The truth is that we all engage in it; it's just that some do it better, more consciously, and most importantly—ethically..
On that topic, which sparks both discomfort and curiosity, spoke Adrian Furnham, a distinguished professor of psychology, academic and author of more than 95 books and 1300 scientific papers, at this year's HR Days conference in May.
His lecture “Being Savvy at Work: Understanding Office Politics” was one of those that makes the audience laugh, think, and wonder – perhaps office politics isn't as scary as we think.
“Office politics” without prejudice
When we mention office politics, many immediately think of negative things — gossip, manipulation, hidden agendas. Furnham, however, explained that this is only one side of the coin.
“Politics exists in every sphere of our lives, both privately and professionally,” he says. “The only question is, do we know how to use it the right way?”, Furnham emphasized.
For him, being politically savvy does not mean scheming, but rather understanding people. It is about knowing how to read situations, recognizing what is important to people, and knowing how to influence them so that everyone profits—the individual, the team, and the organization.
Four dimensions of political savvy
In the lecture, he highlighted four key skills that constitute political savvy. The first is social astuteness, the ability to notice subtle cues in the behavior of others and understand how they perceive you. This means being aware of yourself and others, reading “between the lines,” but also understanding when someone is not being sincere.
The second dimension is interpersonal influence, the art of persuasion, negotiation, and communication. Politically savvy people know how to adapt their approach to different people and situations while remaining authentic.
Treća je sposobnost umrežavanja, odnosno gradnja odnosa i saveza. Furnham ističe da uspješni ljudi obično imaju tri puta veću mrežu kontakata od prosjeka i to ne zato što „skupljaju vizitke“, nego zato što znaju održavati odnose koji donose obostranu korist.
Finally, there is apparent sincerity, the ability to appear authentic and credible in every situation. People naturally follow those they trust, and therefore sincerity, even if "apparent," is the foundation of all good politics.
Six secrets of politically savvy people
According to Furnham, only about five percent of people truly possess real political savvy. They are not necessarily more intelligent or ambitious, but they have something else – the skill of navigating among people. Research has shown that these people have twice the chance of promotion, three times higher bonuses, and greater life satisfaction.
Their secrets are simple, but they require consistency:
- Partnership with one’s own boss
- Being a 360° team player (collaborating well with everyone)
- Understanding the “power map” in the organization
- Promoting oneself subtly
- Connecting with influential people
- Above all, being committed to the work and the common goal
Leadership as a new level of the game
Furnham often emphasizes that people advance because they are excellent at their jobs, but that does not mean they will automatically be good leaders.
“If you are a good accountant, it doesn't mean you will be a good leader. Leadership is a skill in itself and you must learn it,” he said.
According to him, a true leader must have three heads: one that delivers results, a second that sets the strategic direction, and a third that builds relationships. And all of that simultaneously. That is why, he says, the role of leadership is so demanding, but also financially rewarded.
Ultimately, Furnham invites us to change the way we look at “politics” at work. Not as a power game, but as a skill of understanding people and relationships. Political skill is not manipulation, but the ability to ethically build support for the ideas we care about.
“If you learn to be perceptive, influential, networked, and authentic, your career can only go forward,” Furnham concluded.
Maybe it's time to stop running away from politics and learn to play it wisely, fairly, and with a touch of style.
Find out which new skills we will master at the 14th HR Days conference from April 21st to 23rd in the beautiful setting of Hotel Lone in Rovinj!
