Political Dilemmas at Work: How to Maintain Your Integrity and Further Your Career

Foreword

Foreword written by Marshall Goldsmith, New York Times best-selling author of What Got You Here, Won’t Get You There, the Harold Longman Best Business Book for 2007.

 

In my career, I have had the privilege of working with over 100 major CEOs and their management teams. My clients are already successful leaders who are working to “take it to the next level” and get even better.

Even the greatest leaders, at all levels of an organization, sometimes face political challenges. They need to be able to promote the ideas that they believe are in the best interest of their companies—while at the same time respecting the differing views of their colleagues and maintaining teamwork.

Top leaders often face a dilemma. They need to encourage the entrepreneurial spirit within each of their team members and, at the same time, ensure that everyone works as one unit for the good of the company. Diversity of views strengthens and enhances quality—and often the best ideas are made better because of lively debate and discussion. But once the decision is made, everyone needs to pull together to ensure effective execution. Too much rivalry can damage an organization, while too much forced harmony can lead to groupthink and competitive stagnation. Getting the balance right is vital to corporate success.

While leaders usually understand the balance between individual contribution and teamwork intellectually, they often face challenges in balancing these forces. For example, ...