Negative organization politics can sap energy and focus from even the most dedicated professional. It doesn't have to be that way. In this session, the speakers will explore ways to construct positive and ethical strategies for going beyond surviving to thriving-especially when confronted with the political minefields in many of today's organizations. Positive organization politics can be a force for good, further the aims of an organization and its members, and bring about productive change. This session will present a number of tools to help you understand and identify the political minefields you need to navigate. The Mindset Shift Continuum identifies the attitude and behavior shift that supports positive political action. The Model of Organizational Politics describes how political behavior occurs within an organization. Key factors include influence, communication/information, relationships/alliances, networks, history, organizational culture, and ethics. The Political Strategy Matrix will help you plan strategies that go beyond survival, help you thrive in the political arena, and help you be a positive influence on your organization's development and growth. Case studies from global organizations will be presented to demonstrate effective and ineffective strategies for confronting organizational politics. You will leave this session with the knowledge and skills to help you effectively and positively address and avoid the political minefields in your organization.

Learning Objectives - Apply the Mindset Shift Continuum to support positive political action. Map your own political situation to identify a range of effective and positive strategies. Use the Political Strategy Matrix to determine a range of strategies for confronting your political situations positively.