Political Dilemmas at Work: How to Maintain Your Integrity and Further Your Career

Move into the Spotlight and Take Firm Decisive Action

Remaining paralyzed by the power vacuum does not help you to revolve it. Nor does it help you turn this into a big opportunity. Now is the time to step up and show your potential. You need to take firm and decisive action to make progress. Through action you can demonstrate that you are capable of handling political events and can operate successfully without your former leader. This is the approach of an individual with the potential for greater roles.

Become the unofficial spokesperson for your team. As you work on protecting your team from risks, be prepared to make your voice heard. Act confidently and remain focused on the legitimate risks to organizational performance. Meet with your former leader’s boss. That person has a direct interest in what your team does and should be able to help. Present a clear and objective summary of the situation. Make specific requests and show you have taken a firm hold of what is going on. This can earn you respect and show your potential for the future. Work constructively and seek help and support for the plans you now need to implement.

Engage with your stakeholders and demonstrate that you are working for the best interests of the organization. Recognize their position and link your concerns with their objectives. This highlights your professional approach.

Remain focused on the most important issues. These have the biggest potential negative or positive impact on your team’s ...