The learning and development of political skill in a multinational pharmaceutical company

This qualitative case study was designed to explore with employees of a multinational pharmaceutical company identified as politically skilled their perceptions of how they learned the political skill needed to thrive in today's workplace. Participants in the study were identified as politically skilled based on their self and manager rating using the Political Skill Inventory.;The study sought to address: (a) how participants characterized political skill; (b) what participants perceived is the value of acquiring political skill; (c) how participants learned what they perceive is needed to acquire political skill.;The source for this study was twenty men and women employees with additional data about their political skill provided by their managers. A key finding revealed that participants indicated they learned political skill from mentors in the workplace, learning from experience, and within a supportive workplace culture. The findings also revealed that the majority of participants: (a) described political skill as understanding others, displaying integrity, and enhancing organizational objectives; (b) all participants identified personal benefits from political skill. The top were visibility and to accomplish goals. The overwhelming majority also identified their political skill as being beneficial to others, especially their team.;The principal recommendations for organizations resulting from this study is for politically skilled individuals to be considered as strategic assets and be encouraged to mentor those less skilled. The principal recommendation to those aspiring to be politically skilled is to seek out mentors already adept at political skill. Learning from experience is far richer with candid feedback from a mentor. The principal recommendations for developers of training is to incorporate the use of mentors, learning from experience and ensure a supportive workplace culture as methods to develop political skill in organizations.