We celebrated at the American Club the launch of my first book, I Wish I’d Known That Earlier in My Career; the power of positive workplace politics. A business self help book weaving cross cultural and gender insights into the unwritten rules of organizational life. The book is the culmination my experience working in organisational development and human resources for iconic multinational brands; Kraft, The Walt Disney Company, and CNBC before starting a strategic consultancy, The Horan Group, focusing on accelerating women leaders, bias awareness and positive politics.

Through Jane's years in leadership and talent development, she found political savvy is a critical leadership skill, yet seldom taught at school or inside organizations. At work politics is rarely discussed and some companies deny its existence although we all know it is alive and kicking at all levels from the boardroom to the pantry. Understanding and accepting politics and learning how to use positively can be a dynamic force for good for individual career success and for helping organizations retain top talent and maintain much-needed diversity. Being politically savvy is essential for career and business success.

The book discusses how to successfully navigating the corridors of power without compromising integrity or value systems. Using a story telling approach followed by tips and easy-to-follow techniques on understanding power and influence networks, the value of a personal brand story and ‘12-steps to perception change.’ The anecdotes and case studies were gathered from executives across multiple industries and cultures in the Asia Pacific Region, North America and Europe.

This book is about politics. Not the bullying or intimidating part, but the subtle side—the side you know, feel and sense but can’t always articulate. Based on years in talent management, organizations frequently lose or do not see high-potential talent because they are not savvy or ignore politics. This is disastrous for companies today who need to develop diverse teams of high potential talent because this diversity of thinking drives innovation across business segments.

The book is written for all people of all ages, levels, professions, and cultures that need to become politically more astute to succeed at work. From managing difficult bosses to surviving mergers and acquisitions and coping with political extremes ‘I wish I’d known that earlier in my career’ is a corporate bible for every career stage, and a wake-up call to corporations in denial.

Read about Jane Horan.

Get the book!

Available now at SCWO, at $20 per copy.