Jim asked, “Alright, Jim, if you lend two of my most valuable testing resources to you next Monday, then you will add you to the Project Methodology Council.”
Lisa replied, “Ok Jim. I really do require two of your strongest testing resource to get us back on the right track. So if you and/or your resources deliver, consider yourself part in the council.”
You are witnessing Jim and Lisa playing political games. They are creating an agreement or an exchange between each other. They use currencies to meet their needs. This situation is not about money, but currency does have everything to do value. Jim is giving Lisa something she considers valuable (the testers) in return for something he believes to be valuable (a seat on Project Methodology Council).
Jim and Lisa are both equals. Both are project managers in the same company. They have a great working relationship. They have a good working relationship, even though they don’t socialize outside the office (with the possible exception of work-related functions), but they respect each other as professionals.
Lisa is currently working on a project that has been delayed during testing. Jim has two excellent testers working on his project. Lisa is close to implementation. She doesn’t want to miss the deadline. Jim knows that next week will be a lighter week for his project and his testers. Jim also knows Lisa has been given the task of starting up a Project Methodology Council. Jim is keen to be a part of this council. The members will work with the executive management of each division to establish a project management strategy for the enterprise. Jim believes his career would benefit greatly from the visibility that he would get as a member.
In this situation, Lisa’s currency is task-related. She needs assistance in completing work by a given deadline. Jim prefers to use position-related currency. He wants to be seen and recognized. Both are in a position where they can satisfy each other’s currency needs.
Jim could have easily offered his resources to Lisa, and Lisa was likely already going to ask Jim for membership in the Project Methodology Council. But that’s politics. It’s part of the game that both parties were open to an exchange that they both found beneficial.
What if Lisa couldn’t offer Jim a place on the Project Methodology Council. Is it possible that Jim would have refused to help Lisa, even though he was aware of his resources? This is the part that many of us don’t appreciate. Jim would not be able to give Lisa anything in exchange for his persistence and instead he would let his resources rot. Jim would then be putting his political needs above the needs of the organization, since he knows Lisa’s team will miss their implementation date. Guess what? Jim might be willing to give up his resources in return for nothing. He might be a good man, or he may be a good person and a good politician. But, maybe in the future Lisa will help him to reciprocate.
Project managers are not afraid to admit that politics is part and parcel of their job. Positive politics is what you want to do. A leader who is successful is a politician. Project managers are leaders, therefore project managers can also be politicians. As a project manager, one of the most costly mistakes you can make is not to play politics.
This may make you feel uncomfortable or confused. This audio program is 46 minutes long and will help you ethically and successfully leverage power influence and currencies.
Positive Politics for Project Managers
