Are All Politics Bad?
Many leaders I speak with will say, “I hate politics.” What they usually mean is: “I hate manipulation, hidden agendas, and backroom conversations.” On that point, Patrick Lencioni would agree.
In The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, Lencioni argues that politics are a symptom of dysfunction, not a necessity of leadership.
When teams lack trust, they avoid healthy conflict, withhold information, and maneuver to protect themselves.
Politics become a substitute for honesty. But here’s the tension: large, complex organizations cannot function without influence, negotiation, and power. This is where Bolman & Deal’s Political Frame–and the Warrior archetype–offer an essential counterbalance.
Bolman & Deal don’t romanticize politics. They normalize it. In their view, politics simply reflects the reality that organizations are made up of people with different interests, values, and access to resources. Ignoring power doesn’t make it disappear–it just makes leaders naïve.
The Warrior understands this. They step into conflict openly. They build coalitions transparently. They fight for the mission, not against their colleagues.
So are Lencioni and Bolman & Deal in conflict? Not at all. They are describing two different kinds of politics.
Lencioni warns us about fear-based politics -> hidden, defensive, and corrosive to trust. Bolman & Deal develop purpose-driven political skill -> visible, ethical, and necessary for change.
The distinction matters.
Unhealthy politics erode trust. Healthy politics mobilize it.
In high-trust teams, politics recede because alignment is strong. In complex systems, political skill becomes a leadership obligation. The mature leader knows when to reduce politics—and when to practice it with integrity.
The goal, then, is not to eliminate politics, but to elevate them:
- From backchannels to open and transparent advocacy
- From self-protection to mission protection
- From manipulation to courage
The best leaders are not apolitical. They are politically mature.
If you’re ready to develop the Warrior inside you and exercise healthy politics, it time to set up a call.