Navigating organizational politics is crucial while in a senior leadership position. It is essential to choose your political battles wisely. Frequently, in the initial phases or beginning days, this can exhaust most of your energy. As with everything, this is a skill one will acquire over time.

6 Ps of political intelligence

Political Quotient (PQ) comprises of the following:

1. Partnerships: The need to identify whom to partner with and when to be able to drive the maximum impact
2. Performance: Being able to perform consistently and improve self and organization’s performance
3. Power: Use personal, positional, and professional power for good
4. Perception management: Manage various perspectives with peers, reports, management chain by creating a healthy feedback cycle
5. Political battles: Choose the political battles wisely to be able to invest your energy to drive maximum impact for self and the organization
6. Political tradeoffs: Have clarity in your thought to be able to identify the tradeoffs to achieve goals

Qualities to thrive in politics

1. Adaptability
2. Redefine things and perspectives—build resilience: Be open to different perspectives and scenarios, but make firm decisions to adjust to the new perspective and move on quickly.
3. Behavior change – to be more effective: Learn to reflect and assess yourself often

Key takeaways

1. Choose your battles wisely
2. Document your thoughts and have a plan. Most importantly, also keep a Plan B in place.
3. Assess risks
4. Understand the long term impact, not just the short term impact
5. Fight battles where it is best to invest your energy, and that aligns with your values