Political Acumen and Presentation/Influence Skills at work
Ads for programmers and technology specialists that ask for political acumen, the ability to create structure from ambigious situations, and the ability to be influential and persuasive.
Here are some job ads for programmers and technology specialists that ask for political acumen, the ability to create structure from ambiguous situations, and the ability to be influential and persuasive:
Technical Program Manager: This job involves managing complex technical projects and requires political acumen, the ability to create structure from ambiguous situations, and the ability to be influential and persuasive. The job also requires experience in software development and project management
Product Manager: This job involves managing the development of software products and requires political acumen, the ability to create structure from ambiguous situations, and the ability to be influential and persuasive. The job also requires experience in software development and product management
Technical Sales Engineer: This job involves selling technical products and requires political acumen, the ability to create structure from ambiguous situations, and the ability to be influential and persuasive. The job also requires experience in software development and sales
Technical Writer: This job involves writing technical documentation and requires political acumen, the ability to create structure from ambiguous situations, and the ability to be influential and persuasive. The job also requires experience in software development and technical writing
Technical Recruiter: This job involves recruiting technical talent and requires political acumen, the ability to create structure from ambiguous situations, and the ability to be influential and persuasive. The job also requires experience in software development and recruiting
Political acumen is a critical skill that is essential for success in many fields, including business, government, and education. It involves the ability to navigate complex political environments, create structure from ambiguous situations, and be influential and persuasive. In this lecture, we will explore what political acumen means and why it is important.
Definition of Political Acumen
Political acumen has been defined in various ways. According to the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators
, political acumen is "a way of thinking and behaving" that allows individuals to better guide their choices and behavior in different contexts. The Center for Creative Leadership
defines political savvy as the ability to maximize and leverage relationships to achieve organizational, team, and individual goals. In essence, political acumen is the ability to understand and navigate the political landscape to achieve desired outcomes.
Importance of Political Acumen
Political acumen is essential for success in many fields, including business, government, and education. Here are some reasons why political acumen is important:
Navigating complex political environments: In many organizations, there are complex political environments that can be difficult to navigate. Political acumen allows individuals to understand the political landscape and make informed decisions.
Creating structure from ambiguous situations: Ambiguity is a common feature of many organizations. Political acumen allows individuals to create structure from ambiguous situations by understanding the underlying political dynamics.
Being influential and persuasive: In many situations, being influential and persuasive is critical for success. Political acumen allows individuals to understand the motivations and interests of others and use that knowledge to persuade and influence them.
Examples of Political Acumen
Here are some examples of how political acumen can be applied in different fields:
Business: In a business setting, political acumen can be used to navigate complex organizational structures, build relationships with key stakeholders, and influence decision-making.
Government: In a government setting, political acumen can be used to navigate the political landscape, build coalitions, and influence policy-making.
Education: In an educational setting, political acumen can be used to navigate complex organizational structures, build relationships with key stakeholders, and influence decision-making.
Conclusion
Political acumen is a critical skill that is essential for success in many fields. It involves the ability to navigate complex political environments, create structure from ambiguous situations, and be influential and persuasive. By developing political acumen, individuals can better understand the political dynamics of their organizations and use that knowledge to achieve desired outcomes.