Surviving office politics, agility most imp for career success, reveals survey

Agility in office and survivingthe politics at workplace are some of the most importantfactors for career success and the lack of it canput a brake on the professional career of a person even when his/her performance does not slow down, says a survey.

According to a snap poll on common career derailingfactors, during May-June 2014 conducted by HeadHonchos.com, aleading job search portal for mid-management and seniorprofessionals, agility is most crucial for career success.

Career-savvy professionals recognise the fact thatcareers are not just about job performance, says the poll,pointing to agility – the ability to take on change with apositive attitude and to come up with quick-thinking responsesto new realities – as a crucial career skill.

Over 1/3rd of professionals (34 percent) who voted inthe poll ranked the failure to be ‘agile’ as the number onefactor that can derail a career.

As per Leadership Advisor Lee Colan, agility includesflexibility to stretch your mind to take in new knowledge orinformation, strength to continue to develop core competencieswhile absorbing the change around and speed in responding &acting to new developments.

The poll findings further said that 31 percent ofrespondents said surviving workplace politics is the top issueand a failure in this regard could bring career growth to agrinding halt.

A further 23 percent of respondents believe that theinability to grow into an expanding role is a career concern,putting the focus squarely on personal evolution to keep pacewith new responsibilities and finally, 12 percent respondentsbelieve that the presence of ego issues and a lack of egomanagement can lead to a career slowdown.

Professionals will need to manage ever-growing careercomplexities, as employees who score high on agility andmanaging workplace politics become the ones to gain the most.

“The keys to career growth, even more than performance onthe job, will be behavioural change, embracing new skills &continuous learning,” the report said.