HBR Guide to Office Politics (HBR Guide Series)

Don’t let destructive drama sideline your career.Every organization has its share of political drama: Personalities clash. Agendas compete. Turf wars erupt. But you need to work productively with your colleagues—even difficult ones—for the good of your organization and your career. How can you do that without compromising your personal values? By acknowledging that power dynamics and unwritten rules exist—and navigating them constructively.The HBR Guide to Office Politics will help you succeed at work without being a power grabber or a corporate climber. Instead you’ll cultivate a political strategy that’s authentic to you. You’ll learn how to:Gain influence without losing your integrityContend with backstabbers and bulliesWork through tough conversationsManage tensions when resources are scarceGet your share of choice assignmentsAccept that not all conflict is badArm yourself with the advice you need to succeed on the job, from a source you trust. Packed with how-to essentials from leading experts, the HBR Guides provide smart answers to your most pressing work challenges.

“To help people learn how to use office politics to get things done rather than merely suffer as the victim of the machinations of others, Harvard Business Review Press has just published HBR Guide to Office Politics by Karen Dillon.” — Vedomosti"Office politics might sound a somewhat throwaway knockabout topic for such an esteemed set of guides but as former Harvard Business Review editor Karen Dillon demonstrates, it's deadly serious. Her guide tackles common quandaries, from an over-controlling manager to a bullying colleague, employing real, practical advice rather than pop psychology, and her guidance on effective conflict management techniques is as sound as you'll read anywhere." — People Management (UK) “The tagline to HBR Guide to Office Politics is “Rise above rivalry, Avoid power games, Build better relationships.” It offers dozens of really useful tips to help us do exactly that.” — MindTools (mindtools.com)

Karen Dillon is a coauthor of the New York Times bestseller How Will You Measure Your Life? (with Clayton M. Christensen and James Allworth). She is the former editor of Harvard Business Review and is now a contributing editor. Follow her on Twitter: @DillonHBR.