Political Landscape

Organizational politics is itself similar to a game, one that requires an assumption of risks just like any contact sport. "It must be played with diligence and a full understanding of the landscape, players and rules." "The dynamics of the situation should always dictate a reexamination of the players and how they fit into the landscape."  One must be careful relying on alliances made on previous circumstances; once the situation changes, alliances need to be reassessed. Building strong alliances will maximize the efficiency of the collective political radar and alert you before conflicts arise.

Playing the game of organizational politics is inevitable, and at times, extremely exhausting. In a politically charged environment, extreme effort must be put forth in order to simply interact - let alone get work done. Concealing weaknesses (i.e. becoming overwhelmed) is crucial. Easing into situations with caution, picking battles wisely, and adjusting one's approach if things are not working out are all methods to keep afloat while dealing with organizational politics. As long as one understands the landscape before playing, it should not be too hard to find a common ground. If all else fails, sometimes it is best to agree to disagree before the situation escalates. Know when to say "I don’t know" and when to admit that you were wrong-often this is the best way to diffuse a conflict. In order for this tactic to be successful, it must be used carefully and sparingly, as overuse can cause colleagues to assume incompetence. Being prepared is key in any game. One must know the rules, be physically prepared, and know your opponents as well as your own team. The political landscape must be read, like a golfer reads the landscape of the course-pick the right clubs, and have the right people to caddie along the way.

Political landscape is a set of hierarchies that link the political players together. In other words Political landscape is what defines relationships between colleagues at a given time. Drafting of this landscape begins with the leaders of the organization influencing theformal hierarchy; which defines the reporting structure and indicates the political setup of the organization as it was initially intended. Organizational hierarchies, each with its own unique political challenges, depend on many factors of the given organization. Said factors include organizational goals, size of the organization, number of resources available and the type of leaders within the organization. Political landscape will change as individuals are introduced into the organizational mix. During the process of working together an informal hierarchy is established. The main link between individuals on a political landscape is the access to-in addition to-the flow of information. This hierarchy can be identified by applying numerical values to relationships in proportion to how much two individuals rate and value one another. The sum value of these relating to an individual establishes the place on the hierarchy. Two or more people estimating relationships and merging results can produce more certain results. People quickly realize who the boss is, whom they depend on for valuable information, and who knows all the office gossip. It is very important to recognize where you fit in this landscape and what power and influence you have within the organization. It is important not only to use that power in pursuit of the organization's goals, but also to ensure others do not abuse it. "Each player in the organization has a role in the politics that grease the wheels of getting things done."