WINNING AT THE GAME OF OFFICE POLITICS
Nina Simosko, Global Chief Operating Officer, SAP Education
Jo Miller, CEO, Women’s Leadership Coaching Inc
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2009 Women’s Leadership
Webinar Series
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Jo Miller, CEO
Women’s Leadership Coaching Inc
10 years providing leadership coaching and seminars
Coached hundreds of women worldwide
Seminars for women’s networks at Intel, Oracle,
Alcatel-Lucent, Nortel, Rockwell Collins, UBS, and more
Silicon Valley’s “Women of Influence”, 2008.
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Nina Simosko, Global COO
SAP Education, SAP America
Member of the SAP Senior Executive team, responsible for
more than half a billion euros in global software and services
revenue
More than fifteen years of sales and operations management
experience with a tremendous understanding of the global hightech industry
Prior to SAP, was Siebel Systems’ General Manager of
Education for the Americas and Asia Pacific/Japan regions and
ran Global Support & Maintenance Sales
Led Oracle’s Global Education Sales & Marketing team.
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Nina’s blog:
www.NinaSimosko.com
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Why did you start the blog?
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THE EMERGING LEADER’S
PARADOX:
You can’t get a higher level job without
leadership experience…
But you can’t get the experience
without the job.
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What skills and/or
characteristics do
women need, to break out and
become recognized as up-andcoming leaders?
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OFFICE POLITICS
Do you enjoy playing
the game?
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Why did this topic interest
you?
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Why do you think so many
women are turned off by office
politics?
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“…avoiding (office) politics altogether
can be deadly for your career.
Every workplace has an intricate system
of power, and you can -- and should -work it ethically to your best advantage.”
- Erin Burt, Seven Career Killers.
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Office Politics
Organizational Awareness
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Office Politics
Organizational Awareness
Being a savvy observer of the
communication and relationships that
surround you in the organization
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What are the benefits of being
a savvy observer of
relationships and
communication in your
organization?
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The Org Chart
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The Org Chart
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THE ORG CHART
Doesn’t tell the full story
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THE SHADOW ORGANIZATION
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The Org Chart
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Relationships
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Relationships
Influence
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Relationships
Influence
Coalitions
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Relationships
Influence
Coalitions
Key Influencers
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Relationships
Influence
Coalitions
Key Influencers
Verticals
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Relationships
Influence
Coalitions
Key influencers
Verticals
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EXERCISE:
• Map your shadow organization
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What are some ways to gather
information, to strengthen
“organizational intelligence”?
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Tell us about a relationship or
coalition that you actively
cultivated, that made a
difference to your career, or to
the business.
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Every organization has unwritten,
unspoken ‘Rules of the Game’.
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What were some of the
unwritten, unspoken “rules of
the game” you have
encountered in your career,
and how did you respond?
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EXERCISE:
1. Identify some ‘Rules of the Game’ in
your organization.
2. What are some ways to ethically,
effectively navigate these rules?
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Have you ever had to draw a
line between “playing the
game” and upholding your
ethics or values?
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To conclude, what are some
key points you would like
women to take away from this
program?
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NINA’S KEYS TO SUCCESS
• Having the right relationships
• Focusing on the desired outcomes
• Genuinely demonstrating a desire to
help others
• Working both smart and hard – and
don’t ever think that hard work alone
can result in great success. Smart work
is far more fruitful.
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4/28 Your Sphere of Influence
•Build a robust network of relationships,
coalitions and sponsors.
•Create a strategic networking plan.
•Leverage your network to access hidden
resources, information and opportunities.
•5 key people you need to have in your
network.
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Upgrade to the series!
$39 off when you register
•Your sphere of influence
•Create your leadership brand
•Are you the invisible employee
•Becoming a person of influence
•Resiliency redefined
Coupon code: UPGRADE
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www.WomensLeadershipCoaching.com
We help women create a roadmap into
leadership positions in business.
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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
• Begin mapping your shadow organization. What
did you observe?
• What are some ways to gather this information?
• What are some of the “Rules of the Game” in your
organization?
• What are some ways to ethically, effectively
navigate these rules?
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