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11 reviews for:
Secrets to Winning at Office Politics: How to Achieve Your Goals and Increase Your Influence at Work
Marie G. McIntyre
3.82 AVERAGE
11 reviews for:
Secrets to Winning at Office Politics: How to Achieve Your Goals and Increase Your Influence at Work
Marie G. McIntyre
3.82 AVERAGE
informative
In all my jobs I've held the belief that if I put my head down and worked hard, it would be recognized. And it has never quite worked out that way. I'm not an extrovert so it's not comfortable for me to seek visibility -- I've been left feeling powerless and less than satisfied. I didn't want that to happen again so I picked up this book. This book gave me a useful construct for thinking about office politics, and it also made me realize I'm in a better position than I realized. Even though I'm not someone who shines in the limelight, I've found other ways to build leverage in my organization. Along with making me feel less discouraged, it gave me some useful strategies for making the system work for me.
While the book helps you work the system, it doesn't offer useful strategies on how to challenge the system. The author's point of view seems to be, if you can't work the system, leave and find a better fit. I understand this pragmatic point of view to an extent, but too often the suggests you accept the power dynamic point blank.
In that way, it takes the politics out of office politics. For example, I would've expected the section on managing up to share ideas about expanding your influence with a superior. Instead, it suggests you kow tow to your boss's needs and expectations, with the idea that you will advance accordingly and then have the influence you seek. This doesn't match reality and offers a far too conservative perspective on making change, both for yourself and the organization.
While the book helps you work the system, it doesn't offer useful strategies on how to challenge the system. The author's point of view seems to be, if you can't work the system, leave and find a better fit. I understand this pragmatic point of view to an extent, but too often the suggests you accept the power dynamic point blank.
In that way, it takes the politics out of office politics. For example, I would've expected the section on managing up to share ideas about expanding your influence with a superior. Instead, it suggests you kow tow to your boss's needs and expectations, with the idea that you will advance accordingly and then have the influence you seek. This doesn't match reality and offers a far too conservative perspective on making change, both for yourself and the organization.
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Love love love this book. Recommended to me by a mentor at the workplace. It contains a ton of wisdom useful for budding professionals starting out in their careers. Being the naive and lowkey political idiot that I was (still am, a little bit), this was enlightening, especially because it came at a time when I felt lost and disheartened. Many examples were littered throughout the book which made for an engaging read.
I was surprised at how much I liked this book and resonated with the advice it gave. Marie did well to contribute a counterbalance to the traditional negative connotation to the word “politics” as it pertains to navigating the complex web of work relationships around you. Her example stories were relatable, believable, and illustrative of the particular points she was making. The sections that focused on actions you should take were approachable and memorable.
My main drawback is that I felt she often left the reader with only one option in the face of political difficulty at work: to leave the company and find work elsewhere. Certainly, that is the best option in many of those situations she highlighted. However, I feel it wasn’t necessarily the only option available in other situations she highlighted. Regardless, I’m sure politically savvy folks will more accurately calculate leverage potential and make a good choice for themselves—especially after reading this book.
My main takeaways of the book mostly come from Part 1: focusing on leverage rather than fairness, accepting the “organizational facts of life,” and increasing results, knowledge, attitude, empathy, networks, inclusion, and detachment to increase your political leverage.
My main drawback is that I felt she often left the reader with only one option in the face of political difficulty at work: to leave the company and find work elsewhere. Certainly, that is the best option in many of those situations she highlighted. However, I feel it wasn’t necessarily the only option available in other situations she highlighted. Regardless, I’m sure politically savvy folks will more accurately calculate leverage potential and make a good choice for themselves—especially after reading this book.
My main takeaways of the book mostly come from Part 1: focusing on leverage rather than fairness, accepting the “organizational facts of life,” and increasing results, knowledge, attitude, empathy, networks, inclusion, and detachment to increase your political leverage.
Although published in 2005, I didn't find anything dated about this. Still very relevant today. I liked all of the real-life examples that McIntyre includes, from her experience in HR and consulting.
challenging
informative
inspiring
slow-paced