The Art of Project Management

16.5. Know the playing field

The last considerations of project management involve the political playing field. The people who have the most power define what rules the team will follow: how power is obtained, applied, and distributed. When people act unethically—manipulating and deceiving others—it's up to those in control to identify and reprimand that behavior. It should be in their interest to keep the playing field relatively fair and allow the right people to use the political system to the best ends for the project.

However, if those in power are not careful in maintaining a fair playing field, it's up to you, one of the players, to understand the rules of the game and adjust accordingly. Either use your power to try and change the rules, or accept them for what they are. If deceptive and unfair practices are common, understand what this means for the outcomes of the approaches you're choosing to take. Don't assume that others are altruistic if there's no reason to do so. I'm not recommending that you take a lowest common denominator approach and copy the behavior of others: that's an ethical and moral choice you have to make for yourself. But I am saying that you do need to be aware of what game you're playing and who you're playing it with. Add this information to your assessment and benefit from your ability to predict how others will play.

16.5.1. Creating your own political field

No matter how frustrating the politics are, as a project manager you have the power to ...