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Don’t Be Afraid to Be Political

Back in high school, nobody wanted to be called a “politician.” “Being political” or “playing politics” were definitely considered uncool.

We’re not in high school anymore. Politics isn’t a dirty word. It is the art of getting someone to see another person’s point of view, make logical compromises, and cooperate. Politics is what makes it possible for diverse groups of people to work together and achieve shared goals.

All successful executives are political. They have to be, or they don’t last. Consider the differences between Jeffrey Immelt, the CEO of GE (General Electric), and Robert Nardelli, the former CEO of Home Depot.

Both men had been groomed by Jack Welch for the top job at GE. But when it came time for Welch to hang up his spurs, he tapped Immelt as his successor.

Why did he pick Immelt over Nardelli? In retrospect, the answer seems clear. Smooth, articulate, and worldly, Immelt had the political abilities necessary to steer the world’s preeminent megaenterprise. Welch deemed that Nardelli, despite his legendary street smarts and tough demeanor, just wasn’t skillful enough to pilot GE.

As most of you know, Nardelli left GE and became the CEO of Home Depot. Alan Murray, a columnist for the Wall Street Journal, wrote a superb piece on the limitations of Nardelli’s old school approach in today’s business environment. The modern executive, writes Murray, “has to play the role of a politician, answering to varied constituents.”

Nardelli’s inability ...