“You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else.” — Albert Einstein

Ever feel that you’re being moved as a pawn in the games others are playing around you? Ever get the sense that you’re not winning— maybe not even aware of — the subtle games of business and life . . . let alone the tricky games of office politics?

As one federal executive put it, “You’ve got to be aware of the games that are being played. You don’t have to play the games yourself, but you do need to recognize when they are being played against you.”

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
The reality is that games, probes, and subtle competitions—and not to forget office politics! —are facts of life in most organizations. You’re at a significant disadvantage in your quest for career success if you fail to spot these as games and respond appropriately.

These are not games we play for fun. These are serious career games—secret, covert games that are played not for fun, but for keeps. Secret career games that the opposing players don’t tell us are in play, nor what the rules are, nor even what “winning” consists of. People skills and social intelligence are key.

WHEN YOU LEARN TO LOOK AT WORK AS A “SUCCESS GAME,” THEN YOU’LL BEGIN NOTICING GAME-LIKE PLOYS LIKE THESE:
*the use of probes and tests:
*strategic “disinformation” (i.e. saying or doing things to mislead opposing players on what you are up to);
*pretexting (using cover stories to conceal hidden agendas);
*covert actions, subterfuges, and other types of “sneaky stuff”;
*phony emotions, either to “friend” you, or to intimidate you;
*sometimes principals operating through stand-ins. (Think of that the next time the boss asks you to sit in for her at a meeting: Maybe this isn’t really a vote of confidence in you; maybe you’re being set up to take the fall.)
*and, of course, office politics in all its forms and nuances!

HOW TO DEVELOP THE SKILLS FOR SPOTTING AND COPING WITH THESE INVISIBLE GAMES
How to Ask the SMART QUESTIONS for Winning the Games of Career and Life  gives you the tools and career development skills for breaking out and gaining fresh perspective on what is really going on beneath the surface in meetings, assignments, subtle competitions and other aspects of success in your work and the broader career game.