Please respond to the following in 200 words or more.
This week’s lesson closely relates to office politics. Not in a sense where one tries to be liked by everyone but in the realm of networking. If one supervises or is in charge of others, one has to be willing to “swim with the sharks.” Although different people have different views or beliefs, that aside, I believe that inter-organizational politics is a must for leaders to support their subordinates. Proper communication and networking skills can lead to acquiring additional personnel and resources to support the team. Having been in the military for some time now, I use to believe that skills, hard work, and dedication will lead to better opportunities which I still believe today. However, as I progressed in ranks and positions, I quickly realized that knowing the right people can exponentially open up better future opportunities. Building the right network and knowing the right people tend to give outside support to the team. This seems to only happen when that leader is a good person for others to follow and with a good personality. Networking is also a two-way street; the outside organization will also rely on that leader to provide resources. At times, “swimming with the sharks” can lead to tough choices where personal ethics are challenged, this is where a person must be able to stand up for what he or she believes in and not fall into the trap of getting liked. As a leader, one is challenged daily to make those tough choices that no one else is going to make. Tying it back to Incident Commander and Leadership, the IC’s networking ability and politicking ability, when used properly, can greatly assist the organization in acquiring additional manning and resources.
