The Art of Politics

You can’t escape it. It’s all around you. Everyday, you face it and have to deal with it. It is politics.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines Politics as: “The art or science concerned with guiding or influencing government policy; competition between groups or individuals for power and leadership.”

The more common street definition is that politics is Power. And power, in this context, is the ability to influence others. The more persuasive and influential you are, the more powerful you are.

To the average person, politics is a sleazy act that requires a fake smile with a fake handshake. Shoveling heaps of bullshit and turning off your conscience are its accomplices. It’s a difficult behavior that requires a very particular mind; either you have it or you don’t.

I, however, disagree. I believe that anyone can engage in politics easily and honorably.

First, remove the negative connotations of the word Politics. See it only as: “The ability to influence.” The ability to influence is not inherently a dishonorable trait. It is simply a trait.

With this generic definition, let’s apply it to a set of friends as an example.

You and your friends want to see a movie. There are two movies out: a horror and a drama. You know that one of your shy friends, Sandy, abhors horror movies. Another more outspoken friend, Johnny, heard a favorable recommendation for the horror movie and asks the group to see it. Most of the others don’t have an opinion either way.

Sandy makes a tiny comment against it, but Johnny is loud and boisterous. He regales the group of fun it would be to get scared together, of the wonderful reviews it’s gotten, and of what a great time they’ll have watching this movie. The majority of the group is convinced and decides to see the horror movie.

Johnny was able to do this because he was able to persuade everyone that the horror movie was worth it. This doesn’t mean he’s a bad person or meant to disregard Sandy’s opinion. He probably did this unconsciously or didn’t realize the extent of her fear with horror movies.

In other words, he was able to influence the group.

You, upon knowing that Sandy abhors horror movies, could decide to increase your influence on the group and speak up for those less outspoken. This doesn’t mean you need to fight Johnny on the school ground or challenge him to a car race; that stuff’s for the movies. It means you need to understand the Art of Politics.

The Art of Politics is comprised of two basic principles:

1. Understand the Other Person’s Point of View
   All of us view life differently. We all have a filter, a point of view, which interprets what we see and hear. This point of view is a complex combination of societal, familial, cultural, religious, economical, geographical, and genetic factors that have shaped our behaviors and opinions.It’s important to have a basic understanding of how the other person views life. You don’t have to know every intricate detail; a general awareness is enough. This awareness can be used to understand why the person acts the way he/she does.
   
   
2. Understand the Other Person’s Motivations
   All of us have factors that push us along in life. Some are goal-driven and aim for a concrete list of goals. Others passionately seek to better themselves intellectually, spiritually, and physically. Yet others are forced onto paths because of their fears or insecurities. There are those that run towards something and those that run away from something.It’s important to have a basic understanding of what motivates the other person. Again, you don’t need to know every last motivation, but this awareness can be used to help convince the person that your argument is aligned with his/her passions. In the world of sales, this is what helps you to achieve a win/win solution.

With these principles, let’s apply them to the same set of friends.

As you strive to understand Johnny’s point of view, you discover that he’s been raised to believe that a decisive man is a good thing, even if others don’t agree with that decision. He struggles with this trait, but his parents have instilled it into him pretty well.

Along the way, you discover that he has a crush on Sandy; one of his unconscious motivations is to ask Sandy out on a date one day. Ironically, he believes that being decisive will make him look more attractive to Sandy, even if she disagrees with his decision.

You also discover that he’s choosing the horror movie based on another friend’s opinion. This opinion isn’t reliable, but since he hasn’t heard anything good about the drama, he’s pushing himself to be decisive despite the lack of information.

Armed with this simple understanding, you can now influence Johnny’s decision towards one that will be aligned with his own motivations while residing within his view of life.

You look up some reviews of both movies and give the group this information. It turns out that both movies have good reviews. Then you make a light joke about how Sandy is afraid of horror movies. The joke is tasteful enough not to embarrass Sandy, yet enough to make Johnny realize her feelings about horror movies.

With this new information, Johnny turns on his decisive switch again and chooses the drama. Sandy breathes a sigh of relief and Johnny doesn’t have to lose any face. You were able to exert a subtle influence on the group that was beneficial to everyone and didn’t require any lying or fighting.

Politics doesn’t have to involve any fake smiles or handshakes. It need not be about lying or cheating. You can keep a clear conscience and still be able to influence others. And anyone can do this, even you.

To be influential, you have to understand people. You have to understand where they’re coming from, their point of view on life. Then you have to understand why they’re on this path, their motivations in life.

That, simply, is the Art of Politics.

. . .

How do you deal with politics?