[johnkchow]

Politics is one of the most valuable lessons learned at a big company. Although I work in a small startup, all the management is from big companies. Like any other startup, what's valued the most is getting stuff done. But I learned that shouting at the top of your lungs or bottling your emotions while being passive aggressive are the worst strategies in leading discussions.

I had to quickly learn how to present my argument in a non-confrontational way, get individual buy-in (and perspective) from all stakeholders before any meeting, and balance being transparent and forthright versus protecting your interests (it really helps that your interests aligns with company goals!).

To sum it up, "politics" IMO has made me a more effective leader.