Many people grapple with the word politics and some shy away from it completely. Going back to your Greek studies, remember Pericles “just because you do not take an interest in politics, does not mean politics does not mean politics won’t take an interest in you.”
Politics and power go hand in – you can’t have one without the other. Maybe you’re one of those who think – Power Corrupts? Looking deeply into this quote, the reality is – Powerlessness, Corrupts and more dangerously so than power – so states Harvard Business Professor, Rosabeth Moss Kanter.
So, how do you embrace power?
Take a step back and look up for your computer to study power dynamics inside your organization.
Ask yourself:
How are decisions made here – and – Who influences these decisions?
When thinking about power, many people think money – typically anyone controlling finances has power – but this is one type of power – there are other sources of power navigating the halls of your organization – the informal networks which are often more influential than budgets.
Some people walk into a room and intuitively know who has power and who does not – others create elaborate charts mapping networks and connections to people of influence – either method you choose – works!
Instead of sitting at your desk crafting one more email, reviewing the details of your marketing plan, or putting more columns in your spreadsheet; how about taking an influential colleague to lunch? In the process you may find a powerful mentor.
So, what is politics? Literary scholar and politician, Benjamin Disraeli stated, “real politics is about the possession and distribution of power.”
Embrace the political side of your organization today and take power to lunch this week.
