What is Political Acumen?
We mention the importance of political acumen throughout our Full Course and Accelerators. But what is it, and why is it important?
What is Political Acumen?
Political acumen refers to an individual's ability to understand and navigate the complex and often unpredictable nature of politics and public service, including the political landscape, power dynamics, and the unwritten rules of a particular government arena. It encompasses skills such as savvy, judgment, insight into how political systems function, and the ability to influence and persuade others in a politically active environment.
Political acumen is an essential competency for public servants and other individuals who lead within the public service.
“It’s an understanding and knowing that means you can anticipate future events and individual behaviours in a nuanced context,” says Dr. Peter Constantinou, Associate Professor at York University, Toronto, Canada.
In their book The Public Servant’s Guide to Government in Canada, Drs. Jared Wesley and Alex Marland define political acumen as encompassing:
Broad knowledge of internal and external power structures, both within and across government;
Refined situational awareness when it comes to the political, economic and social environment;
Soft skills in diplomacy, including strong emotional and social intelligence, and skill in persuasion and collaborative negotiations; and
A firm ethical foundation grounded in the value of the public service.
Before reading further, you can test your current level of political acumen with this mini-quiz.
How Do You Improve Your Political Acumen?
Improving your political acumen requires a combination of education, observation, mentoring and experience. Here are some steps you can take to enhance your skills in this area:
Study politics and the public service: Read books, articles, and reports about politics and government, both locally and globally. Try to understand the different political ideologies, the historical background of political events, and the workings of government institutions.
Observe workplace interactions: Pay attention to the way leaders and other people in power interact with each other and the public. Watch how leaders act and position their perspectives in management meetings, speeches, and in the media. Pay particular attention to how arguments are positioned and note the subtext of what’s being communicated. Learn to anticipate the impact of these things on your work.
Network: Make connections with people who are knowledgeable about your organisation’s political environment and the positions/perspectives of its leadership team, and seek their advice, guidance and analysis.
Develop critical thinking skills: Analyse political workplace situations and develop your own interpretation of the key drivers and dynamics that are at play. Cultivate the ability to evaluate information objectively and become comfortable sharing contrary arguments and points of view.
Remember that developing political acumen is a continuous process, one that requires effort and dedication. Keep learning, and seek opportunities to apply your knowledge in real-life situations.
Political acumen isn’t only useful when working at the intersection of politics and government; it will also serve you well in your everyday work as you brief senior leaders in your organisation. What are they scanning for, what do they see on the horizon, and what issues may be relevant but not obvious?
Why Does Political Acumen Matter?
Political acumen is a superpower for public servants. Without it you can make costly mistakes and your career might stall, but when you have it, you will be seen as a trusted advisor no matter your role or what order of government you work in.
It used to be that public servants would come to understand and learn about political acumen over decades by understudying with those who had mastered it. It wasn’t discussed openly because public servants were taught not to be ‘political’, but if you ask any DM or CAO, they will tell you that understanding what happens at the intersection between politics and bureaucracy is essential to the fabric of our democracy. It makes it easier for the relationship between politicians and the bureaucracy to flourish in ways that can help solve the wicked problems faced by our country.
It's not about being ‘political’. It's about understanding the system that you work in.
Many senior public servants are retiring, and the time invested in training new leaders is much shorter. Unfortunately, this means that things can go sideways for new leaders with low political acumen, and the trust between those involved in making and implementing decisions can be impacted. In instances where leaders haven’t developed their political acumen, lessons are often learned through trial and error, and potentially career-limiting moves are made. These circumstances are hard on new leaders and their organisations.
Improve Your Political Acumen With the Inside Public Sector Leadership Program
We think that you can accelerate your learning and come to appreciate the gray zones and unwritten rules that you need to navigate by listening to the stories of those who have been there. Hearing about the triumphs and lessons learned from our Master Mentors will make it easier for you to build essential skills and thrive as the best public servant you can be.
Inside Public Sector Leadership is designed to help experienced and emerging public sector leaders in federal, provincial and municipal governments quickly improve their political acumen.
While building your political acumen is a continuous process, hearing the powerful stories and lived experiences from Master Mentors in our Full Course and Accelerators will provide you with the solid foundational knowledge required to navigate the unwritten rules of Canadian public sector leadership and build your political acumen over time.