Excerpt:

All relational systems are emotional fields. Once a field comes into existence (via a relationship), the field influences the ‘elements’ more than the elements  themselves. The relationship influences the people more than the people themselves. A leader’s presence within the system of relationships influences the system more than any technique, knowledge of method. From Edwin Friedman.

UNDERSTANDING THE POLITICAL relationships in your organization is key to seeing how your organization works as a system. And this activity, what we call thinking politically, can help you design more effective strategies for leading adaptive change. The key assumption behind thinking politically is that people in an organization are seeking to meet the expectations of their various constituencies. When you understand the nature of those expectations, you can mobilize people more effectively.

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