Women at Work

The Essentials: Playing Office Politics


Listen Later

Everyone at work has their own priorities, concerns, and agendas, and knowing what those are allows us to navigate projects and meetings more deliberately and successfully. But how do you get the intel you need to achieve the results you want, especially if you’re the odd woman out in a male-dominated company and industry? What exactly does “political capital” mean? And how does one begin to change exclusionary and toxic politics so that they’re inclusive and healthy?

Organizational psychologist Madeleine Wyatt answers those questions and offers advice on how to become more politically savvy, in conversation with a transportation planner who’s determined to find a less tiring, more authentic approach to winning over clients and influencing others.

Guest expert:

Madeleine Wyatt is a professor at King’s Business School. Her research examines diversity at work and the role informal and political processes play in people’s rise into leadership.

Resources:

  • Office Politics Don’t Have to Be Toxic,” by Madeleine Wyatt and Elena Doldor
  • 3 Simple Ways for Women to Rethink Office Politics and Wield More Influence at Work,” by Kathryn Heath
  • Navigating Office Politics When There Is No Office,” by Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic and Dorie Clark
  • HBR Guide to Office Politics, by Karen Dillon
  • Networking Doesn’t Have to Be a Drag,” by Women at Work
  • Sign up for the Women at Work newsletter.

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    Women at WorkBy Harvard Business Review

    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8

    4.8

    1,365 ratings


    More shows like Women at Work

    View all
    Modern Love by The New York Times

    Modern Love

    8,864 Listeners

    The McKinsey Podcast by McKinsey & Company

    The McKinsey Podcast

    388 Listeners

    Coaching for Leaders by Dave Stachowiak

    Coaching for Leaders

    1,456 Listeners

    HBR IdeaCast by Harvard Business Review

    HBR IdeaCast

    1,834 Listeners

    How to Be Awesome at Your Job by How to be Awesome at Your Job

    How to Be Awesome at Your Job

    1,032 Listeners

    Cold Call by HBR Presents / Brian Kenny

    Cold Call

    196 Listeners

    Dear HBR: by Harvard Business Review

    Dear HBR:

    743 Listeners

    Worklife with Adam Grant by TED

    Worklife with Adam Grant

    9,190 Listeners

    HBS Managing the Future of Work by Harvard Business School

    HBS Managing the Future of Work

    106 Listeners

    The Anxious Achiever by Morra Aarons-Mele

    The Anxious Achiever

    575 Listeners

    Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques by Matt Abrahams, Think Fast Talk Smart

    Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

    804 Listeners

    No Stupid Questions by Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

    No Stupid Questions

    3,656 Listeners

    How to Be a Better Human by TED

    How to Be a Better Human

    1,391 Listeners

    Coaching Real Leaders by Harvard Business Review / Muriel Wilkins

    Coaching Real Leaders

    665 Listeners

    HBR On Strategy by Harvard Business Review

    HBR On Strategy

    78 Listeners

    HBR On Leadership by Harvard Business Review

    HBR On Leadership

    158 Listeners

    New Here by Harvard Business Review

    New Here

    81 Listeners