“We’re not political here.” I’ve heard that sentence hundreds of times over the years. It usually comes from well-intentioned leaders who are proud of the culture they’ve built. To them, politics means gossip, backstabbing, empire building and people advancing themselves at the expense of others. If that’s organisational politics, then of course they don’t want […]
When Good Work Stops Working At some point in your career, something shifts. You’re still capable. Still delivering. Still doing work that matters.And yet, your influence becomes… unpredictable. Some ideas land immediately. Others drift past without traction. Occasionally, someone else says the same thing, and suddenly it’s heard. It’s subtle at first. Easy to dismiss. […]
Why Political Savvy Isn’t Manipulation—It’s Leadership Maturity “I don’t play politics.” That’s a phrase many well-intentioned managers and leaders proudly declare. It signals integrity, honesty, and a rejection of manipulation. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: politics happen whether you “play” or not. In every organisation, people influence, negotiate, advocate, and manoeuvre to get things […]