Office Politics 101

Louise Sevold

Technical Services Director

Cuyahoga County Public Library

What is office politics?

“Politics: the unwritten rules of how things are done or not done.”

Pat McBride, The Black Collegian

“Stop pretending that it doesn’t exist… Decrying the fact the system is political is like complaining that water is wet.”

Gerard Egan

• “What is the right thing to do?”

• “What is right for the library and its customers?”

• “What is best for me?”

Overly PoliticalLess Political

• High integrity • Low integrity• High integrity

• Low level of political skill

• High level of political skill

• High level of political skill

Understand the culture

Accept the political reality

Assess the interests and clout of key players

Build a network

Seek key partnerships

Challenge ideas without embarrassing others

Fight the right battles

Play your strong hands

Cut your losses

THINK

Knee jerk

Shrill voice

Whining

Instead…

• Breathe

• Ponder

• Ask for time

“It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good

impromptu speech.”Mark Twain

It is that simple…and that complicated.