Playing Office Politics Isn't “Bad”. It's the Career Skill Nobody Taught You (Take This 10-Question Assessment to See Where You Stand)
A detailed guide to what A players do to win at office politics. Use this 10-question assessment to find out exactly where you stand.
Welcome to Reframed! Work is complex, career advice shouldn’t be.
I’m Ashley Rudolph and I write this newsletter for ambitious people who are ready to step into the next level of their careers. People have said that I share the kind of “real talk” that you only get from a close friend. Advice that feels actionable and helps improve their relationship to work. Enjoy!
Real power players don't just work harder, they operate with a level of agency that most people think is reserved for the C-Suite. Are you one?
Three or four years into my career, I was in my “lost and figuring it out” phase until one night, a boozy mid-week hang with a friend changed my life.
Picture this.
Me: 26 and disillusioned and my 27 year old but very grown up friend chatting it up over dinner and glasses of wine.
She was ~6 years into her career and the top salesperson at her company. She had outpaced colleagues that had been in sales for decades.
That night, she talked to me about her upcoming performance review. I noticed right away that her posture was different, she didn’t have the same trepidation that my other peers did. They were putting their heads down, working really hard, and nervous about the outcome. Not my friend.
She imparted some wisdom on me that left me shook. There is no other way to describe it lol.
Ahead of her performance review, she told her manager that if he wasn’t ready to discuss a comp increase that was at least $50k above her current base salary, he may as well cancel the meeting.
My jaw dropped.
Her request wasn’t delivered combatively; it was delivered in a very charming way, like only an incredible salesperson could.
She told her manager that if he wasn’t ready to discuss a comp increase that was at least $50k above her current salary, he may as well not even have the conversation.
And of course, she got what she wanted and more.
It wasn’t just bravado that got her what she wanted. My friend had the results to back it up. She was closing deals. Her clients loved her and she had a direct impact on the bottom line. On top of all of that, she was a pro at building relationships. Her positive attitude was infectious.
After that conversation, I made some changes.
It was inspiring to hear a young woman managing her career with the kind of confidence I thought was only reserved for men much older than we were. More importantly, she gave me a lesson in what confidence, competence, and real leverage look like in action. And she didn’t have to rely on tenure to wield it.
After talking to her, I realized that career momentum is something you actively build.
Our chat exposed a category of employee that stands out amongst the rest: the “Power Players”. She showed me what being one looks like and I’ve been studying the playbook ever since.
So, I’m sharing my insights with you today.
I realized that night that she was checking boxes most of us don't even know exist. Since then, I’ve seen these same patterns play out across my highest-performing clients whether they are in tech, finance, creative, or another industry entirely.
What Power Players Do Differently Than Everyone Else
Here’s what it takes to move from “reliable achiever” to “chosen one”. Power Players operate with a level of agency that most people think is reserved for the C-Suite.
Run down this checklist and do your own mini-assessment. If you want the more automated option, where you answer a list of 10 questions and receive the results directly in your inbox, take my Career Influence Index.
They Focus on Impact and It Earns Them Access
Power Players focus on impact. Focusing on impact might mean that they have to veer away from what’s written in their job spec or even evolving what’s expected of someone in their role.
Where others might focus on the fact that they’re doing lots of work or are juggling lots of tasks, Power Players can pinpoint exactly how their work is moving the needle for their department, team, or company overall. Information flows freely to them, especially before decisions are made. They are regularly in meeting rooms where strategy is discussed and decisions are made. And if they’re not, they’re briefed soon after.
Answer yes or no to the following questions:
In terms of your performance at work, do you consistently exceed expectations? Is your work high-impact and measurable?
Are you the go-to person for leadership? When executives are making strategic decisions, do they proactively ask for your input?
Are you in rooms/meetings where strategic decisions are made?
When a major opportunity arises (think: promotion, high-visibility project), do they tap you first?
When you’re navigating organizational politics, managing people twice your age, or trying to be seen as “strategic” rather than just “tactical,” you don’t need motivation. You need a playbook that works. Subscribe to Reframed.
They Build Their Reputation Strategically and Have Leverage
Personally, I think your reputation is built on being good at your job (you have to have results). The other key is the effort you put into building the right relationships. It doesn’t just happen, it’s hard work.
I’ve noticed that Power Players don’t leave their reputation to chance. They know exactly how they are perceived by leadership and key decision-makers. They don’t just have a "boss"; they have a champion who would vouch for them behind closed doors, without a second of hesitation.
Answer yes or no to the following questions:
Are you intentional about building strategic relationships with the right people (even the difficult ones) rather than just the people you like?
Do you know whether your manager would vouch for you in critical executive/leadership conversations? And if not, do you know how to strategically shift their perspective?
Do leadership and key decision-makers see you as a leader? Do they trust you with high-stakes decisions?
They Can Command a Room and Influence Key Decisions
More than any of the others, I think that these two qualities are the ones that people think “just come naturally”. You’re either a leader or you’re not. You’re extroverted or you’re not. You’re comfortable in front of a room, or you’re not. People listen you or they don’t.
I disagree. You can learn how to command a room and you can learn how to be influential. And to be clear: the “command” skill I’m referring to is not about being the loudest person in the room or steamrolling your colleagues. It’s not domineering. I would never recommend that here.
Power Players don’t just participate in meetings; they own their domain. Their ideas carry weight because they understand the context of the business, not just their specific lane. They’ve mastered the art of getting people to lean in when they speak. They aren't waiting for permission to have an opinion; they are constantly in the driver’s seat.
Quick Note: if you’re afraid of being wrong, this will be a challenge for you. Putting your opinions out there means that sometimes you will be. You have to work to get over that fear.
Answer yes or no to the following questions:
When you participate in meetings, do people lean in and listen? Are your contributions overlooked?
Are you a “go-to” person for strategic advice? Do executives proactively seek out your input before making a big move?
Do you have a roadmap or a general direction for where you want your career to go?
YOUR RESULTS
Where do you stand?
If you answered “yes” to at least 6 out of 10 of these questions, chances are you’re a Power Player. For the ones where you couldn't give a confident 'yes,' think about the shifts you can make in your day-to-day. Notice that none of the criteria for being a Power Player require you to take on more responsibilities or work incredibly long hours. It’s about how you choose to spend your time, how you position yourself, and relationship building.
I’m really curious to hear from you all! Do these feel true? Have you noticed any of these as well throughout your career?
If you just ran through the questions and didn’t see yourself in any of it, don’t spiral.
Being a Power Player isn’t just about your personality or how you show up at work, it’s also about your environment. You can be smart, capable, and ready for the next level, but if you’re at a company that keeps you in a box, doesn’t value transparency, or locks you out of leadership conversations, it might be a case of right skills / wrong environment. Food for thought.
And if you made it all the way to the end of this post and are thinking, this isn’t a post about politics. That’s the point. Somewhere along the way, we stopped being honest about the fact that playing “good” politics advances your career. We tend to think that politics is just the icky stuff; the underhanded, self-serving behaviors.
But…
Getting invited to the right meetings? Playing politics well.
Having your ideas heard? Playing politics well.
Being seen as “ready for the next level”? Playing politics well.
People trusting your judgment? Playing politics well.
And now you have the guidebook.
Good luck. See you next week!
Ashley
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I love this format! I’ve been trying to develop founder quizzes for ages and never seem to get them quiiiiite right. This one is perfect for all the high achieving operators out there 🤩
LOVE LOVE LOVE
Love this! And yes politics are certainly at play at work and can be used to our advantage. I've seen first hand how someone can be extremely talented but lack the skill to handle office politics, leading to being stuck. A great one!