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9. Others not coming through for you? Consider your sources of help. Sometimes the problem is
in assessing people. Who really wants to help? Who is going to get in the way? What do they really
want? What price will they ask for helping? People are more likely to come through when ideas and
suggestions match their needs and fit into their view of the world. Are in line with their values,
principles, beliefs, and opinions. Notice what’s important to those around you. Check with others who
know them well. Use what you learn to target the right sources of help and to position your request in
the most influential way for them and their needs.

Want to learn more? Take a deep dive…

Deutschman, A. (September 18, 2009). How authentic leaders ‘walk the walk.’ Bloomberg
Businessweek.
Fried, J. (2010, November). Jason Fried: Why work doesn’t happen at work [Video file]. TED.
Warrell, M. (2013, August 20). Are you too agreeable? 7 Strategies to push back without coming off
pushy. Forbes.

10. Lost in the maze? Go with the flow. Some people know the steps necessary to get things done but
are too impatient to allow events to run their course. Maneuvering through the maze includes
stopping once in a while to let things happen. It may mean waiting until a major gatekeeper has the
time to pay attention to your needs. Be patient.

11. Thrown off track? Expect the unexpected. Always have a plan of attack but also have a
contingency plan. Be ready for instant change. What’s the worst that could happen and what will you
do? People who are organizationally savvy are personally flexible. They anticipate that things can and
will go wrong, but balance this with a can-do attitude and a Plan B up their sleeve. So, faced with a
surprise, take a step back. Consider your options. Call on your resources. Accept that things have
changed and adjust your course to stay on the right route.

12. Playing the blame game? Keep political conflicts small and concrete. The more abstract it gets,
the more unmanageable it becomes. Separate the people from the problem. Attack problems by
looking at the nature of the problem, not the person presenting the problem. Avoid direct blaming
remarks; describe the problem and its impact. Focus on finding the shared meaning and conclusion
to be drawn from the situation. Find a collaborative solution. If you can’t agree on a solution, agree on
procedure, or agree on a few things, and list all the issues remaining. This creates some motion and
breaks political stalemates.

13. Struggling to find the right approach? Find a mentor. Seek out someone who has a long tenure
of success in your organization. Someone whose behavior and style you’d like to emulate. Pay
special attention to how they accomplish their work. Let the mentor know that you’re especially
interested in the process of work—how things “best get done around here.” Experiment with new
approaches based on what you see and hear from them. Keep a log of what worked and what didn’t.

14. Not sure why you’re having difficulty? Get some feedback. Often, we’re unaware of the obstacles
we create for ourselves. For instance, being too assertive or too submissive in different contexts. It is
difficult to pull back and monitor, especially in emotionally charged situations. Those who work closest
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