Jennifer Selby Long

And in fact, staying in that mode of venting and complaining about a situation actually feeds the neural networks that don't resolve anything, right? It feeds the neural networks that are more survival-based, right? To keep you in that more survival-based mode. But actually staying in that mode doesn't help you to be a better problem solver, right?

And in fact, staying in that mode of venting and complaining about a situation actually feeds the neural networks that don't resolve anything, right? It feeds the neural networks that are more survival-based, right? To keep you in that more survival-based mode. But actually staying in that mode doesn't help you to be a better problem solver, right?

And if you think of politics as a problem to be solved like any other, you really need to get your brain going with every possible strength that it has. The second one is step back and analyze with a certain curiosity and even some empathy. Be curious about it versus frustrated by it. Even if you can only maintain that curiosity for a few minutes as an alternative to your frustration and anger.

And if you think of politics as a problem to be solved like any other, you really need to get your brain going with every possible strength that it has. The second one is step back and analyze with a certain curiosity and even some empathy. Be curious about it versus frustrated by it. Even if you can only maintain that curiosity for a few minutes as an alternative to your frustration and anger.

And so say, I'm really curious. I wonder why... someone would think that would produce a good result. I wonder why someone would behave in that way. I wonder what's going on with them. I wonder what kind of a situation they're in. I wonder what they've been instructed in.

And so say, I'm really curious. I wonder why... someone would think that would produce a good result. I wonder why someone would behave in that way. I wonder what's going on with them. I wonder what kind of a situation they're in. I wonder what they've been instructed in.

And continuing to just stay in this curious mode could give you some insights into the interests of these various people in power. And then you need to look at how are your interests aligned with the interests of these people in power. Right. And if you do have interests that are aligned with some of these people in power, that's when you need to find yourself an ally among those other people.

And continuing to just stay in this curious mode could give you some insights into the interests of these various people in power. And then you need to look at how are your interests aligned with the interests of these people in power. Right. And if you do have interests that are aligned with some of these people in power, that's when you need to find yourself an ally among those other people.

And get that person to become a co-leader with you in whatever it is that you want to happen, whatever change it is that you want to happen. That's not just someone who says they agree with you, but someone who would step up, put some skin in the game, co-lead with you. Someone who would get as much credit as you get for maybe solving the problem that people were in a power struggle over.

And get that person to become a co-leader with you in whatever it is that you want to happen, whatever change it is that you want to happen. That's not just someone who says they agree with you, but someone who would step up, put some skin in the game, co-lead with you. Someone who would get as much credit as you get for maybe solving the problem that people were in a power struggle over.

And maybe that person will get even more credit I put myself in situations like that. Even though it's not particularly fair, if it does help to break down those power dynamics, having that ally who is really a co-leader is pretty important. Stay focused on the outcome that you want and the interests and needs of the people involved.

And maybe that person will get even more credit I put myself in situations like that. Even though it's not particularly fair, if it does help to break down those power dynamics, having that ally who is really a co-leader is pretty important. Stay focused on the outcome that you want and the interests and needs of the people involved.

That's really the last real ongoing thing in that little process. approach that I've recommended because the interest and the needs of yourself and the others are what drives really just about everyone's behavior. And staying attuned to those becomes pretty vital to lessening the power struggles, right? And to keeping them at bay over the long time. I think we talked a little bit about how

That's really the last real ongoing thing in that little process. approach that I've recommended because the interest and the needs of yourself and the others are what drives really just about everyone's behavior. And staying attuned to those becomes pretty vital to lessening the power struggles, right? And to keeping them at bay over the long time. I think we talked a little bit about how

Sometimes very sort of average people seem to excel in these environments that are politically charged. And one of the surprising reasons is there's maybe 25 to 35 percent of the general population that has a natural temperament that's just generally not bothered as much by political issues.

Sometimes very sort of average people seem to excel in these environments that are politically charged. And one of the surprising reasons is there's maybe 25 to 35 percent of the general population that has a natural temperament that's just generally not bothered as much by political issues.

clashes they just aren't they're just they just naturally get very interested in quickly assessing the situation figuring out how to get to the goal and i would imagine those people aren't even listening to this podcast they're not even interested in it and so there are some people who are just they're built in a way that they just have a natural buffer against it so sometimes someone might look very i don't know cold to you if you're bothered by the power struggles that are underway

clashes they just aren't they're just they just naturally get very interested in quickly assessing the situation figuring out how to get to the goal and i would imagine those people aren't even listening to this podcast they're not even interested in it and so there are some people who are just they're built in a way that they just have a natural buffer against it so sometimes someone might look very i don't know cold to you if you're bothered by the power struggles that are underway

because they're not particularly bothered by them, that stuff doesn't really trouble them too much. But they seem to do fine and not be troubled by that. In fact, I think I mentioned in our last conversation, Vince, about a client who came in, first time C-suite executive, walked into, and not the senior of C-suite, the next level down. So he walked in

because they're not particularly bothered by them, that stuff doesn't really trouble them too much. But they seem to do fine and not be troubled by that. In fact, I think I mentioned in our last conversation, Vince, about a client who came in, first time C-suite executive, walked into, and not the senior of C-suite, the next level down. So he walked in