After listening for one good hour, I asked my client, Lisa, 

Me (Coach ): You mean to say you are stuck in office politics?

Lisa ; No, I don’t think it has anything to do with office politics, Iam not one of those into office politics.

Me (Coach): What makes you think it has nothing to do with office politics?

Lisa: I don’t know, Iam confused 

Me (Coach) : Explain how you’re Confused looks like 

Lisa : As if Iam stuck in a maze and unable to find my way out!

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      It was difficult for Lisa to admit, let alone acknowledge and accept, that office politics was the main reason for her disengagement at work and a stressed mind.

Do not be surprised, it is not just Lisa but a majority of us holding a distorted view and perceptions about “Office Politics” .

There’s a negative connotation to office politics or being political, and perhaps it is one of the reasons why, despite our best work,we find ourselves in it without knowing we are living in it; it is very much part of our daily workspace and that what it will be in the future as well.

Lisa is someone who I have coached twice in a span of two years on two distinctive goals, and present-day today, she is a Global lead of a technology firm.

During our recent coaching assignment of 2 months, there were a few new learnings that I intend to share with every emerging woman leader who may, just like Lisa, need to hear this. 

1. The critical factor to effectively navigate office politics is through Influence 

2.Our ability to influence stems from effective relationship building strategies

3. To build relations explore the assessment tool.

4.The tool comprises of key 10 categories and subcategories to gauge the “influence” you carry and can further build on.

5.Work through each category, reflect and write down your responses and the insights from it will help you chart a path forward.

Here’s the WORKSHOP, the tool and the story

Watch the workshop, and then download the tool given in the description of the video.

To your success.

© Mehnaz Amjad 2017-2024

Mehnaz Amjad | Coach
Hyderabad, India