Build Trust - Politics can get in the way
As IT leaders, navigating the fact that politics can get in the way of the right work being done can be a significant challenge. But, by building trust and consensus, you can hope to avoid the amount of politics that slows down your progress. As a leader, it is your responsibility to clear the hurdles your team may face. Politics can be a big hurdle, unless you not only trust those around you, but also are viewed as trustworthy. When people believe in your capabilities and integrity, they are more likely to approach you and discuss potential political pitfalls; however, if they hold you in question, they are unlikely to invest the time and effort it would take to coach and advise you around the danger zones. When you are aware of the problem, you have a better chance of addressing it, so how political is the environment you work in? Be honest; do you thrive in it, or loathe it? Are you in a position to influence it? What would that change cost? How many of your projects have been stymied by politics this week, this month, and this year? Could that have been avoided? Were you engaged, and did you ask the right questions?
Have you ever worked with individuals who refuse to share their knowledge with others? People who simply horde it for themselves, believing that this guarantees them a position for life? Have you ever seen this strategy win over the long haul? What happens when this person is eventually replaced? Their colleagues have to suffer from the brain drain. The organization continues to function, a little or a lot less efficiently, but continue it does. Therefore, do not let politics nor strong personalities prevent information-sharing and documentation from becoming prevalent inside your team. This will seem foreign to some, at first, but over the long haul, a successful, motivated team that communicates has much more job security than a loner who keeps all information locked inside his mind. Your team and customers will notice the difference.
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