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Skilled
Is sensitive to how people and organizations function.

Anticipates land mines and plans approach accordingly.
Deals comfortably with organizational politics.
Knows who has power, respect, and influence.

Steers through the organizational maze to get things done.

Less skilled
• Overlooks or disregards the political complexities of the organization.
• Pursues own area’s goals without considering the impact on other groups.
• Says and does things that strain organizational relationships.

• Tends to be impatient with organizational processes and makes political errors.

Talented
• Navigates the political complexities of the organization easily.
• Has a clear understanding of other groups’ business priorities.

• Avoids provoking tension between groups.
• Uses knowledge of organizational culture to achieve objectives.

Overused skill
• May prioritize organizational positioning, even when straightforward action is called for.
• May be seen as excessively political.

• May tell others what they want to hear instead of what he/she knows to be true.

Some possible causes of lower skill
Causes help explain why a person may have trouble with Organizational savvy. When seeking to
increase skill, it’s helpful to consider how these might play out in certain situations. And remember that all
of these can be addressed if you are motivated to do so.

• Ignores or denies the reality of the system.
• Inexperienced.
• Resists the reality of complexity.
• Weak negotiator.

• Rejects the need to “play politics.”
• Doesn’t read others or their interests well.
• Excessively direct and straightforward.

• Lacks influence.
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