The Politics of Promotion

How High-Achieving Women Get Ahead and Stay Ahead

Bonnie Marcus

Wiley, March 2015

The Politics of Promotion offers women the tools and guidance they need to successfully navigate the realities of their organization, emphasizing the need to understand office politics to get the promotions and recognition they deserve. Written by Bonnie Marcus, a professional coach who focuses on helping women advance their careers, this book demonstrates the impact of relationships and sponsorship on career trajectory. Readers will learn why excellence and achievement aren’t propulsion enough to get ahead, and how networking with power and intention can make all the difference in perception, reputation and promotion. Far beyond the typical advice of “be assertive” and “embrace ambition,” this book provides a unique and proven method for becoming a bigger player in the workplace and avoiding unexpected trip-ups that can add years to the climb—or end it for good.

Many women focus on performance, thinking that good work garners promotion. Too often, they’re left outside of the circles of power and influence where decisions are made that affect their careers. The Politics of Promotion provides a framework for breaking into that circle, and taking control of one’s own career path, specifically showing how to:

  • Navigate office politics successfully
  • Build and nurture key relationships
  • Get comfortable with self-promotion
  • Avoid potentially disastrous “blindsides”

Women who want to advance cannot afford to view politics as “dirty.” It’s the reality of the workplace, one that differs between organizations and fluctuates over time. Although being savvy about office politics is important for both genders, unconscious bias and stereotypes create special challenges for women. Learning to navigate these complex rules and customs is the key to professional recognition for women, fostering relationships that reach far beyond the next evaluation. Women looking to get ahead will find that the insights in The Politics of Promotion can help smooth the way.

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About the Author

Award winning entrepreneur, Forbes and Business Insider contributing writer, Bonnie Marcus, M.Ed., has real conversations for real women about real situations in the workplace today. As the President of Women’s Success Coaching, Bonnie assists professional women to successfully navigate the workplace and position and promote themselves to advance their careers.

With 20+ years of sales and management experience, Bonnie’s extensive business background includes CEO of a ServiceMaster company and VP of Sales at Medical Staffing Network and two others national companies in the healthcare and software industries. She has held executive positions in startup companies and Fortune 500 companies.

Bonnie started her corporate career at an entry-level position and worked her way up to the top of a national company by using her savvy promotion and relational skills. Her passion is now to help other women learn to be sensitive to the culture of their organization, embrace the politics, and actively and intentionally move their careers forward with a sound strategic plan.

Bonnie shares her message globally through speaking engagements, blogging and her popular radio show.

Forbes.com honored Women’s Success Coaching in 2010, 2011 and 2012 as one of the Top 100 Websites for Professional Women stating, “Women’s Success Coaching weighs on the many building blocks of empowering women in business, from assertive communication to self promotion to sensitivity training.”

Her syndicated radio show, GPS Your Career: A Woman’s Guide to Success, provides practical tips and resources for professional women to succeed in business and is broadcast live each week on a CBS station.

In addition to ForbesWoman, Bonnie has been published in WomenEntrepreneur, Business Insider, Daily Worth, Women in HR and Central Valley Business Times. She has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, Reader’s Digest, Diversity MBA and CIO Magazine.

Bonnie received a BA from Connecticut College and a M.Ed. from New York University. She is an ICF certified executive coach.