Book Description

"Office politics." The term carries a number of negative connotations - hyper-ambition, deceitful maneuvering, favor trading, responsibility skirted, and rewards unearned. But not all uses of office politics are ethically out of bounds. In fact, the smart use of interpersonal power in group situations is a key to success for the individual and the organization - any organization. In 1993, the first edition of Organizational Power Politics: Tactics in Organizational Leadership was named an Oustanding Academic Book by Choice magazine. Now this acclaimed book returns in a fully updated second edition that gives readers proven strategies for using power to achieve personal and group objectives at work and in social, religious, military, and other contexts. Based on extensive research, Organizational Power Politics reviews present and past power-use theory, updates it, and proposes a practical power-use model both leader and led can use to sway others. It identifies the range of strategic orientations the power user might adopt, and it suggests a three-part strategy for using power. At the book's heart are 22 specific power tactics, applicable to a wide range of organizations and situations. Like the previous edition, this updated version provides clear, direct, and specific modes of behavior group members can use to get others to do what they want, even in the face of their opposition. Two new chapters look at the use of power in multinational work groups and among the middle layers of large-scale organizations. Activities, self-evaluations, case studies, and discussion questions are all included to help readers sharpen their power skills. Everybody uses power; it is a constituent part of all business and social relationships. With Organizational Power Politics, Second Edition in hand, you can assess your power skills - and hone them to increase your success in all walks of life. -- from dust jacket.