{"id":10354,"date":"2026-01-20T08:41:40","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T07:41:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hrdays.net\/?p=10354"},"modified":"2026-01-20T08:50:22","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T07:50:22","slug":"naucite-igrati-igru-liderstva-skill-koji-dijeli-uspjesne-od-iscrpljenih","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hrdays.net\/en\/2026\/01\/20\/naucite-igrati-igru-liderstva-skill-koji-dijeli-uspjesne-od-iscrpljenih\/","title":{"rendered":"Learn to Play the Leadership Game: The Skill That Separates the Successful from the Exhausted"},"content":{"rendered":"

The truth is that we all engage in it; it's just that some do it better, more consciously, and most importantly\u2014ethically.<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On that topic, which sparks both discomfort and curiosity, spoke Adrian Furnham<\/strong>, a distinguished professor of psychology, academic and author of more than 95 books and 1300 scientific papers, at this year's HR Days conference<\/strong><\/a> in May<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His lecture \u201cBeing Savvy at Work: Understanding Office Politics\u201d<\/strong> was one of those that makes the audience laugh, think, and wonder \u2013 perhaps office politics isn't as scary as we think.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOffice politics\u201d without prejudice<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we mention office politics, many immediately think of negative things \u2014 gossip, manipulation, hidden agendas. Furnham, however, explained that this is only one side of the coin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPolitics exists in every sphere of our lives, both privately and professionally,\u201d he says. \u201cThe only question is, do we know how to use it the right way?\u201d,<\/em><\/strong> Furnham emphasized.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For him, being politically savvy<\/strong> 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\u2014the individual, the team, and the organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Four dimensions of political savvy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the lecture, he highlighted four key skills that constitute political savvy. The first is social astuteness<\/strong>, 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 \u201cbetween the lines,\u201d but also understanding when someone is not being sincere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second dimension is interpersonal influence<\/strong>, the art of persuasion, negotiation, and communication. Politically savvy people know how to adapt their approach to different people and situations while remaining authentic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tre\u0107a je sposobnost umre\u017eavanja<\/strong>, odnosno gradnja odnosa i saveza. Furnham isti\u010de da uspje\u0161ni ljudi obi\u010dno imaju tri puta ve\u0107u mre\u017eu kontakata od prosjeka i to ne zato \u0161to \u201eskupljaju vizitke\u201c, nego zato \u0161to znaju odr\u017eavati odnose koji donose obostranu korist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, there is apparent sincerity<\/strong>, 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Six secrets of politically savvy people<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Furnham, only about five percent of people<\/strong> truly possess real political savvy. They are not necessarily more intelligent or ambitious, but they have something else \u2013 the skill of navigating among people<\/strong>. Research has shown that these people have twice the chance of promotion, three times higher bonuses, and greater life satisfaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their secrets are simple, but they require consistency:<\/p>\n\n\n\n