S8 Ep5: The Politics of Leadership: Navigating Power, Alliances & Influence Ethically

Welcome back to Your Path to Career Success — the podcast that helps you build the skills, confidence, and strategy to thrive in your career.

In this 12-minute episode, I’m exploring the often misunderstood world of leadership politics — not the backstabbing kind, but the real, human dynamics of power, influence, and alliances.

🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

·       What leadership “politics” actually means (and why avoiding it can hold you back)

·       The 5 types of leadership power — and how to use yours responsibly

·       How to build strategic alliances while staying authentic

·       What ethical influence looks like in the grey areas of leadership

·       Practical ways to grow your political awareness without compromising your values

Expect relatable examples, lightbulb leadership quotes, and reflection prompts to help you lead with both savvy and integrity.

🎯 Weekly Challenge: Identify one moment this week to be more politically aware and ethically influential.

If you’ve ever thought “I’m not political,” this episode is your roadmap to navigating leadership with purpose, power, and principle.

🎯 What Next?

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Useful Resources

·       “Political Savvy: Systematic Approaches to Leadership Behind the Scenes” by Joel R. DeLuca

A practical guide to understanding and navigating organisational politics.

·       “The 48 Laws of Power” by Robert Greene (with caution)

Read with a critical eye — useful to understand how others may approach power, but focus on using these insights ethically.

·       “Leaders Eat Last” by Simon Sinek

A human-centric view of leadership, influence, and trust-building.

·       “Dare to Lead” by Brené Brown

On vulnerability, values, and courageous leadership — essential for navigating grey areas with integrity.

Reflection & Journaling Prompts (as discussed in the episode):

• Where have I seen politics play out in my current or past role?
• Who influences decisions informally in my organisation?
• What values am I unwilling to compromise on, even under pressure?
• Where can I proactively invest in relationships before I “need” them?

Transcript

Hello and welcome back to Your Path To Career Success — the podcast that helps you build the skills, confidence, and strategies to thrive in your career.

I’m your host, Kathryn and today, we’re diving into a topic that can feel a little uncomfortable, a bit misunderstood, but absolutely critical if you want to grow as a leader: The Politics of Leadership — how to navigate power, build alliances, and influence others ethically.

Now, I know what you might be thinking—politics? That’s not me. I just want to do good work. And that’s valid. But here's the truth: leadership is political. And if you ignore that, you risk being sidelined, misunderstood, or even manipulated. The key is to understand workplace politics without becoming political in the worst sense of the word.

We’re talking about how to navigate power, build alliances, and influence others—ethically.

Today we’re going to explore:

• What “politics” in leadership actually means
• The difference between healthy influence and toxic power plays
• How to build alliances without selling your soul
• And how to stay grounded in your values while still being effective

We’ll break this down into manageable parts, share practical tips, a few leadership quotes that hit home, and reflection questions to help you grow your own political savvy—without selling your soul.

Before we jump in, grab your favourite beverage, find a comfy spot, and get ready to map out your leadership path with those lightbulb moments.

So, let’s get started!

Segment 1: What “Politics” in Leadership Actually Means

Let’s start with a reframe. When we talk about leadership politics, we’re not talking about gossip, backstabbing, or playing favourites. We’re talking about power dynamics, influence, relationships, and decision-making. Politics is just the name we give to how things get done behind the scenes.

Think about it: organisations are made up of people. People with different priorities, perspectives, and agendas. If you’re in a leadership position—or aspiring to be—you need to understand those dynamics. Because ignoring them doesn’t make them go away. It just makes you blind to them.

Good leaders don’t manipulate these dynamics—they navigate them. They ask: Who holds power here, and why? What motivates them? Where do I fit in? And how can I build trust while still moving my goals forward?

💡 Tip: If you’re resisting the word “politics,” try reframing it as “relational intelligence in action.”

🧠 Quote to reflect on:

“Power is not given to you. You have to take it.” – Beyoncé

What Queen B is really getting at here is ownership. You can’t afford to just sit back and hope your good work speaks for itself. Politics isn’t about playing dirty—it’s about owning your voice, your relationships, and your impact.

🤔 Reflection Prompt:
Have you ever missed out on an opportunity because you didn’t ‘play the game’? What might you do differently now?

Segment 2: The Role of Power and Influence

Power in itself isn’t bad. In fact, it’s neutral—it’s how you use it that determines whether you’re leading ethically or veering into dangerous territory.

Let’s unpack power a little more. In leadership, power isn’t bad—what matters is how you use it.

There are five main types of power in leadership:

• Positional power – power that comes from your title or authority
• Relational power – power based on your network and alliances
• Expert power – influence from being great at what you do
• Reputation power – your credibility and how people perceive you
• Moral power – the trust and respect others give you based on your integrity

The most effective leaders blend these forms of power. But here’s the thing: relying only on positional power can lead to compliance, not commitment. Influence—genuine, earned influence—is what creates lasting change.

Ask yourself: Am I influencing or intimidating? Am I inspiring loyalty or demanding obedience?

🧠 Quote to reflect on:

“With great power comes great responsibility.” – Uncle Ben, Spider-Man

It’s cliché—but true. Power without empathy or ethics becomes coercion. The best leaders balance head and heart—they use power to lift others, not just to elevate themselves.

💡 Tip: Conduct a personal power audit. Ask yourself:

• Which types of power do I currently have?
• Which could I develop further?
• Am I using them fairly?

🎧 Listener Prompt:
Think of a leader you respect. What kind of power do they use most effectively?

Segment 3: Building Alliances—The Ethical Way

One of the most misunderstood parts of leadership politics is alliances. This is where many people feel uncomfortable. Alliances? That sounds like cliques and politics. But here’s the truth: leadership is a team sport. You need allies. They’re about connection, reciprocity, and mutual respect.  People who have your back—and whose backs you’ll have too.

Here’s how to build healthy alliances:

1. Get curious about others’ goals. What are your peers, stakeholders, or even rivals trying to achieve?
2. Be generous before you need something. Help others. Support them. Celebrate their wins.
3. Find shared interests. Align your goals with theirs when you can. That’s where true collaboration happens.
4. Maintain integrity. Don’t promise what you can’t deliver. Keep confidences. Honour your word.

And most importantly—don’t fake it. People can spot insincerity a mile off. Be strategic, yes. But don’t lose your authenticity.

🤝 Healthy alliances are rooted in trust, shared values, and mutual benefit—not manipulation.

💡 Tip: Start mapping your informal network:

• Who are your cheerleaders?
• Who are the quiet influencers?
• Where are the blockers or decision-makers?

🧠 Quote to reflect on:

“The currency of real networking is not greed but generosity.” – Keith Ferrazzi

Being generous with your time, praise, and support is how you build true political capital. Don’t wait until you need help—invest in relationships consistently.

🤔 Reflection Prompt:
Who’s someone in your organisation you admire but haven’t built a relationship with yet? What’s one small action you could take this week?

Segment 4: Ethics in Influence—Navigating Grey Areas

Now let’s talk about the messy stuff. Leadership politics can sometimes put you in difficult situations—someone wants you to back them on something you don’t believe in. Or you’re asked to go along with a decision that benefits one group but harms another or sometimes you’ll be pressured to take sides, turn a blind eye, or support an initiative that doesn’t sit right with you.

So how do you stay ethical in political environments?

Here’s how to stay grounded:

✅ Know your red lines. Pause and ask yourself - Is this aligned with my values? What’s the long-term impact of this choice? What will you never compromise on?

✅ Stay transparent. Don’t be afraid to push back—respectfully. Ethical influence means being willing to speak up, even when it’s hard.  Don’t hide your intentions—own them.

✅ Pause before reacting. Often the most political moments are emotional. Breathe, then speak.

✅ Seek counsel. Build a trusted circle of mentors or peers who can help you see the bigger picture.

✅ Document key conversations. Not for paranoia—but for accountability.

Remember: you can’t always control the politics—but you can control how you show up in them.

🧠 Quote to reflect on:

“In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.” – Thomas Jefferson

💡 Tip: Ask yourself in tough moments:

• What would I advise a friend to do here?
• Will this decision feel good to me a year from now?

🎧 Discussion prompt for LinkedIn or socials:
Have you ever had to stand your ground on a value in a political environment? How did it go?

Segment 5: Practical Steps for Ethical Political Savvy

So how can you become more politically aware—and effective—without compromising your integrity?

Try this:

1. Map your stakeholders. Build bridges and not walls.  Connect across silos and with people outside your team.  Who are the key influencers in your world? What do they care about?
2. Observe patterns. Watch how decisions get made and who is involved.  Who gets listened to? Who doesn't? When do things move fast? When do they stall?
3. Listen more than you talk. Politics often happens in informal conversations, not boardrooms.
4. Communicate with clarity and empathy. Understand what matters to others—even if you disagree.  People don’t just need to understand what you want—they need to feel respected in the process.
5. Play the long game. Short-term wins mean nothing if you burn bridges along the way.
6. Protect your integrity. Politics without principle is just manipulation.
7. Invest in your inner circle. Trusted peers and mentors are your political safety net.

You don’t have to be naturally political to be effective. You just need awareness and intentionality.

🧠 Quote to reflect on:

“Politics is the art of the possible, the attainable — the art of the next best.” – Otto von Bismarck

Even when you can’t get your perfect outcome, your influence and relationships can help you move closer to your goal. That’s political maturity.

Closing Thoughts

So let’s bring this together.

You can’t lead without navigating politics. But you can lead without becoming political in the worst sense.

✅ Understand the power dynamics
 ✅ Build real, respectful alliances
 ✅ Use your influence to lift others
 ✅ And never compromise your integrity for short-term wins

🧠 Final reflection prompt:
How politically aware are you right now? Where do you want to grow—and who could help you do it?

🎯 Challenge for the week:
Identify one conversation, connection, or decision this week where you can be more politically aware—and ethically influential.

That’s all for today’s episode of Your Path To Career Success. 

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Share it with them — it might be just the boost they need.

And if you’re navigating a leadership challenge and you’d like to work with me directly or continue the conversation, come connect with me on LinkedIn or visit www.thecareerowl.co.uk. 

Until next time:
 
 

Lead with purpose. Stay politically savvy. And above all, sta