Chief Change Officer #213 Outsmarting Office Politics with Jennifer Selby Long – Part One
Mar 4, 2025
In this engaging discussion, leadership expert Jennifer Selby Long, with 30 years of experience in helping tech leaders, reveals why office politics seem to follow you from job to job. She highlights the importance of finding powerful allies in political environments to thrive. The conversation also explores how assumptions can sabotage progress and the need for constructive dialogue during conflicts. Additionally, Jennifer shares insights on navigating the complexities of office politics, especially in hybrid work settings, to foster better teamwork and morale.
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Two Main Reasons for Office Politics
- Office politics arise from a failure to build trust and align on strategy.
- A newer contributing factor is the global and virtual nature of businesses, hindering crucial in-person interaction.
The Importance of In-Person Meetings
- Jennifer Selby Long discusses a leadership team struggling with infighting due to reduced in-person meetings.
- The team's performance improved significantly after an in-person meeting, highlighting the importance of face-to-face interaction.
Navigating Office Politics
- Stop venting about office politics and analyze the situation with curiosity and empathy.
- Find an ally among those in power whose interests align with yours and collaborate on solutions.