Organizational Savvy International Institute of Business Analysis

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1 WELCOME TO... Organizational Savvy International Institute of Business Analysis Prework Reading: September 17th Webinar OVERVIEW. This September 17th leadership development session is a 90-minute Organizational Savvy webinar, based on the popular 2-day workshop course of the same name. This fast-paced session is specially designed to help IIBA professionals and leaders to understand and accept the inevitable politics in any company, turn politics into a positive rather than negative force, identify and adapt to various political styles, and apply ethical political tactics in the increasingly demanding and complex climate of today s business world. IMPORTANT ACTION ITEMS. Our tight time frame on September 17th has led your planning team to request this essential preparation. While you should definitely still attend even if you cannot invest this 45 minutes of preparation, this assignment help us maximize the brief time we ll have for this intriguing, provocative topic. 1. Session Learning Goals (15 min.). This page orients you to our hoped for outcomes on September 17th. 2. Political Styles Reading & Activity (35 min.). The accompanying 4-page article and Style Strengths Finder Checklist will help you determine your own Political Style. You ll learn to recognize two styles for navigating organizational politics with integrity. This article gives you the necessary groundwork for understanding the Organizational Savvy model. 3. Organizational Savvy Self-Assessment (40 min.). Please complete this 65-item screening instrument by linking to and using the special password of iiba0917. Fill out the survey questions about your skill level, hit SUBMIT, and immediately download a robust Scoring and Interpretation Report. Please bring the report with you to the July 17th webinar. Page 4 has a Summary Profile Graph of y our skills that we ll discuss, but feel free to peruse the rest of the document s practical recommendations based upon your skills. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU DURING THIS EXCITING SESSION! rev

2 Prework #1 for IIBA Webinar Learning Goals Background This 90-minute session helps leaders, managers, and professionals improve their strategic influence, results, and career growth by mastering ethical politics within the demanding, competitive, and volatile climate of today s corporate and agency life. Key Definition This course defines organizational politics as: the informal, unofficial, and sometimes behind-the-scenes efforts to gain influence, sell ideas, impact the organization, increase power, or achieve other targeted ends. An Ethical Politics Wake-Up Call (15 minutes) To provide a value-free, positive definition of organizational politics that motivates you to embrace this intriguing leadership competency. To recognize the business rationale for increasing your interest and skills in navigating organizational politics. To defuse any emotional upset or denial you might experience about the reality of organizational politics and political people, so that you can be street smart and empowered to have even greater organizational impact. Understanding Political Styles: Strengths and Risks (35 minutes) To increase your influence by understanding various Political Styles and the respective assets and liabilities that each one brings to you, to your team, and to IIBA. Identifying Organizational Savvy Skills and Resources (40 minutes) To identify 13 practical, ethical Organizational Savvy Skill Sets for gaining strategic influence, and positive power while retaining integrity, along with post-session resources for learning about these strategic influence skills. If there s a corporate survival of the fittest, it pays to recognize our political blind spots so that our intellect, ideas, and results have a fairer chance of receiving recognition, credit, and reward. -Rick Brandon, Ph.D. Author, Survival of the Savvy Rev. 8/13/ BRANDON PARTNERS

3 Prework #2 Political Styles Reading and Self-Checklist Positioning Political Styles We ll explore two Political Styles the Power of Ideas and Power of Person. Each has a mindset toward organizational politics, power, promotion, perception, and influence. Each has a different lens for evaluating any recommendation. Knowing Political Styles readies you to: Manage strengths and weaknesses, Be tolerant and appreciate others, Influence other Political Styles, Protect yourself from the Style extremes you ll learn in our session. The Strengths Finder Checklist Six dimensions determine your Political Style. Let s recognize your actions and preferences on each dimension. This is also how to identify the Political Style of stakeholders, bosses, peers, or direct reports. Check Traits Describing You Use the Style Strengths Finder worksheet on the next page to follow the Six Dimensions. Track along on the worksheet by check marking ( ) items that relate most to you. Circle Right or Left Sides For each Dimension you read about, make check mark choices and consider how well you relate to the traits, and circle either the LEFT or RIGHT side of that Dimension. Both sides may describe you, but you likely lean more to the Left or Right. Force yourself to choose. Decide how far to the Right (Power of Person) or Left (Power of Ideas) you are based on how many of each side s attributes, characteristics, or strengths you relate to readily. It s Not Mathematical Don t just add up checks or circles (six total). It s also subjective, so get an overall feel of each side. On Dimension #1, SUBSTANCE POWER or POSITION POWER, you may check three items on the Right and only one on the Left. But if the one Left-side descriptor is core to your values and SUBSTANCE POWER better captures who you are most naturally, you d circle SUBSTANCE POWER. Celebrate Both Styles We don t want to work for a team or company without strengths from both sides of each of these six dimensions of Political Styles. That s why this tool is called the Style STRENGTHS Finder. We will also discuss the risks and dangers of either Style at its extreme during our session, but for now, focus on positive assets of each dimension. We ll Go Back and Forth This article explains each of the six dimensions by first describing the Left-side Power of Ideas version of that dimension, and then outlining the Rightside Power of Person version. Before reading about the next dimension, use the CHECKLIST to make check marks and circle either the Right or Left side. By the end of this article, you will have a good idea about your Political Style, and place yourself on the Political Style Continuum. Power of Ideas Style Less Political Power of Person Style More Political BRANDON PARTNERS 3

4 Prework Task #2 Style Strengths Finder Purpose To assess Political Style and see if you identify more with a Power of Ideas or Power of Person style. Directions Use the accompanying Political Styles reading to understand each of the six dimensions of Political Style. Assess yourself on each dimension. Check mark ( ) each item that describes you reasonably well. If it doesn t apply, leave it blank. For each dimension, eyeball your markings, think about your tendencies, and circle which side of that dimension best fits you. You may wish you could circle both sides, but choose one or the other. When you finished reading the article and completing this worksheet, decide how far to the Right or Left you are and place an X accordingly along the Political Style Continuum to the lower right. PLEASE BRING THIS PREWORK PACKET WITH YOU TO THE SEPTEMBER 17th SESSION. THANKS FOR INVESTING THIS TIME! Power of Ideas Style (Less Political) SUBSTANCE POWER 1. Passion & Focus on Ideas and Results FOCUS ON FEEDBACK & LEARNING 2. Genuinely Seeks Feedback 3. Treats Others Mistakes Non-Punitively 4. Builds Feedback Rich Environments HIGHLIGHTS INTEGRITY 5. Integrity and Unwavering Moral Compass 6. Team & Company Good Over Self Interest 7. Respects Proper Channels and Rules MORE OPEN AGENDA 4 8. Open, Honest, and Up-Front 9. Trust and Good Faith in Others MERITOCRACY-BASED 10. Believes Good Work Will Be Rewarded 11. Promotes Others For Work vs. Friendship 12. Avoids Distracting Political Maneuvering RESULTS & IDEAS SPEAK 13. Humility & Soft Selling 14. Head Down, Does the Job Power of Person Style (More Political) POSITION POWER 1. Street-Smart About Power 2. Senses Reactions, Aligns with Power 3. Uses Position Power for Good FOCUS ON IMAGE & PERCEPTIONS 4. Knows Others Perceptions 5. Plans Strategy to Improve Reputation 6. Excels at Presenting and Packaging HIGHLIGHTS SUCCESS Can-Do Spirit: Seeks Achievement While Retaining Integrity 8. Politics as the Art of the Possible: Will Compromise Ideas, Not Ethics 9. Knows How to Work the System of Formal and Informal Rules MORE PRIVATE AGENDA 10. Strategic & Prudent with Agenda 11. Verbal Discipline vs. Naively Blunt RELATIONSHIP-BASED Loyalty and Strong Alliances Are Key to Efficiency and Effectiveness 11. Promotes Others For Work vs. Friends. Avoids Distracting Political Maneuvering BALANCED SELF-PROMOTION 13. Self Confidently Shares Strengths 14. Sells Ideas & Self with Boldness Power of Ideas Style Less Political Power of Person Style More Political 4 BRANDON PARTNERS

5 1) SUBSTANCE POWER OR POSITION POWER? Substance Power (Left Side): These people believe true power resides in the work itself. Power to them is found in their logic, facts, and analysis OR their creative, monetary, or artistic contributions (whatever the nature of their work output). This substance power can be technical, quantitative, creative, or strategic work. If you approach Power of Ideas people with an idea, they are asking themselves if the idea itself is sound and whether they agree with your content, vision, or recommendations. Position Power (Right Side): The Right-side Power of Person style believes that true power resides in traditional position power. They define power more hierarchically versus the substance of the work. The Right side is Street-Smart a student of power, both the official and unofficial power and influence holders. He can deftly track power trends and stakeholder agendas. He Senses Reactions, and Aligns with Power. This Power of Person protects turf, territory, and boundaries in appropriate ways. He is aware of who s in, who s out, who s up, and who s down, and he understands and prethinks how top management will react. This is NOT abusive power preoccupation. It is the honorable and constructive focus on position power at this point CIRCLE SUBSTANCE POWER OR POSITION POWER 2) FOCUS ON FEEDBACK & LEARNING OR FOCUS ON IMAGE & PERCEPTIONS? Focus on Feedback and Learning (Left Side): Defining power as the actual work itself, the Power of Ideas person Genuinely Seeks Feedback. Everyone has an ego, but Power of Ideas people more genuinely request and receive feedback non-defensively. They also Treat Others Mistakes Non-Punitively, and Build Feedback Rich Environments. They cultivate an Attitude of a Learner, always wanting to improve and grow. Focus on Image and Perceptions (Right Side): The Power of Person style Knows Others Perceptions and Plans a Strategy to Improve Their Reputation. He will Excel at Presenting and Packaging, both of himself and his proposals. Power of Person is comfortable, natural, and skilled at image management and effective presence as a specialty. They also consciously plan how to manage negative perceptions of them or their team. Political savvy includes reshaping the perceptions of others the corporate buzz. This image focus can sometimes deteriorate into ego sensitivity, or defensiveness about feedback, but right now on your Style Strengths Finder Checklist, the Right-sider s image focus is a constructive and appropriate. Left-siders can be so focused on work quality, they may not know how others see them. CIRCLE FOCUS ON FEEDBACK & LEARNING OR FOCUS ON IMAGE & PERCEPTION 3) HIGHLIGHTS INTEGRITY OR HIGHLIGHTS SUCCESS? Highlights Integrity (Left Side): Power of Ideas people want to do things right, but also do the right thing for a team or company. Integrity and an Unwavering Moral Compass drive them, choosing Team & Company Good Over Self Interest. A manager may promote someone to a better job even if it s a challenge and expense to recruit and train a new person. The integrity of the Power of Ideas style means he also Respects Proper Channels and Rules as part of doing the right thing, with an absence of reckless or short-cut behavior. Highlights Success (Right Side): This Style possesses a Can-Do, Art of the Possible Spirit. He does what it takes to succeed. He Seeks Achievement While Retaining Integrity. This healthy Political Style s motivation transcends money, to seek positive power to make a positive impact. Power of Person people are Willing to Compromise the pure substance of their idea to set it in motion. They understand and act based on informal rules as well as written and spoken ones If a boss says a decision-making meeting about a consultant is next Friday, the Power of Ideas Style waits to present until Friday. Meanwhile, the Right-siders on the team are having meetings before the meeting to sell their preferred consultant. The Left-sider arrives to find that the decision is already made! The Power of Person style reality tests ideas before meetings to get support. MAKE CHECK MARKS. CIRCLE HIGHLIGHTS INTEGRITY OR HIGHLIGHTS SUCCESS BRANDON PARTNERS 5

6 4) MORE OPEN AGENDA OR MORE PRIVATE AGENDA? More Open Agenda (Left Side): With a deep commitment to high integrity, the Power of Ideas style is Open, Honest, and Up-front. He engenders Trust and Good Faith to and from others. He believes others are 100% trustworthy and honest, and tries to act the same. This means he can trust the wrong person, but the trait itself is honorable. While Right-siders in negotiations may offer high to end up with a price they can live with, Left-sider s want to state their actual final stance at the outset. More Private Agenda (Right): Power of Person people are more Strategic and Prudent with Agendas. They practice Verbal Discipline versus (being) Naively Blunt. Often, more naive Leftsiders are overly open, and may blurt out their thoughts in risky ways. Not saying everything you re thinking is not the same as being dishonest! Just telling the truth can even be unnecessarily harsh or cruel. Naturally, Rightsiders more private postures can also go way too far to leading to hidden, or even naked selfinterest-driven agendas. This could mean adopting a point of view or hidden agenda, just to win a bonus, please a manager, push a pet project, obtain a promotion, or hide something. But here, on our Style STRENGTHS Finder Checklist page, we re only discussing the healthy expression of every trait. CIRCLE MORE OPEN AGENDA OR MORE PRIVATE AGENDA 5) MERITOCRACY-BASED OR RELATIONSHIP-BASED Meritocracy-Based Decisions (Left Side): The Power of Ideas style Believes Good Work Will Be Rewarded, sometimes a short-sighted leap of faith. But this can also be a strength, trusting that doing one s job will pay off. The Left-side manager Promotes Others Based on Their Work versus Friendship. He Avoids Distracting Political Maneuvering. The work ethic of such a person is admirable, and the choices that this mind set makes means promotions, contracts, vendor selections, and supplier decisions are made for good reasons competence. Relationship-Based Decisions (Right Side): It s also an admirable trait to have Power of Person s Relationship-based decisions. If quality and competence are still intact, relationships are also key factors. We don t want to promote a poor performer as a favor, or show favoritism to reward contracts, jobs, or salaries. But Loyalty and Strong Alliances can be partnership-driven, based on a great track record. It s efficient to hire someone if you know him, know he ll do a great job, and trust that he knows your company. A professional sports team coach going to a new team may bring some of his coaching staff who knows his system. MAKE CHECK MARKS CIRCLE MERITOCRACY-BASED OR RELATIONSHIP-BASED 6) RESULTS AND IDEAS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES OR BALANCED SELF- PROMOTION? Results and Ideas Speak for Themselves (Left Side): The Power of Ideas Humility and Soft Selling strength is comparable to an athlete letting his or her play on the field do the talking rather than arrogantly strutting his stuff. Jim Collins Good to Great research found that great leaders can have humility, far from the stereotype of bigger than life leaders. These leaders have a Head Down, Does the Job posture on the job. But if they always keep their heads down, they may lack peripheral vision to see broader Organizational priorities, understand other parts of the enterprise, learn unwritten rules, or sense power holders priorities. Balanced Self-Promotion (Left): The Right-sider Self-Confidently Shares His Strengths, whereas the Left-sider believes that ideas and results speak for themselves. The Power of Person Style knows the difference between showing off and expressing pride or excitement about results: You can t sell a car by keeping it in your garage! This person Sells Ideas and One s Self with Boldness, and he understands the importance of selling yourself without sacrificing your ethics, values, or integrity. You don t want to be the best-kept secret in your company! CIRCLE RESULTS AND IDEAS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES OR BALANCED SELF-PROMOTION 6 BRANDON PARTNERS