\nOFFICE-POLITICS REPLY BY DR. RICK BRANDON AND DR. MARTY SELDMAN<\/strong><\/p>\n
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<\/div>\nDear Shy not aloof,<\/p>\n
We put your goals under the three \u201cethical politics\u201d skill sets of (1) Know the Corporate Buzz, (2) Essential Networking, and (3) Balanced Self-Promotion in order to gain influence, make an impact, and move ahead in your career and have job satisfaction. <\/p>\n
You wisely want to create a strong, positive \u201cbuzz\u201d or reputation, but don\u2019t get trapped into tunnel vision perspective as the only way of doing this as being \u201cstory telling\u201d or even small-talking. <\/p>\n
Schmoozing at informal gatherings is only one way<\/strong> Consider quiet thoughtful gestures<\/strong> Dialogue not monologue<\/strong> If you\u2019re hung up on story telling, tell the other you\u2019re gathering stories to assemble in a workplace storytelling book to leave at the front reception area for clients to browse while they are waiting and you\u2019d like to include their anecdotes. Now they have fun, they feel important, you appear just as people oriented, the firm enjoys a new project and \u201cface to the customer,\u201d etc. Can you see the thread throughout our response? It says YES to making an impact while creating positive perceptions about your relationship capability and competence, but it says NO to pretending to be someone you are not.<\/p>\n Finally, see if you can find a fine little book from 1994 called Contact: The First Four Minutes<\/a> Thanks for writing to Office-Politics.<\/p>\n Sincerely, <\/p>\n Rick Brandon, Ph.d. and Marty Seldman, Ph.D. Co-authors,
\nWhile \u201cschmoozing\u201d at informal gatherings like lunch is one way to forge relationships you seek, it\u2019s not the only way. In fact, some types of people are less people-oriented and might even react negatively to stories, jokes and similar clich\u00e9\u2019 paths to joining the inner circle. Many personality styles such as the Driver and Analytic styles are more responsive to more task oriented ways of connecting so don\u2019t feel pressured to become tomorrow\u2019s most populist stand-up comedienne. And even if you do determine you\u2019re with an expressive or amiable type who likes such tactics, it sounds like it goes against the grain of your personality and could feed a perception that you\u2019re goofing off. Yet, the pendulum need NOT swing to the other extreme of being all work and no play, an uptight workaholic as you describe. <\/p>\n
\nFinding middle ground means creating connections that show your desire to add value, helpfulness, and positive regard for others. Examples are sending someone an article that relates to something you know they are working on, finding out people\u2019s birthday\u2019s and being the one that buys the card everyone signs and word gets around it was your initiation, organizing an after-work activity like a softball game, show up before work to visit a new contact\u2019s workspace rather than depend upon lunches you cannot do, sponsoring a conference of an HR association such as SHRM (Society or Human Resource Management) or HRPP (Human Resources Planning Society) at your facility, etc. See how you can start thinking out of the box and find creative ways to establish relationships, demonstrate knowledge about another\u2019s function, and reveal spark and going the extra mile? <\/p>\n
\nWhile we\u2019re at it, let\u2019s \u201creframe\u201d your slightly narrow definition of interacting to transcend story telling. Instead, consider the goal to make a connection and communicate \u2013\u2013 which too many people define as one-way. In fact, more lasting impressions occur when you stress a two-way process, so spend your interaction time asking and truly exploring the other\u2019s job, ideas, current projects so you show interest and they feel involved with you. <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.assoc-amazon.com\/e\/ir?t=officepolitic-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000RI9KBU\")
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\nSurvival of the Savvy<\/a>: High-Integrity Political Tactics for Career and Company Success<\/p>\n
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<\/a>Rick Brandon, Ph.D. and Marty Seldman, Ph.D. are Co-authors, Survival of the Savvy: High-Integrity Political Tactics for Career and Company Success. Dr. Rick Brandon is CEO of Brandon Partners. He has consulted and trained tens of thousands at corporations worldwide, including Fortune 500 companies across a variety of industries. Dr. Marty Seldman is one of America\u2019s most experienced executive coaches. His 35-year career includes expertise in executive coaching, group dynamics, cross-cultural studies, clinical psychology, and training.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"