Friends, Alliances & The Proper Use of Power

I have read (or at least skimmed through) all of Malcolm Gladwell’s books and have found nuggets of wisdom in each one. This year, I’ve started listening to his Revisionist History Podcasts. I thoroughly enjoy the topics and his insights into historical events which can be applied to a wide range of fields of knowledge. I feel his are ideas worth contemplating and sharing. Season 2 Episode 5, about the friendship between Churchill and Lindemann (The Prime Minister and the Prof), is particularly powerful not only because of the tragic consequences of the blind loyalty of the two friends but also because it still resonates in real ways in today’s world in how politics play a role in both political and corporate decision- making. All too often power is misused and abused resulting in negative outcomes for the business and stakeholders.

It’s safe to assume that regardless of the industry, profession, or company, every working professional will encounter the inner dynamics of people jockeying for position and power. Too many seem to have the unpleasant experience of dealing with co-workers doing their best to be unhelpful or getting the occasional nasty finger pointing email CC-ing the boss, her boss and everyone else. And some find themselves in the midst of a more lethal office warfare or power game when executives try to get one up on one another. Workplace politics can get particularly volatile in tough economic times when resources are scarce and financial stability is in question. Developing political competence is a necessary career success skill. Power abused and unchecked is harmful. However, effectively managing the complexities of office politics and the power structures within organizations to exert a positive influence can distinguish you as a leader and give you a career advantage.

No matter how talented you are, how passionate you are about your work, or how much you believe in the company mission and product, you are not likely to accomplish much without building strong relationships and having strategic alliances at work. Allies are those co-workers who provide assistance and extend friendship. They are valuable resources when you are trying to solve problems and are in need of a different perspective. But alliances can work over the long term only when they are based on integrity and trust and operate for the greater good and in seeking win-win solutions. Relationships are the most valuable currency in the workplace. Nurture them, invest in them, and use them wisely. Treating people well is the true key to success. Always try to maintain good working relationships and strategically use political clout at all levels. 

Savvy professionals carefully observe the power structure within the organization. They understand the interpersonal dynamics of those in authority having formal power (holding management positions), those who have informal power (having unique knowledge or position), or those who are charismatic and well-liked and supported. The more you understand the political landscape and the power dynamics, the better you can navigate the waters to accomplish your career goals and ensure your own success. However, being purely politically motivated often results in making bad decisions (and a short-lived tenure.) You cannot go wrong when you focus on integrity. Wise leaders use data to figure out and predict long-term positive outcomes. They form alliances as a way to access resources and skills across the company and to advance common goals. Be proactive and manage work relationships with focused attention. Identify those who complement your skill set and who may have a different approach and perspective so that together you’d be stronger than each one would be individually, and that working together you accomplishing things you can be proud of through the lens of humanity and time.

“If you do not seek out your allies and helpers, then you will be isolated and weak.” ~ Sun Tzu

But choose well. Proceed with caution and act with integrity.

YEAH Goals: Long Journey Daily Success

I got inspired reading Jeff Haden’s LinkedIn post sharing the accomplishment of his lofty goal to do 100,000 pushups and 50,000 sit-ups in one year.

I’ve always loved the Lao Tzu quote: “the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” However, I feel that as hard as taking that step is, it’s still much harder to sustain the stamina to complete a big goal. I remember watching the Olympics with my father. He always used to say that races are not necessarily won by the first runners out of the blocks. Winners are only determined at the finish line. Setting goals, making resolutions, and accepting commitments are things we all do almost on a daily basis. And I think it’s fair to say that most people don’t have a problem getting started. Just think about how many years you’ve made the same New Year’s resolution. How many diets have you started? How many times have you vowed to clean up the garage and keep it organized? If you are like most people, you can probably get excited about starting something new, yet find that you struggle to maintain momentum and enthusiasm to remain committed and follow through over time.

It was actually a client who first mentioned Haden’s audacious goal to me. Her perspective was that it seemed a bit obsessive. Obsession is mostly viewed as being unhealthy. Yet, it may be a powerful force that drives us forward. As long as it is an obsession to improve, it can evoke a strong sense of intention and focus, an emotional attachment to the goal.  I’d also hazard to say that there’s no right or wrong goal to set for ourselves. Personal goals are just that – personal. Those things we care about achieving, for any reason that resonates with us, even when no one else gets it. It’s important to have a good reason for doing something in order to stay committed to a goal. As long as we are ready to dive in wholeheartedly, our drive may remain elusive as far as others are concerned. But we’d better have a clear driving force. Without it, we’d be haunted by excuses. Having that drive means we’ll do whatever it takes to follow through on our goal. Even when we no longer enjoy it, we’ll do it regardless. I call these “YEAH” goals. A “YEAH” goal is something that we are:

Yearning to do, that we have a burning desire to accomplish
Energized by, that we feel invigorated by the chance to rise to the    challenge
Able to achieve, that we know we are capable of doing
Hyped about, that we get really excited about achieving “it”

Because otherwise why even bother?

But despite the initial excitement, when pursuing a huge goal, we can lose our motivation along the way. The secret is to create a daily routine to experience daily success that will reinforce our ability to accomplish the end-goal. Running a marathon can feel overwhelming if you can barely finish a one-mile run (remember that high school physical fitness test?) Every goal can be broken into smaller, easier to achieve, mini-goals. It’s easier to stay the course when you know what you have to do every day to eventually create the reality you want. As you achieve each step, you get an instant motivation boost to keep going to persevere long enough to be victorious. Perseverance is all about small wins that help us stay focused in the face of any challenges. It’s different than quick wins, the proverbial low-hanging fruit, going after the most obvious opportunities and doing what’s easiest for a quick reward. Small wins are more about incremental improvement for long-term gain. Every small success indicates that change is possible and builds the confidence to keep trying. My running coach used to tell me that success is achieved when we keep going even when the going gets tough, when our feet hurt, when our muscles are sore, and even when it’s not fun anymore. It’s about the determination to power through and find the small inspirations along the way to keep running, putting one foot in front of the other. And most importantly, we need to own our goals: to set the goal, the standards, and the point of completion.

With any goal, it’s important to declare the destination, what is to be achieved at the very end of the journey. However, it’s just as important to also define a threshold of success, the point at which a goal is “satisfactorily” completed, even if not 100%. As you set your goal, create a positive picture of success until it’s real in your mind. But be flexible with your vision giving yourself a broader range of success options.

As much experience as we have in setting goals, we often fail to follow through and achieve them. In my experience, the following 5-step framework significantly improves the likelihood of success in achieving a goal:

1. Have a reason: create a compelling vision that would move you to action
2. Make a daily commitment: break your big goal into smaller goals and take daily action
3. Celebrate small wins: maintain the momentum needed to keep making progress
4. Find daily inspiration: incite your enthusiasm to stimulate your endeavors
5. Determine your point of completion: define your own success

“What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.” ~Henry David Thoreau