S8 Ep5: The Politics of Leadership: Navigating Power, Alliances & Influence Ethically

​"Your Path To Career Success"

Welcome back to Your Path to Career Success — the podcast that helps you build the skills, confidence, and strategy to thrive in your career.

In this 12-minute episode, I’m exploring the often misunderstood world of leadership politics — not the backstabbing kind, but the real, human dynamics of power, influence, and alliances.

🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

· What leadership “politics” actually means (and why avoiding it can hold you back)

· The 5 types of leadership power — and how to use yours responsibly

· How to build strategic alliances while staying authentic

· What ethical influence looks like in the grey areas of leadership

· Practical ways to grow your political awareness without compromising your values

Expect relatable examples, lightbulb leadership quotes, and reflection prompts to help you lead with both savvy and integrity.

🎯 Weekly Challenge: Identify one moment this week to be more politically aware and ethically influential.

If you’ve ever thought “I’m not political,” this episode is your roadmap to navigating leadership with purpose, power, and principle.

🎯 What Next?

A big thank you for tuning in to Your Path To Career Success – where your ambition meets actionable advice!
🦉 Ready to upgrade your CV or LinkedIn for leadership roles? Book a free discovery call and explore how my Unlock Your Career Potential coaching programme can support your next step.
🦉 If this episode helped you shift your mindset, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who’s ready to lead.
🦉 You can book 1-2-1 support with me here: https://calendly.com/thecareerowl
🦉 Follow me on LinkedIn for even more leadership career tips and CV transformation insights.

Useful Resources

· “Political Savvy: Systematic Approaches to Leadership Behind the Scenes” by Joel R. DeLuca

A practical guide to understanding and navigating organisational politics.

· “The 48 Laws of Power” by Robert Greene (with caution)

Read with a critical eye — useful to understand how others may approach power, but focus on using these insights ethically.

· “Leaders Eat Last” by Simon Sinek

A human-centric view of leadership, influence, and trust-building.

· “Dare to Lead” by Brené Brown

On vulnerability, values, and courageous leadership — essential for navigating grey areas with integrity.

Reflection & Journaling Prompts (as discussed in the episode):

• Where have I seen politics play out in my current or past role?
• Who influences decisions informally in my organisation?
• What values am I unwilling to compromise on, even under pressure?
• Where can I proactively invest in relationships before I “need” them?

I would love to know what you think of the episode