The Science of Why Some Colleagues Advance Effortlessly

You've probably wondered why some colleagues seem to advance effortlessly while you're stuck with great ideas that never get implemented. Here's the uncomfortable truth about corporate politics that business schools teach, but nobody talks about openly.

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The Science of Why Some Colleagues Advance Effortlessly

The Research Behind Office Politics

Stanford Professor Jeffrey Pfeffer, whose research on organizational power has been taught in MBA programs for over 40 years, established a fundamental principle: Power is not given. It is taken.

Some people are naturally wired to take power, and some aren't. This isn't about manipulation - it's about understanding how influence actually works in organizations.

The Psychological Profile of Fast Climbers

The people who rise quickly have specific traits:

• Naturally comfortable with influence and persuasion

• Skilled at building coalitions and framing narratives

• Able to navigate complex social dynamics

• Focused on perception, visibility, and positioning

Maybe they were debaters in school, student leaders, or came from backgrounds where persuasion was valued. Just like engineers develop analytical skills, some people develop political intelligence early.

Why You Might Be Struggling

While you're focused on moving the needle and solving real problems, they're focused on how their work is perceived and positioned. This doesn't make either approach wrong - they're just different skillsets.

If you're not naturally wired for office politics, you probably beat yourself up for being "bad" at it. But you may not have had training to recognize the patterns or understand how influence actually works.

The Uncomfortable Truth

Recognizing this pattern doesn't change the game. Either you learn to play it, or the company will choose someone else who will.

Stop beating yourself up for not being someone you're not. But don't refuse to engage with office politics either.

A Strategic Approach

• Be respectful and play your part by bringing your voice constructively

• Share what you do openly when you have opportunities

• Think about your audience and communicate the impact you're creating

• Embrace the game rather than hiding from it

The alternative is staying in your comfort zone while others advance. That's not a strategy - that's surrender.

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