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Office Politics

Understanding office politics is critical to both personal and organization success. We all like to think we are NOT political and hopefully, we are not, what is crtical is that we are politically savvy. This survey will help you explore your own level of political savviness.

The survey has 25 questions, it should take you less than 5 minutes to complete. At the end of the survey, there is a key to identify your level of Political Savviness.

Be Honest and have fun!

Based on the book by Scott Mautz "Leading from the Middle"

1. The yes or no answers to these questions will help you self-assess on this skill, with every “no” pointing to an opportunity to build your political savviness. Answer each question with an honest “yes” or “no”, keeping track of the number of times you answer “yes” or “no”, then totaling both up. Then check the Key at the end to see what your total score means and what to do about it.

2. Tally up your answers!

Space Cell	Answers
Yes	Yes: Answers
No	No: Answers

Your Score:

• You checked 20-25 Yes’s in total: Politically astute – You’re leveraging office politics in a highly effective and appropriate manner. Strengthen your strengths on this front.

• You checked 9-19 Yes’s in total: Politically competent – You’ve got game, but there’s plenty of low-hanging opportunity to be savvier and more effective. Turn those “no’s” to “yes’s.”

• You checked 0-8 Yes’s in total: Politically naïve (sorry) – You’ve got much to learn and practice to keep from getting steamrolled or self-sabotaging at work. Not to worry, political savviness is a skill that can be learned. Take it one step at a time; turn one “no” into a “yes” then move on to the next one.

The questions coded into four categories:

1. Self-Image (SI)

2. Organizational Awareness (OA)

3. Organizational Assets/Tensions (OAT)

4. Others-Orientation (OO)

3. Cross reference of categories to Yes/No answers?

Space Cell	Yes	No
1. Self-Image (SI)	1. Self-Image (SI): Yes	1. Self-Image (SI): No
2. Organizational Awareness (OA)	2. Organizational Awareness (OA): Yes	2. Organizational Awareness (OA): No
3. Organizational Assets/Tensions (OAT)	3. Organizational Assets/Tensions (OAT): Yes	3. Organizational Assets/Tensions (OAT): No
4. Others-Orientation (OO)	4. Others-Orientation (OO): Yes	4. Others-Orientation (OO): No

Time for Self Reflection!

How politically savvy am I? Are there areas I could improve?

Space Cell	Yes	No
1. I am able to exhibit impulse control and keep myself from blurting out whatever I think? (SI)	1. I am able to exhibit impulse control and keep myself from blurting out whatever I think? (SI): Yes	1. I am able to exhibit impulse control and keep myself from blurting out whatever I think? (SI): No
2. I understand how decisions really get made and how things really get done in my company? (OA)	2. I understand how decisions really get made and how things really get done in my company? (OA): Yes	2. I understand how decisions really get made and how things really get done in my company? (OA): No
3. I know who the gatekeepers are (those that have access to the resources to what I need)? (OA)	3. I know who the gatekeepers are (those that have access to the resources to what I need)? (OA): Yes	3. I know who the gatekeepers are (those that have access to the resources to what I need)? (OA): No
4. I know who the key influencers are (those that have great influence on what I need)? (OA)	4. I know who the key influencers are (those that have great influence on what I need)? (OA): Yes	4. I know who the key influencers are (those that have great influence on what I need)? (OA): No
5. I know who the key decision makers are? (OA)	5. I know who the key decision makers are? (OA): Yes	5. I know who the key decision makers are? (OA): No
6. I know who the key stakeholders are (those that care the most about a decision)? (OA)	6. I know who the key stakeholders are (those that care the most about a decision)? (OA): Yes	6. I know who the key stakeholders are (those that care the most about a decision)? (OA): No
7. I seek out genuine, value-added reasons for people who impact my career? (SI)	7. I seek out genuine, value-added reasons for people who impact my career? (SI): Yes	7. I seek out genuine, value-added reasons for people who impact my career? (SI): No
8. I understand the cultural and behavioral norms in my company. (OA)	8. I understand the cultural and behavioral norms in my company. (OA): Yes	8. I understand the cultural and behavioral norms in my company. (OA): No
9. I know what behaviors are highly encouraged in my company. (SI/OA)	9. I know what behaviors are highly encouraged in my company. (SI/OA): Yes	9. I know what behaviors are highly encouraged in my company. (SI/OA): No
10. I know what behaviors are considered unacceptable in my company. (SI/OA)	10. I know what behaviors are considered unacceptable in my company. (SI/OA): Yes	10. I know what behaviors are considered unacceptable in my company. (SI/OA): No
11. I have developed an effective partnership with my boss. (OAT)	11. I have developed an effective partnership with my boss. (OAT): Yes	11. I have developed an effective partnership with my boss. (OAT): No
12. I know who will resist my agenda and who I need on my side to advance it. (OAT)	12. I know who will resist my agenda and who I need on my side to advance it. (OAT): Yes	12. I know who will resist my agenda and who I need on my side to advance it. (OAT): No
13. When I score a victory, I make sure the other side can save face. (OO)	13. When I score a victory, I make sure the other side can save face. (OO): Yes	13. When I score a victory, I make sure the other side can save face. (OO): No
14. I have a sponsor (someone to provide support for my advancing in the organization). (OAT)	14. I have a sponsor (someone to provide support for my advancing in the organization). (OAT): Yes	14. I have a sponsor (someone to provide support for my advancing in the organization). (OAT): No
15. I engage in subtle, warranted self-promotion (versus over-the-top, gratuitous self-promotion). (SI)	15. I engage in subtle, warranted self-promotion (versus over-the-top, gratuitous self-promotion). (SI): Yes	15. I engage in subtle, warranted self-promotion (versus over-the-top, gratuitous self-promotion). (SI): No
16. I have good self-awareness. (SI)	16. I have good self-awareness. (SI): Yes	16. I have good self-awareness. (SI): No
17. I have good situational awareness (I’m observant of what’s happening in the moment). (OO)	17. I have good situational awareness (I’m observant of what’s happening in the moment). (OO): Yes	17. I have good situational awareness (I’m observant of what’s happening in the moment). (OO): No
18. I have good organizational awareness (I know what image my company wants to portray). (OA)	18. I have good organizational awareness (I know what image my company wants to portray). (OA): Yes	18. I have good organizational awareness (I know what image my company wants to portray). (OA): No
19. I’m intentional about making other people look good. (OO)	19. I’m intentional about making other people look good. (OO): Yes	19. I’m intentional about making other people look good. (OO): No
20. I don’t change who I am on different occasions, just nuances of how I need to act. (SI)	20. I don’t change who I am on different occasions, just nuances of how I need to act. (SI): Yes	20. I don’t change who I am on different occasions, just nuances of how I need to act. (SI): No
21. I’ve built a network of friends and influencers across the company. (OAT)	21. I’ve built a network of friends and influencers across the company. (OAT): Yes	21. I’ve built a network of friends and influencers across the company. (OAT): No
22. I’ve built strategic alliances across the company. (OAT)	22. I’ve built strategic alliances across the company. (OAT): Yes	22. I’ve built strategic alliances across the company. (OAT): No
23. I’m open-minded and vocal about what I believe but mindful of how I express it. (SI)	23. I’m open-minded and vocal about what I believe but mindful of how I express it. (SI): Yes	23. I’m open-minded and vocal about what I believe but mindful of how I express it. (SI): No
24. I advocate strongly for my viewpoint, then commit to the final decision. (OO)	24. I advocate strongly for my viewpoint, then commit to the final decision. (OO): Yes	24. I advocate strongly for my viewpoint, then commit to the final decision. (OO): No
25. When in doubt, I let my values guide me to good decisions. (OO)	25. When in doubt, I let my values guide me to good decisions. (OO): Yes	25. When in doubt, I let my values guide me to good decisions. (OO): No