Political skill in organizations

Citation

Ferris, G.R. (2008), "Political skill in organizations", Development and Learning in Organizations, Vol. 22 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/dlo.2008.08122aad.009

Political skill in organizations

Political skill in organizations

Ferris G.R., Treadway D.C., Perrewe P.L., Brouer R.L., Douglas C., Lux S. Journal of Management, June 2007 Vol 33 No 3, Start page: 290, No of pages: 31

Purpose – The purpose of the paper was to study the competences needed to successfully engage with organizational politics. The paper develops a framework that shows the processes associated with the political skill and the impact on the person using it and others. Design/methodology/approach – The paper is based on a review of the literature on politics within organizations, lists the dimensions of political skill and the antecedents of these. Sets out the intrapsychic, interpersonal and group processes that underpin political skill and which affect the extent to which the individual is able to understand what is happening within the organization and exert some influence. Findings – The paper argues that political skill is characterized by a set of social competences (cognitive, behavioural and affective) that enable individual employees to be effective at work and deal with the politics that are an inevitable part of organizational life. Separates these skills out into those that are associated with the individual, those that are associated with others and those that are associated with the group. Underlines that these skills can be learned though work experience, mentoring and other developmental experiences. Research limitations/implications – The paper sets out a research agenda for further work on organizational politics and the skills it involves. Practical implications – The paper indicates the practical implications of the analysis. Originality/value – The paper presents a model of the construct of political skill.ISSN: 0149-2063Reference: 36AR099DOI: 10.1177/0149206307300813

Keywords: Group dynamics, Management development, Organizational politics, Skills