Men and women don’t look at office politics and power dynamics the same way. That’s what my consulting partners and I recently found when we surveyed 134 senior executives in large organizations and conducted follow-up interviews with 44 of them. There’s no right or wrong here, but the discrepancies help explain why women assert themselves differently.
3 Simple Ways for Women to Rethink Office Politics and Wield More Influence at Work
First, draw a map.
December 18, 2017
Summary.
In a recent survey of 134 senior executives, the author found that men and women tend to think about office power dynamics in very different ways. Based on this research, the author suggests three simple strategies women can use to build their influence at work: First, create relationship maps to better understand the landscape of people in your professional sphere. Next, construct a scaffolding to help you build support. Finally, think big and don’t be afraid of ambitious goals. Ultimately, when it comes to developing influence in the workplace, authenticity and self-confidence are the most important tools in any professional’s toolbox.
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Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
How to build a better, more just workplace.