Have you heard about the third leadership intelligence PQ? It could be a game changer for you
Jun 29, 2023
Being in leadership doesn’t only require strategic thinking and building influence, it also requires PQ: Political Intelligence
Do you look around you and see people who are getting what they want? Chances are they have networks, conduct plenty of one-on-one conversations before and after the meeting, and have currency. They understand the environment and the undercurrents they are working in. In other words they are politically savvy and know what levers to pull and when.
As much as we like to think they are not, workplaces are political. When I became a manager, I wasn’t interested in being a part of office politics, I wanted my work to do the talking. I quickly realised this was not going to get me anywhere and left me with no network and no currency.
The more you compete for limited resources and the further you progress up the hierarchy, the more important PQ becomes. As humans we all have our own view of the world, unconscious bias, preferred ways of doing things, principles, values, and understanding of how we think things should ‘be’. This creates an environment that requires complex maneuvering to build and maintain relationships across a range of stakeholders.
To be successful in this environment you need PQ. PQ is the ability to use your emotional intelligence to deftly handle delicate matters, all whilst utilising your influence and relationships. It is a tool that can identify you as a leader that operates at a higher level.
So how do you build PQ?
- Understand the environment that you are in, this includes existing working relationships,
- Know what others value, how can you put forward what you want in a way that creates value for others and delivers win-win situations,
- Understand what are definite “no’s” or deal breakers for others and why,
- Invest time and effort in building and nurturing a range of relationships, not only when you need them,
- Build relationships outside of your organisation, and with people that hold roles that are out of the box. Networks and influence that are wide ranging, and not only exist in the obvious places, are a powerful ally.
If you are going to be a savvy leader who gets results, get past the idea of politics being something you don’t have time or energy for. To be successful you need to proactively engage in the political landscape.
How important is PQ to your success in your current role? How can you improve your PQ game?
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