Leadership Competencies - Executive
Political Savvy
Definition:
Understands and utilizes the dynamics of power, organization, and decision making to achieve objectives.
Key Behaviors
- Understands the process of how decisions are made
- Identifies the key decision-makers and the people who influence them
- Identifies ways to increase visibility and influence by participation in formal and informal activities
- Understands the interests, motivations, and agendas of others
- Promotes the interests of other key decision makers and influencers in order to obtain support for one's own agenda
- Understands the roles people play in an organization and uses that understanding to achieve objectives
- Establishes alliances with people of power and influence in order to influence decisions and outcomes
- Accurately anticipates changes in the political climate and plans and executes strategy and tactics based on that anticipation
Proficiency Levels
- Expert: Models, leads, trains, and motivates multiple levels of personnel to be excellent in political know-how.
- Advanced: Even in the most difficult or complex situations, understands how decisions are made and who makes and influences them, understands and promotes the interests of others to obtain their support, understands the roles people play in an organization and uses that understanding to achieve objectives, and establishes alliances to influence outcomes.
- Intermediate: Usually understands how decisions are made and who makes and influences them, understands and promotes the interests of others to obtain their support, understands the roles people play in an organization and uses that understanding to achieve objectives, and establishes alliances to influence outcomes.
- Basic: Sometimes understands how decisions are made and who makes and influences them, understands and promotes the interests of others to obtain their support, understands the roles people play in an organization and uses that understanding to achieve objectives, and establishes alliances to influence outcomes.
- Awareness: Demonstrates common knowledge or an understanding of political know-how, but may avoid or miss opportunities to understand and utilize political dynamics to achieve objectives.
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