Source: Justin Bateh, PhD
Tactical advice for managers running teams, projects, & operations in the AI era | CEO @ AI Operators Lab | Led 40 AI Rollouts | PhD & PMP | Top 100 Maven Educator | Leadership • AI • Project Management • Career Growth.
They didn’t teach me this in school:
1/ Perception beats performance
→ People promote who they trust,
→ Not just who deliver
→ How you're seen > what you do
2/ The real decisions happen before the meeting
→ Most rooms are just theater
→ Influence happens behind closed doors
3/ Loyalty is transactional
→ It’s not personal, it’s positional
→ Don’t confuse company values
→ With job security
4/ Power protects power
→ People in charge defend their seat first
→ Be aware of the hierarchy
→ Even when it's unspoken
5/ Silence is strategy
→ Sometimes the smartest play is no play
→ You don’t need to join
→ Every argument you’re invited to
6/ Allies matter more than arguments
→ Influence flows through relationships
→ The right support can move mountains quietly
7/ Information is currency
→ What you know can help, or hurt, you
→ Share wisely, not widely
8/ Your reputation moves faster than your resume
→ People talk, good or bad
→ Make sure the version of you in the room
→ Matches the one outside it
9/ Not everyone wants you to win
→ Growth triggers discomfort in others
→ Keep rising anyway
10/ Politics are unavoidable
→ It’s not dirty. It’s real.
→ Navigating power is part of leadership
Don’t ignore politics. Understand it. Then use it to protect your team and your growth.