Some years ago I had the opportunity to work with a manager who was eager to land an executive role within her company. You can read more about her story in this month’s blog and learn how she moved ahead into a leadership role. She also taught me a lesson that still fills me with gratitude after all these years.

Writing about her story prompted me to share a story of my own regarding what I learned from her during our work together. Because as much as I recognize the blind spots we discover about our roles in business, I’m always delighted when I learn something new that I can add to my toolkit to help others navigate more effectively in their roles. I was particularly pleased and a bit surprised when she offered me a tip in return.

During one of our coaching sessions, my client noticed my shoes and commented, “By the way, nice shoes.” I too had been coached to buy better shoes since I was working in Fortune 500 companies. A dear friend pulled me aside and remined me that I could do a better job of looking the part of the successful consultant.

He led me to buy a pair of high quality dress shoes claiming that the hefty price I paid would save me money in the long run and profit me in how clients experienced my presence. I gulped from sticker shock when I saw the price tag. I had become use to paying $100/150 for a pair of dress shoes every year and a half or so. I decided to take the plunge and invest in myself. I was so pleased at how comfortable they were and how well they held up that I purchased a second pair in a different color a few years later. That was over fifteen years ago. I still wear those shoes today and can happily say, I made a great investment!

Lesson Learned: Stay open to learning and you’re sure to grow and humanize yourself with others. You’ll discover that you connect more effectively in your relationships with direct reports, colleagues and senior leadership.

I’m currently developing a tool called the LLC, Limited Liability Climber© in which you will create a type of business plan called the Leadership Advancement Plan©. The intention is to support leaders like yourself or emerging leaders interested in moving into executive positions, to approach their desired path as you would a Limited Liability Company. The idea is to help you look at the landscape of your organization as an opportunity to create something that is sustainable long after your involvement.

What you will generate is a development, much like one might develop land for housing or commercial use. An example might be that you are creating a tract of land for housing. That’s a community a bit larger than New York City’s Central Park.

Level the Playing Field

Consider to what extent there is reason to level the land or find ways to take advantage of the rolling hills that exist. Determine the best way to bring water to the area so that home dwellers are easily connected to the community water and sewer system. Figure out how close to an existing school system your land is and determine whether or not school planning will benefit your future community. Remember, the more thorough you are in your planning, the more effective your execution.

When I was training for a competitive season in figure skating, my father, a track and field athlete himself use to remind me, “plan your work and work your plan.” Should you deviate from your plan, be certain there is just cause. Otherwise you could be derailing your goal and setting yourself up for a domino effect that will render your plan less effective.

As you would any other plan, determine where you are and where you want to be. Then figure out the steps you’ll take to move from your present state to your future state.

Building strategic associations with people you know and like is a great place to start navigating the organizational scene. Get to know others on a personal basis and offer to collaborate for the purpose of building professional relationships. When seeking promotions, managing highly politically charged issues, or just plain staying out of hot water, a relationship well developed ahead of time will build a basis for effectual communication. Handling challenging situations effectively will deepen trust, allowing the ability to navigate these sticky issues with grace. Your focus is to ruffle the least number of feathers while achieving your goals.

Face Conflicts Head-On

When confronted by a potentially volatile situation, identify and speak to the problem immediately. As a colleague of mine often remarked, “communicate early and often.” Determine your role in relation to the other stakeholders. Strive to understand each person’s hidden agenda and level of understanding.
• Are they being difficult, or do they have a true grievance?
• What can you do to ensure their wishes are met, while keeping in mind the bottom line?
• In what ways is your intervention beneficial or a detriment?

As you focus on the facts of the issue, you can plan a course of action. You can strengthen your leadership skills and look for win-win possibilities. When you understand the motivations behind behaviors, you can step into roles that can influence more harmony.

Lead with Style and Grace

As a leader, you have key responsibilities including setting a good example by avoiding game playing as part of your management style. Treat staff and their opinions as important contributions and reward great work ethics and behaviors according to the rewards system put in place. Keep communication channels open and consider establishing an open-door policy so team members can feel free to let you know when counterproductive work politics that you might not be aware of appear destructive.

However possible, be sure to address politically charged situations before they escalate to a point of becoming unmanageable. Have a plan and execute it appropriately and consistently. When in doubt, seek the support from your trusted advisors.

A Smoother Road to the Top

As someone that is working their way up the corporate ladder, conduct yourself in a manner that promotes your abilities, while acting with integrity. While it’s tempting to discredit others, tout your accomplishments to excess, or “kiss up” to the boss, these behaviors do not endear you to others on the team and will not serve you well as you ascend the corporate ladder.

Memories tend to be short on many issues. Yet they can remain strong and sometimes become distorted on others. Even manic in other cases, thus creating more headaches than you might have imagined possible and yet, they need to be relieved. So be a team player who empathizes with others and be sure to build and deepen those relationships as you go.

The Emancipation Proclamation declared that the government will recognize and maintain the freedom of persons held as slaves, and “will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom.” While this was said in the context of great oppression, we can take lessons from this act and incorporate it into our daily lives.

In a perfect world, we would all live and work in harmony. When we take to heart the wise words of Abraham Lincoln, we would not even contemplate the seemingly inevitable side effect of working in an office environment known as company politics. In reality, we are human with emotions and agendas.

In an office setting, there are often a wide variety of personalities that must meld together for the common goals of the company. Some of these people have different desires and career goals. Some naturally take a stronger role than others. The challenge is when the actions of some create an environment in which all are unable to participate fairly. Then you must learn to navigate your way through that world without losing your drive and spark. This will take some careful planning.