Secrets to Winning at Office Politics: How to Achieve Your Goals and Increase Your Influence at Work

When the other person’s nameplate says CEO, you’re going to lose the argument even if you’re right

Here are some questions to consider in determining a person’s power level:

• Do top managers know who they are?

• Could the CEO find their office without a map?

• Do they talk more about the past or the future?

• Is their body language confident or submissive?

• Do people listen when they speak?

• Do people trust them with information?

• What meetings do they attend?

• How many people know who they are?

• With whom do they have lunch?

• What email distribution lists are they on?

• Who can they go to see without an appointment?

• When they want something, do they get it?

virtually every job contains some power potential—the challenge is to make the most of it.