In Mastering the Politics, I talk a great deal about the need to develop greater political insight or intelligence. This is absolutely vital if you are to avoid “shooting in the dark” with your attempts to influence others.
Of course, there is always an element of guesswork involved in any act to influence, and in a way, that is part of the fun of it. Yet at the same time, guesswork is leaving you exposed.
So, it makes sense to develop the habit of increasing your knowledge on an ongoing basis.
Here are seven ideas to help you to accelerate the development of your insight.
- Ask more questions. It may seem a little obvious but, you’d be surprised just how much I come across this in my work with clients. For some strange reason, people don’t like to ask questions that relate to the political side of work. So, when someone tells you a project is very political, don’t just take it as a given, ask them why.
- Adopt a positive attitude. Let’s face it, if someone comes to you asking questions and they have one of those attitudes on them that screams that they hate the situation, or you, or life in general: what do you do? More than likely you’ll work quickly to get away from them. And if you can’t, you’ll limit your answers to their nosey questions.
- Build hypotheses and scenarios. Loved by academics and management consultants for one very good reason. They work. What they do is build frameworks and structure thinking so that you can make more sense of the world around you, and identify the gaps in your understanding. That way, you’ll be able to hone in on the insight that is critical for you to gain.
- Share political insights. If you trust someone, you’ll tell them more. If you want others to trust you, you’ve got to share too. Don’t stay tight-lipped after they have started to share. If you share something in return the conversation will develop and you will both benefit. Of course, judicious sharing only!
The Gautrey Influence Blog
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- Challenge your assumptions. Try to think the unthinkable. This extends the scenario planning. On one workshop I stunned participants with a suggestion that maybe a certain director was aiming to be the new CEO. They just wouldn’t entertain it. Later that day it was confirmed that he was the new CEO! Assumptions are important to be able to operate effectively, but you can still have fun and let your imagination run wild.
- View it as a puzzle to be solved. I know this is serious work, and I don’t mean to make light of it. This suggestion is really combining several of the earlier ones to add an element of intrigue. You are far more likely to search for new clues and ultimately, solve the puzzle, if you are curious and having fun.
- Write your ideas down. It never ceases to amaze me just how powerful the act of writing is. Having been an author for 10 years now I am somewhat biased. The act of writing focuses your thinking and forces you to summarise your intelligence. In effect, this will help you to clarify what is really going on.
And to what end? Well, increasingly I am using the analogy of a stream that you want to cross. Some streams are slow and meandering while others a raging torrent. The faster the current, the more dangerous it becomes, and the more important it is to be able to step carefully across.
Gathering political intelligence is all about clearing the waters so that you can see what routes need to be followed. Routes that take account of the dangers and minimise the risks. Finding the safest way across the stream is the ultimate goal of the pursuit of these political insights.
The Gautrey Influence Blog
Ever felt overlooked, unheard, or stuck in office politics? You’re not alone. The Gautrey Influence Blog breaks down the real-world strategies behind leadership, influence, and power—giving you the tools to be heard, respected, and successful. Join 35,000+ professionals getting ahead the smart way—subscribe now..
💡 Benchmark your Influence: Take the Master of Influence Assessment (Free for Subscribers!)
👉 [Subscribe & Take the Assessment]