Politics: “ I am not a manager to do politics; I am here to lead my team and achieve great results. “ Many times, I heard this sentence from my colleagues and peers. Politics is not manipulation; behind one word, we hide all the descriptions of people or groups of people acting for their benefit or promotion. If we want to denounce what is shocking us, we have to be precise in choosing the word that describes the action.
I love Politics. From an etymological standpoint, the word comes from the Ancient Greek term politiká, which means affairs of the cities. Therefore, politics describes how we act to govern a city and live together. Quite the right thing to do.
In a city, all the decisions are not made by the mayor’s office. A lot of departments exist and make their own decisions. To influence decisions, circles of power or influence exist. They become pressure groups to get their point of view acknowledged. And thus enable them to perceive an inflection in the decisions of the town council. Association, group of people, school, firefighter …
An enterprise or a large company is like a city. It’s now well understood and established that not all decisions can be made centrally by one person or council to govern a large company. Doing so would be counterproductive and slow down everything. Thus, a hierarchy is established, and each layer of decision-makers and local councils has its own areas of authority, guaranteeing global alignment. In large companies, we also have transverse functions that have their own set of priorities and autonomy. This is the ecosystem we are living in: we have multiple channels of communication and multiple layers where decisions are made.
Another business element to be understood is that to decide to do something, you have to decide not to do something. To deliver, you need to prioritize and focus.
In a nutshell, we have a complex layered structure or a matrix one, both with multiple levels of decisions to ensure that decisions are made at the right level. No company lacks ideas or opportunities. But also, no company has enough money to pursue and execute all the ideas and propositions that can be generated.
Now, you have an idea and a vision you believe in and want to see benefit the company. That’s great; the company needs it, and we also have other colleagues with great ideas.
And why should it be your idea?
Questions for you:
- Do you know your company’s top priority?
- Do you know about ongoing projects in all the decision-making spheres?
- Do you know the impact these projects may have on the business?
- Did you complete a holistic business evaluation of your project?
- Do you know how your idea will contribute to achieving your company goals or at least in your business segment?
As a manager, it’s crucial that you can confidently answer these questions. To navigate the complexities of your organization, you need a deep understanding of your company’s ecosystem. Grasping the decision-making elements and key decision-makers enables you to present your ideas strategically and effectively.
A holistic view of your business or its segment is essential for developing compelling business cases and persuasive pitches that collect support for your projects. These elements are fundamental to safeguarding your company’s future, and they encapsulate what politics is truly about.
In your managerial role, you must help your employees see the full picture. To achieve this, you must understand and interpret the structure of your enterprise, the decision-making processes, and the dynamics of relationships within the company. Knowing why certain individuals wield more influence is key.
As managers, we guide human beings within the living entity that is our company, navigating its intricate internal interactions and evolving histories.
The art of politics in large companies is the ability to read human relationships.
Politics is the way to have debates between people to make the best decision based on facts and data for the group. So, we should encourage politics. We need to learn to understand human relations and decision-making processes in complex human-based environments. And as managers, it’s one of our fundamental duties.
Do not get confused between Politics acting for the success of the whole and individuals or groups of individuals acting for their own success. Name what you observe as unacceptable and provide an accurate description. By doing so, you can address the situation.
Question: Which reading would you recommend on that matter
r discover others?
🛠️ Three simple actions to highlight diversity within a team
Map the decision‑making ecosystem
Identify key players: cross‑functional roles, decision‑makers, influencers.
Understand their priorities, constraints, and areas of responsibility.
Observe the formal and informal channels where decisions are actually made.
Align your ideas with the company’s priorities
Check how your initiative contributes to strategic objectives.
Assess the impacts: workload, costs, dependencies, risks.
Adapt your message to show the overall value, not just the local benefit.
Help your team understand the internal mechanics
Explain how decisions are truly made within the organization.
Share constraints, priorities, and interdependencies between departments.
Develop their ability to navigate this complex environment themselves.
👉 These three simple actions strengthen your leadership posture and unlock your potential.
Coaching or Mentoring: Your Choice, Your Growth
I’m Franck Dervault, drawing on years of professional experience and now advancing toward certification as a coach. I offer two distinct paths:
- Coaching to help you unlock your own potential through reflection, presence, and guided discovery.
- Mentoring to share lessons, strategies, and insights from my career so you can navigate challenges with confidence.
Whichever path you choose, my goal is the same: to help you realize that you are wiser than you think, with immense potential waiting to be unlocked.
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