The Organizational Intelligence reading list: 23 tools to navigate office politics

Anyone who's ever struggled to navigate office politics knows the importance of OI, even if they didn't know what to call it. OI, or Organizational Intelligence, is the ability to think and act strategically to get things done in an organization. Alongside Cognitive Intelligence, or IQ, and Emotional Intelligence, or EQ, OI allows great leaders to see their ideas through to fruition.

Fortunately for those of us who aren't naturals at Organizational Intelligence, it can be strengthened over time, much like IQ and EQ. One of the best ways to build your OI power is to read thought leadership on influencing, negotiating and others necessary skills. Below are 23 of my favorite pieces for understanding office politics and improving your ability to navigate alliances, divisions and dependencies.

The Organizational Intelligence Reading List

Bacharach SB (2005) Get Them on Your Side.

Bellman GM (2001) Getting Things Done When You Are Not in Charge.

Berrett-Koehler.Bouquet C & Birkinshaw J (2008) “Managing Power in the Multinational Corporation: How Low-power Actors Gain Influence.” Journal of Management, 34, 477-508.

Brandon R & Seldman M (2004) Survival of the Savvy. Free Press.

Buckingham M & Clifton DO (2001) Now, Discover your Strengths. The Free Press.Cialdini RB (2001). “Harnessing the Science of Persuasion.” Harvard Business Review, Oct.

Cohen AR & Bradford DL (2005). Influence Without Authority. Wiley.Conger J (2000). “The Necessary Art of Persuasion.” Harvard Business Review, Sep-Oct.

Douglas C & Ammeter AP (2004). “An Examination of Leader Political Skill and Its Effect on Ratings of Leader Effectiveness.” The Leadership Quarterly, 15, 538-550.

Dreyer, J (1997) “Expanding your Influence.” Training and Development 51(6) 11-12.

Ferris GR, Perrewé PL, Anthony WP, & Gilmore DC (2000). “Political Skill at Work.” Organizational Dynamics, 28, 25-37.

Ferris GR, Treadway DC, Kolodinsky RW, Hochwarter WA, Kacmar C J, Douglas C & Frink (2005). “Development and Validation of the Political Skill Inventory.” Journal of Management 31(1), 126-152.

Ferris GR, Treadway DC, Perrewé PL, Brouer RL & Douglas C (2007). “Political Skill in Organizations.” Journal of Management, 33(3), 290-320.

Fillion K (2006). “Social Saboteurs.” Maclean's, 10/30/2006, 119, 43, 52

Gentry WA, Gilmore DC, Shuffler M, & Leslie JB (2008). Political Skill as an Indicator of Managerial SuccessPoster presented at the 2008 SIOP Conference, San Francisco, CA. Address correspondence to Dr. William Gentry, Center for Creative Leadership, 1 Leadership Place, Greensboro, NC 27410, or gentryb@ccl.org.

Halal WE (1998). “Organizational Intelligence: What Is it, and How Can Managers Use it to Improve Performance?” Knowledge Management Review, Mar/Apr, 1, 1, 20.

Harvey M & Novicevic MM (2004). “The Development of Political Skill and Political Capital by Global Leaders through Global Assignments.” International Journal of Human Resource Management, 15, 1173-1188.

McRae B (2005). “The Seven Strategies of Master Negotiators.” Ivey Business Journal May/JuneMenkes J (2005) Executive Intelligence. Harper Collins.

Reardon KK (2001). The Secret Handshake. Currency.Reardon KK (2004) The Skilled Negotiator: Mastering the Language of Engagement. Jossey-Bass.

Reardon KK (2007) "Courage as a Skill." Harvard Business Review, Jan 2007, 85, 1, p58-64.

Treadway DC, Hochwarter WA, Ferris GR, Kacmar CJ, Douglas C, Ammeter AP & Buckley MR (2004). "Leader Political Skill and Employee Reactions." The Leadership Quarterly, 15, 493-513.