GAINSVILLE, Fla., April 27 (UPI) -- The U.S. employees most adept at office politics are usually the people with the best reputations in the organization, a study says.
Dr. Pamela Perrewe, a Florida State University industrial organizational psychologist specializing in organizational behavior, says a common trait of successful leaders is their political adeptness.
"They have the ability to understand others and use that knowledge to influence others' thoughts and actions," she says. "Leaders need to inspire the team to work towards a common goal. A leader with good political skills can get employees to go the extra mile because they have been convinced that it will help the organization."
An employee rarely gets promoted without having developed strong political skills, according to Perrewe.
Perrewe will present her findings at the annual conference of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology in Dallas next week.
