Identifying When Other People Are Politicking

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Jess: I think in terms of identifying when other people are politicking, it all comes from understanding who you're dealing with. So developing your internal networks will probably help with your client networks. You can't just magically know this stuff. People will guide and advise you on how to do this. But what if they're wrong? Jess: It's a classic example of the fact that you definitely need not just one mentor, but you need a whole committee of mentors.

Everyone at work has their own priorities, concerns, and agendas, and knowing what those are allows us to navigate projects and meetings more deliberately and successfully. But how do you get the intel you need to achieve the results you want, especially if you’re the odd woman out in a male-dominated company and industry? What exactly does “political capital” mean? And how does one begin to change exclusionary and toxic politics so that they’re inclusive and healthy?

Organizational psychologist Madeleine Wyatt answers those questions and offers advice on how to become more politically savvy, in conversation with a transportation planner who’s determined to find a less tiring, more authentic approach to winning over clients and influencing others.

Guest expert:

Madeleine Wyatt is a professor at King’s Business School. Her research examines diversity at work and the role informal and political processes play in people’s rise into leadership.

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