opponent. eg, i don’t want to be the one to tell paul that we have reached an impasse. do you?
- There are 3 ways to persuade ppl, you here being the person you are persuading :
i) appropriateness - what others are doing
ii)consistency- what a person like you would do
iii( effectiveness- what will get you what you want
- Some ways to decline graciously: I would love to help, but i have to decline unless you know a way to get some of these projects off my desk
- Political Insight: Reevalutate your network. Getting connected with people in the know is a necessary secret in most organisations. Be sure you are not out of the loop, this might take an insider or two.
- At times, aggression is the necessary response to an aggressive opponent. eg, i don’t want to be the one to tell paul that we have reached an impasse. do you?
- There are 3 ways to persuade ppl, you here being the person you are persuading :
i) appropriateness - what others are doing
ii)consistency- what a person like you would do
iii( effectiveness- what will get you what you want
- Some ways to decline graciously: I would love to help, but i have to decline unless you know a way to get some of these projects off my desk
January 15, 2024
Coincidentally I’ve finished the book around the same time I started it. The book has been extremely helpful in my first year of my career and I’m so glad I put it down when I did and picked it back up throughout the year. It just so happened that every time I picked the book back up, it was relevant to the challenges and conversations I was facing at work. The public sector is full of politics and I couldn’t feel more equipped to navigate this space than if I had not read this amazing book. Bonus points for the author also being a woman.
February 13, 2019
I felt like I was reading example followed by example without much analysis of how they demonstrated a point (or not). And a lot of the points were made with section headings and explained with examples, leaving me wanting some kind of introduction or summary. While I don't, and hope never to, work in a highly politicized work environment, I was hoping to come away with more practical tips, and I haven't figured out whether it's the content or the style that didn't work for me.
December 31, 2023
Este es un libro muy bien escrito. Lo que más me gustó fue la forma en la que entrelaza historias oficinescas con consejos prácticos. La autora usa la estrategia del eco: comienza y termina con la parábola de Reginald Strongbrow, un día en la vida de un hombre con una absoluta falta de olfato político. En el final es muy satisfactorio la realidad alterna en la que Reggie logra salir avante. Memorable.
December 7, 2021
A really insightful book on politics in the workplace. Politics doesn't have to be a dirty game. By understanding office politics, one can self-position in order to do the most possible good. The book is easy to read and easy to understand. Reardon did a great job making the book exhaustive and accessible. I wish I had read this book 30 years ago!
July 5, 2017
i admit i skimmed, but not super relevant to me
July 19, 2020
Useful!
Practical lessons to professional life. I saw myself there in many of the situations described by the author. Already applying it.
Practical lessons to professional life. I saw myself there in many of the situations described by the author. Already applying it.
March 3, 2010
I can’t begin to tell you how helpful this book is. This is another book that seems to put everything together. In this case, political dealings at work. Some of the things in here seem like common sense. Don’t be too self-deprecating; don’t let people set you up as the scapegoat. Make sure you think ahead. Some things are far more subtle. When it talks about how to respond to attacks, whether to be straightforward or laid-back. I also like how this book tries to take on the stereotype that all politics is inherently bad. It’s really only bad if you make it that way. Mainly, this book teaches things to keep an eye out for. If people seem like they are giving you some sort of secret info and expecting something in return, then they’re probably lying. It also teaches patience and prudence. Some attacks need to be addressed right away, while in some cases, you can give your attacker enough rope to hang himself with. I like the ACE acronym about conversations with people that can help or hurt your career. Overall, I think this will be a useful tool in the future.
March 16, 2009
A great guide to becoming politically (and career) savvy
This practical book discusses one of the sad realities of business: Often, competent people do not get promoted, because they lack political intelligence. In their place, less capable people ascend into executive suites simply because they have developed business intelligence, and know how to use the politics that exist inside any organization. That’s why many people rightfully think that “who you know, not what you know” determines career success. Kathleen Kelley Reardon can put you in the right place at the right time and in the right vice president’s office by helping you become more politically savvy. getAbstract highly recommends this very readable book to those who want to advance, especially politically innocent people entering the business world.
This practical book discusses one of the sad realities of business: Often, competent people do not get promoted, because they lack political intelligence. In their place, less capable people ascend into executive suites simply because they have developed business intelligence, and know how to use the politics that exist inside any organization. That’s why many people rightfully think that “who you know, not what you know” determines career success. Kathleen Kelley Reardon can put you in the right place at the right time and in the right vice president’s office by helping you become more politically savvy. getAbstract highly recommends this very readable book to those who want to advance, especially politically innocent people entering the business world.
May 6, 2014
I have tried to read many business self-help books and never seem to get through any of them. I did get through this one albeit in small doses. I found the book interesting and helpful. It gave a lot of examples of typical political situations and different methods of handling them. Quite often the suggested/preferred method was taking the high-road with confidence and a sprinkle of don't f with me. Overall I liked it. Depending on the point at which you are in your career and the office politics where you work you may find it more or less useful.
April 4, 2009
The book is a very easy read. If you are inept at politics - or if you think you need improvement - I can think of no better book. It is full of examples and ideas that are fully developed. There are only a handful of times when a statement is not followed to completion. Even then, if you stop for a minute you will be able fill in the gaps.
I recommend the book be read piecemeal. Take your time with it. Make a study of it. You'll want to re-read it like a Dale Carnegie book.
I recommend the book be read piecemeal. Take your time with it. Make a study of it. You'll want to re-read it like a Dale Carnegie book.
October 10, 2018
took notes and really found this book helpful. It was easy to read and take notes from
July 12, 2011
This is a very good primer on office politics.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews