Helpful methods include:
● Accepting responsibility
● Doing favours that earn gratitude
● Being liked
● Accumulating influence through contacts
● Providing knowledge.
Patronage can be important: know which side your bread is buttered on and never offend unnecessarily.
Recognize that power-centred principles are rather dangerous at all times.
Do not be tempted to succeed at all costs—even if you see others doing this. Once you start breaking rules or compromising your integrity, you are in danger of losing the respect, trust and confidence that will be critical later in your career.
Working the power system enmeshes you within it. You become dependent on it and lose some of your freedom. At the extreme, you become a pawn and not allowed to have a mind of your own. The only sensible advice is: if asked to do something that you know is wrong, don't do it &/or start planning your departure.
By moving to Stage-2, you have accepted that you need to show your mettle; and you must accept that you are entering what is potentially a battle-zone—even if you and those about you are inherently good-natured.
Check whether it might suit you to settle at this Stage.
Otherwise, go to transition from Stage-2; and then continue the journey to Stage-3: Committing to a Meaningful Path.
Originally posted: July 2009