Political Skill

Definition

Political skill refers to the ability to effectively understand others at work, and to use that knowledge to influence others to act in ways that enhance one's personal or organizational objectives. It involves the strategic display of social competence to achieve personal or organizational goals.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Political skill is a key component of organizational politics and can be used to navigate complex power dynamics within the workplace.
2. Individuals with high political skill are adept at reading social cues, adapting their behavior to different situations, and building influential relationships.
3. Political skill enables employees to effectively manage impressions, gain access to resources, and secure support for their ideas and initiatives.
4. Developing political skill can help individuals advance their careers and achieve their professional goals within the organization.
5. Research has shown that political skill is positively associated with job performance, career success, and overall organizational effectiveness.

Review Questions

• Explain how political skill relates to navigating organizational politics and power dynamics.
  • Political skill is crucial for navigating the complex web of organizational politics and power dynamics. Individuals with high political skill are able to effectively read social cues, understand the motivations and agendas of others, and strategically use this knowledge to influence decisions and outcomes in their favor. By building influential relationships, managing impressions, and aligning their goals with those of the organization, politically skilled employees can gain access to resources, secure support for their initiatives, and ultimately advance their careers.
• Describe how political skill enables employees to achieve their professional objectives within the organization.
  • Political skill empowers employees to achieve their professional objectives by equipping them with the ability to navigate complex organizational dynamics and influence key stakeholders. Politically skilled individuals are adept at building productive relationships, reading social situations, and adapting their behavior to different contexts. This allows them to effectively manage impressions, gain access to resources, and secure support for their ideas and initiatives. As a result, politically skilled employees are often able to advance their careers, secure promotions, and contribute to the overall effectiveness of the organization.
• Evaluate the importance of developing political skill for individuals seeking to succeed in their careers within an organizational setting.
  • Developing political skill is crucial for individuals seeking to succeed in their careers within an organizational setting. Political skill enables employees to effectively navigate complex power dynamics, build influential relationships, and strategically align their personal goals with the objectives of the organization. By demonstrating social astuteness, impression management, and networking ability, politically skilled individuals are able to gain access to resources, secure support for their initiatives, and ultimately advance their careers. Research has consistently shown that political skill is positively associated with job performance, career success, and overall organizational effectiveness. Therefore, the ability to effectively utilize political skill is a vital competency for individuals who aspire to thrive and achieve their professional goals within the organizational context.

Related terms

Impression Management:

The process of controlling how one is perceived by others in order to influence their impressions and reactions.

Social Astuteness: The ability to accurately observe and understand others, their motivations, and the dynamics in social situations.

Networking Ability: The capacity to develop and maintain productive relationships with a diverse set of people in the workplace.