How to Coach Yourself and Others Influencing, Inter Personal and Leadership Skills | Page 86

6. Political Savvy
There are times when the ability to influence others is not enough, and a good rationale
may not be sufficient to sway someone to your point of view. Something is missing:
political savvy.
Political Savvy: A Dirty Word?
Many people have strong and contradictory feelings about being political. The roots of
the term political savvy indicate, however, that our attention should be on others.
Political comes from the Latin word meaning “the citizens” and savvy is from the French
verb meaning “to understand.” So political savvy is, at its core, the ability to know the
people.
Political savvy is a crucial leadership skill, and it can be employed in a positive way for
positive ends.
Personal Interests vs. Organizational Interests
Below is a model that illustrates what political savvy is and what it is not. The Interest
Grid contains four quadrants representing high and low levels of self-interest and
organizational interest.
As you read about each quadrant in the model, think about a leader you have known
(personally or by reputation) who exemplifies this approach.