Politics

When you get promoted …decision making becomes more political–less about authority, and more about influence.

There are two main reasons for this. First, the issues you’re dealing with become much more complex and ambiguous when you move up a level–and your ability to identify “right” answers based solely on data and analysis declines correspondingly. … Second, at a higher level of the organization, the other players are more capable and have stronger egos.⊕ (Watkins 2013, chap. 1)

Early in your career, there is a premium on cultivating good technical advisers–experts in certain aspects of marketing or finance, for instance, who can help you get your work done. As you move to higher levels, however, it becomes increasingly important to get good political counsel and personal advice.⊕ (Watkins 2013, chap. 1)

Notice whom people go to for advice and insight, and who shares what information and news. Who defers to whom when certain topics are being discussed? When an issue is raised, where do people’s eyes track?⊕ (Watkins 2013, chap. 8)

Don’t forget to preach ot the converted … providing them with the most persuasive arguments …⊕ (Watkins 2013, chap. 8)

Once peopole perceive that change is going to happen, the game often shifts from outright opposition to a competition to influence what sort of change will occur.⊕ (Watkins 2013, chap. 8)

Influence techniques:

Consultation, framing, choice-shaping, social influence, incrementalism, sequencing, and action-forcing-events.⊕ (Watkins 2013, chap. 8)

• “Good consultaiton means engaging in active listening”
• “Framing means carefully crafting your persuasive arguments on a person-by-person basis”
• “Choice-shaping is about influencing how people perceive their alternatives”
• "_Social influence" is the impact of the opinions of others and the rules of the societies in which they live."
• “Incrementalism refers to the notion that people can move in desired directions step-by-step when they wouldn’t go in a single leap”
• “Sequencing means being strategic about the order in which you seek to influence people to build momentum in desired directions”
• "_Action-forcing events" get people to stop deferring decisions, delaying, and avoiding commitment of scarce resources"

“Presenting and decisively refuting weak forms of expected counterargument immunizes audiences against the same arguments when they’re advanced in more potent forms.”⊕ (Watkins 2013, chap. 8)