The Political Animal

As a company matures, there is a need to restructure.

Where once analysts and managers were there to supplement the technical teams and aid them in their endeavours by providing coordination, now the technical teams are seen as providing for the needs of the analysts and managers.The company has now become more politically orientated.

It is now the arena of one of the permanent residents of the Ivory Tower, the Political Animal, and this person will thrive, after all, who wants to bite the hand that feeds it.

Precedence is the key to the Political Animal's decision-making policies. Why deliberately throw yourself open to criticism, when you can take your queue from another decision that has already been accepted, or a view from a senior position that is common knowledge.

The problem arises when there is no precedence or view. What is our Political Animal to do now?

If in doubt, the best decision is no decision. Where there is a sign-off required, it remains unsigned.By not signing, this doesn't mean that there is not approval, just no precedence to sign it.Should the matter be questioned from a higher level as to the delay, the sign-off can be given immediately.

One common trait of the Political Animal is that they will tell you what you want to hear, but not necessarily what you need to know.

There is a common piece of apparel that our Political Animal wears, and that is the Teflon Jacket.Although nobody has actually seen such a garment, its non-stick properties are the thing of legend.

I'm sure that you have already conjured up at least one name to fit the above profile.