It’s Politics, As UsualIt’s Politics, As UsualBy Lafe LowBy Lafe Low

Presented byPresented by

Rebecca JohnsonRebecca Johnson

April Rains-GrassmanApril Rains-Grassman

““Any time you get three people together, Any time you get three people together, you’ve got politics. It’s a reality of human you’ve got politics. It’s a reality of human relations.”relations.”

– – Doug Barker Doug Barker CEOCEO

Political skills such as identifying Political skills such as identifying stakeholders, managing relationships stakeholders, managing relationships and communicating well are critical for IT and communicating well are critical for IT leaders.leaders.

However, they are hardly unique to the CIO role.However, they are hardly unique to the CIO role.

On the Campaign TrailOn the Campaign Trail

Politics is preferable to raw displays of Politics is preferable to raw displays of power – especially if you are at a power power – especially if you are at a power disadvantage.disadvantage.

Understand your Understand your constituencyconstituency

Know whom you are dealing withKnow whom you are dealing with

Know how they fit into the organizationsKnow how they fit into the organizations

Take into account the needs and desires Take into account the needs and desires of your constituencyof your constituency

Press the fleshPress the flesh

Good communicationGood communication

““I don’t call it politics. I call it engagement I don’t call it politics. I call it engagement or communicating.”or communicating.”

- Bob - Bob WeirWeir

Wide-open communication policyWide-open communication policy

Secure endorsementsSecure endorsements

Building and maintaining relationships Building and maintaining relationships throughout the organization, with allies throughout the organization, with allies and opponents alikeand opponents alike The most important political task facing any The most important political task facing any

CIOCIO

Forming alliances means bringing others Forming alliances means bringing others into the decision-making processinto the decision-making process

Watch the weathervaneWatch the weathervane

Political savvy means being prepared for Political savvy means being prepared for changechange

CIOs should keep their strategy clearly in CIOs should keep their strategy clearly in mindmind Otherwise when political changes occur, Otherwise when political changes occur,

“you won’t know how to make compromises “you won’t know how to make compromises that don’t compromise the overall goal.”that don’t compromise the overall goal.”

Keep campaigningKeep campaigning

Be patient when pressing for initiativesBe patient when pressing for initiatives

You put processes in place and people You put processes in place and people will change over time. will change over time.

You may lose at first, but you will win in You may lose at first, but you will win in the long run.the long run.

It’s Critical to Be PoliticalIt’s Critical to Be Political

Ultimately, the skill set of a seasoned politician Ultimately, the skill set of a seasoned politician is not all that different form that of a seasoned is not all that different form that of a seasoned senior-level executive. Most executives who senior-level executive. Most executives who have risen to the level of CIO will have have risen to the level of CIO will have mastered at least some political techniques. mastered at least some political techniques.

For the politically challenged, these skills can For the politically challenged, these skills can be learned.be learned.

““There is no magic in it”There is no magic in it”

SourceSource

http://www.cio.com/archives/040104/hs_politics.htmlhttp://www.cio.com/archives/040104/hs_politics.html

CIO Magazine – 04/01/2004CIO Magazine – 04/01/2004