It’s Politics, As Usual By Lafe Low

1. It’s Politics, As UsualBy Lafe Low Presented by Rebecca Johnson April Rains-Grassman

2. “Any time you get three people together, you’ve got politics. It’s a reality of human relations.” – Doug Barker CEO

3. Political skills such as identifying stakeholders, managing relationships and communicating well are critical for IT leaders. • However, they are hardly unique to the CIO role.

4. On the Campaign Trail • Politics is preferable to raw displays of power – especially if you are at a power disadvantage.

5. Understand your constituency • Know whom you are dealing with • Know how they fit into the organizations • Take into account the needs and desires of your constituency

6. Press the flesh • Good communication • “I don’t call it politics. I call it engagement or communicating.” - Bob Weir • Wide-open communication policy

7. Secure endorsements • Building and maintaining relationships throughout the organization, with allies and opponents alike • The most important political task facing any CIO • Forming alliances means bringing others into the decision-making process

8. Watch the weathervane • Political savvy means being prepared for change • CIOs should keep their strategy clearly in mind • Otherwise when political changes occur, “you won’t know how to make compromises that don’t compromise the overall goal.”

9. Keep campaigning • Be patient when pressing for initiatives • You put processes in place and people will change over time. • You may lose at first, but you will win in the long run.

10. It’s Critical to Be Political • Ultimately, the skill set of a seasoned politician is not all that different form that of a seasoned senior-level executive. Most executives who have risen to the level of CIO will have mastered at least some political techniques. • For the politically challenged, these skills can be learned. • “There is no magic in it”

11. Source • http://www.cio.com/archives/040104/hs_politics.html • CIO Magazine – 04/01/2004