I wish I'd known that earlier in my career : the power of positive workplace politics

**The must-read guide to understanding corporate politics in order to get ahead**Designed to provide the reader with an understanding of corporate politics from a positive perspective, __I Wish I'd Known That Earlier in My Career__ uses case studies to teach the essentials of organizational dynamics, power networks, and the decision-making processes and dilemmas involved in business. Examining corporate politics and the barriers many managers face in their efforts to reach the top, the book works to build awareness and strategies for business and career success. Taking a refreshing new approach to workplace politics, the book presents new ways to think about embracing opportunities in order to achieve personal and organization-wide career satisfaction. Rather than encouraging employees to move on and start their own businesses, it instead details how to move up within their current companies by learning to understand power bases and conversation more thoroughly. * Combines individual case studies and real life situations with helpful tips and techniques designed to help overcome corporate challenges * Each chapter tells a story that illustrates a constructive concept that can be easily learned and applied in the real world * Covers topics including: political savvy, the benefits of self-promotion, performance management, sexual harassment, and other organizational challenges Essential reading for anyone looking to move forward in their professional life, __I Wish I'd Known That Earlier in My Career__ provides genuinely helpful advice in a highly accessible, easily applicable way.

If The White House Project has anything to do with it, millions of young women won't look back in retrospect to realize the lessons of this book after decades of believing the world is a meritocracy. Jane Horan has brilliantly captured one of the most important levers of leadership advancement—navigating the politics of any environment.
—Tiffany Dufu President, The White House Project

The world of work is a self-interested world, and that means politics is always a factor. Jane Horan does a stunning job clarifying whats going on and what you need to see and take seriously. Her point: Politics is—neither good nor bad until you interact with them. She wants to help you make them a positive. After reading the advice she gives, I suggest you let her.
—Professor Samuel A. Culbert Professor, UCLA Anderson School of Management, and Author (with Lawrence Rout) of Get Rid of the Performance Review: How Companies Can Stop Intimidating, Start Managing and Focus On What Really Matters

Using her many experiences, Jane Horan has managed in this book to re-frame the way we think about politics—a critical yet undervalued leadership skill"
—Philippe Gas President and Chief Executive Officer, Euro Disney SAS

Anyone working in an organization of more than one will benefit from this very readable book on "politics". Often a derogatory term, politics and the ability to understand and manage power is an important leadership skill essential to getting things done and reaching goals for any organization. Readers will enjoy the many case studies as they reflect on how they can improve their own interpersonal skills.
—Professor Steven J. DeKrey Senior Associate Dean and Director of Masters Programs, HKUST

This book reveals what it means to be savvy within an organization so that employees can build an authentic and thriving career plan. More importantly, it motivates people to better align and sell their innovative ideas. This should be a required text in MBA programs.
—Drew Boyd Executive Director, MS-Marketing Program, and Assistant Professor-Educator of Marketing and Innovation, Carl H. Lindner College of Business, University of Cincinnati

Jane Horan has written a book which, while being supremely practical, drives home a few hard truths! So often we miss out on real positive outcomes because we lack political savvy and in this brillian book the author demonstrates how we can transform ourselves.
—Dr. Kirpal Singh Director, Wee Kim Wee centre, Singapore Management University  

The must-read guide to understanding corporate politics in order to get ahead Designed to provide the reader with an understanding of corporate politics from a positive perspective, I Wish I'd Known That Earlier in My Career uses case studies to teach the essentials of organizational dynamics, power networks, and the decision-making processes and dilemmas involved in business. Examining corporate politics and the barriers many managers face in their efforts to reach the top, the book works to build awareness and strategies for business and career success. Taking a refreshing new approach to workplace politics, the book presents new ways to think about embracing opportunities in order to achieve personal and organization-wide career satisfaction. Rather than encouraging employees to move on and start their own businesses, it instead details how to move up within their current companies by learning to understand power bases and conversation more thoroughly. Combines individual case studies and real life situations with helpful tips and techniques designed to help overcome corporate challenges Each chapter tells a story that illustrates a constructive concept that can be easily learned and applied in the real world Covers topics including: political savvy, the benefits of self-promotion, performance management, sexual harassment, and other organizational challenges Essential reading for anyone looking to move forward in their professional life, I Wish I'd Known That Earlier in My Career provides genuinely helpful advice in a highly accessible, easily applicable way. Companies that embrace rather than deny corporate politics and learn to use it positively can boost talent retention and increase diversity. The book reveals how to navigate a successful course through the corridors of power with strategies for common scenarios such as managing new bosses, recognizing barriers in selling ideas or getting promoted, surviving racism and sexual harassment. It also shows professionals how to create a personal power map and harness the power of positive politics without compromising their integrity or values. It includes compelling stories and case studies about the politically aware and unaware that the author gathered from executives across industries and cultures in Asia and the West I Wish I'd Known That Earlier In My Career: The Power of Positive Workplace Politics 7 Contents 11 Acknowledgments 13 Foreword 17 Introduction: Why We Don't Move Ahead—Politics 19 Chapter 1: The How and Why of Positive Politics 25 Chapter 2: Becoming Savvy 35 Chapter 3: Surviving the Ebbs and Flows of Power 59 Chapter 4: Taking Things at Face Value: Trust, But Verify 73 Chapter 5: Mapping Power: Who's In and Who's Out 95 Chapter 6: Managing Perceptions 109 Chapter 7: Reputation and Brand Management: What's Your Story? 121 Chapter 8: The Spoken Word: Gender and Culture Issues 131 Chapter 9: The Politics of Performance Management 145 Chapter 10: Power, Politics and Sex 159 Conclusion 171 Bibliography 181 Index 189 Tagline: A plain language discussion of an under-discussed subject: office politics. The book provides the reader with an understanding of corporate politics from a positive perspective.