Political Will, Political Skill, Network Resources and Personal Reputation: A Serial Two-Mediator Model

Abstract

Purpose: Although social capital and positive reputation in organizations are essential for career success, there is a limited perspective in the literature on the political characteristics (motivation and ability) that enable one to acquire and develop the two elements. This study seeks to investigate the sequential role of political skill and network resources as serial mediators of the political will–personal reputation relationship. Methodology: In total, what provided data for the study were 457 sales executives from 13 different sectors in the cities of İstanbul, Kocaeli, and Bursa, which is an economically leading region of western Turkey. Executives rated their political will, political skill network resources, and personal reputation. Based on the complementary theories of political influence, social network, and signaling, we analyzed the relationships between constructs with structural equation modeling. Findings: Political skill mediated the relationship between political will and network resources, network resources mediated the relationship between political skill and personal reputation, while political skill and network resources sequentially mediated the relationship between political will and personal reputation. Implications: The data were collected from a single source. Practical Implications: Political will, political skill training, and social networks may help individuals manage their personal reputation at work, thus benefiting their careers. Originality/Value: This is one of the first studies to sequentially investigate how individuals’ characteristics (motivation and ability) develop their social network and personal reputation at work. Moreover, theories of political influence, social capital, and signaling were jointly used for the first time ever.

What is known about personal reputation? A systematic literature review

“… Method/Design References No. Of articles in this systematic review % Qualitative [ 9 , 51 , 55 , 68 , 71 , 74 , 75 , 80 , 98 , 102 , 105 , 113 , 116 , 129 ] 14 15.4 Quantitative [ [13] , [14] , [15] , 22 , 49 , [52] , [53] , [54] , [56] , [57] , [58] , [59] , [60] , [61] , [62] , [63] , [64] , [65] , [66] , [67] , 73 , 76 , 78 , [81] , [82] , [83] , 85 , 87 , 88 , [90] , [91] , [92] , [94] , [95] , [96] , [97] , 99 , …”

“…Refs. [ 22 , 50 , [58] , [59] , [60] , [61] , [62] , [63] , [64] , [65] , [66] , [67] ]). The gaps in this area are linked with the drivers of personal reputation and the effects of personal reputation in different contexts and activities.…”

Investigating the mediating role of political will in the relationship between organizational characteristics and use of political tactics

“…This study attempts to provide answers to the role of employees’ political will in augmenting engagement in political tactics. Literature on political will is not found in abundance in organizational studies (Demirbağ et al , 2020). Our study contributes to the scantly researched topic of indirect influence of political will on the organizational structure and political tactics relationship.…”

Modelo de análisis de la reputación personal en contexto político. Un caso de estudio de tres mujeres líderes ecuatorianas

“…Además, con este estudio se pudo reconocer que el liderazgo es una dimensión que tiene una estrecha relación con la reputación. También se observa una relación entre las habilidades políticas y la reputación personal (Demirbağ et al, 2020). Después del análisis aplicado al uso del lenguaje en las noticias publicadas por los medios, a las mujeres políticas ecuatorianas y a sus allegados, se puede considerar que el uso de lenguaje asertivo es común a las tres líderes analizadas; de esto se puede inferir que es un rasgo característico del "perfil político femenino".…”