Understand the "Six Degrees of Separation"

Ensure that you understand the "six degrees of separation" in an office environment. People may be married to or related to others in the organization and not share the same surname, making it inobvious to you. Also people may have very close ties to specific coworkers. Knowing these hidden inter-relationships will make you more politically astute in your business dealings if you govern your behaviour accordingly. For example, you will better understand the influencing and favouritism going on and can leverage that. Also, you can avoid any negative actions or statements toward somebody that could eventually offend a "power-broker". Remember -- it's often not what you know, but who you know.

Nancy Fisher
Sr. HR Business Advisor
Petro-Canada

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