Do you want to get a promotion and make a lot more money? Do you want to be recognized for your hard work? Do you want to keep your job and not be downsized? In fact, do you want to know the secret to be Upsized? The most important skill you will ever learn is how to study and understand Office Politics.

Office politics plays a very important role in whether you get a promotion, an award, the job that you want, or the compensation that you receive. Virtually every aspect of your professional career is influenced by social politics. The proper understanding of the social “food chain” in your work space is essential for your professional success and financial well-being.

To understand why the organization works and how to use that information to your advantage, you must first understand how the “Big Fish” act and think. Who are the “Big Fish”? They are the decision makers, the people who are up-and-coming in the company and the people who hold ultimate power in the company. These are the CEO’s, Presidents, VPs, managers, and supervisors who are what I consider to be “in favor”.

When it comes to these “Big Fish” they typically care only about two things. The first is how they can take credit for increasing the effectiveness of the company and the second is who around them can get the results they need to be successful. To summarize, for these people it is all about self-preservation and self-promotion.

Are the “Big Fish” unethical or self-absorbed? No, the successful people just want excellent employees working for them and they expect results. If you were in a dog-sled race would you want a team of Siberian Huskies or Chihuahuas? The answer is obvious; you would want to win the race so you would want the best team available.

Can this information be helpful to you? Let me ask you:

1. Do you think you stand a better chance of getting a promotion working for a “little fish” or a “Big Fish”?

2. Is your chance of getting a good raise better or worse if the VP knows your name and the projects you have worked on?

3. Are you more or less likely to move up in the company if you are working on a “Big Fish’s” pet project?

The bottom line is this…If you align yourself with a “Big Fish” you will be considered for more opportunities than you would ever have working for a “little fish”. Why? The reason is because people trust people who can get the job done. If the “Big Fish” trusts you then he/she will be comfortable giving you more and more responsibility. And with more responsibility comes promotions and A LOT more money.

Study your office politics and align yourself with a “Big Fish” and will progress your career farther and faster than you ever could have imagined.