Politics is a way of life for effective leaders.

As an organizational consultant and executive coach, Dr. Cathie Siders has heard many female professionals say: "I just want to do my work. I don't want to have to deal with organizational politics."

But to varying degrees, politics is part of any organization or work group. She quoted author Gerard Egan: "'Decrying the fact that the system is political is like complaining that water is wet.'"

Rather than complaining or avoiding organizational politics, Siders suggests a different approach. "You want to be able to read the politics of an organization--to be able to skillfully read and navigate the terrain," she told WIHE. "When you can interpret what's going on, you can make decisions about getting involved with informed consent."

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Siders presented a workshop on interpreting the political terrain of organizations at the NACWAA Fall Forum in Austin TX in October and spoke with WIHE.

Politics not all bad

Siders quoted Kathleen Reardon's neutral definition of organizational politics: "Politics in organizations involves going outside the usual, formally sanctioned channels."