Political skills are increasingly being seen as vital to career success, but many managers admit they have room for improvement when it comes to influencing others.
A study by the Chartered Management Institute and Warwick Business School found that most individuals believe the political skills that build alliances will grow in importance in the next five years.
Respondents expected that by 2012, partnership working would become a priority for UK business leaders (63%, up six points from today), followed by the need to influence regulators or government (53%, up 10 points) and secure external funding (35%, up three points).
Only a minority of the 1,495 respondents viewed politics as ‘pursuing personal advantage’ (21%). Nearly twice as many (39%) believed political skills were about ‘reconciling differences’, but only 1% judged their own capabilities are ‘excellent’ and 18% suggest ed they are ‘average’.
Jo Causon, director of marketing and corporate affairs at the Institute, says: “In a dynamic business environment, the shift to external partnership-building is good news for UK business. Increasingly, how good an individual is at using their political skills, with employees and external audiences will determine personal, and business, success.”
The Chartered Management Institute is set to run a session on ‘Dealing with political awareness’ at its National Convention, at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole, 11-12 October 2007.
