Why Women Leaders Need Political Intelligence Now More Than Ever

How coaching women in political intelligence helps them influence without compromising who they are.

Ask almost any woman in leadership about “office politics,” and you’ll hear a common refrain:

“I don’t play those games.”
“I prefer to let my work speak for itself.”
“Politics are exhausting—I’d rather focus on getting things done.”

These are not failures of ambition. They’re reflections of lived experience. For many women, especially those working in male-dominated environments, the informal rules of power and influence can feel murky, unwelcoming, or even hostile.

But the world is changing. And women leaders can’t afford to sit on the sidelines of influence.

They need Political Intelligence. And as a coach, you’re in a powerful position to help them claim it.

What Is Political Intelligence—and Why Does It Matter for Women?

Political Intelligence is the ability to read, navigate, and ethically influence the power dynamics at play in an organisation.

It’s about:

• Understanding formal and informal structures of influence
• Navigating alliances, agendas, and decision-making pathways
• Building coalitions, advocating strategically, and speaking truth to power—effectively

And it matters now more than ever because we’re not in a meritocracy. Hard work alone rarely gets women to the top. Visibility, alliances, sponsorship, and strategic influence are just as critical, and all of these sit within the domain of Political Intelligence.

Coach's reflection prompt:
How comfortable are your clients talking about power? How might reframing “politics” as “strategic influence” or “organisational navigation” change the conversation?

Gender Dynamics in Informal Power Structures

Research consistently shows that women are:

• Less likely to have access to influential networks
• Less likely to be mentored or sponsored by senior leaders
• More likely to experience backlash when they self-advocate
• Held to higher standards of “likeability” and team focus, especially in leadership roles

In other words, the political game is being played. Women are just less likely to have the rulebook—or the permission—to play.

A study published in Harvard Business Review found that women often engage in “invisible work” to keep teams functioning, while men are more likely to engage in visible, career-advancing projects. The former is rewarded with gratitude. The latter with promotion.

Political Intelligence helps women decode these dynamics—and choose their moves with intention.

Coaching conversation starter:
“What are the unspoken rules of influence in your workplace? Who seems to get things done easily—and why?”

Why Now? The Current Context

Here’s why Political Intelligence is more critical for women leaders now than ever:

1. Flattening hierarchies = informal power matters more

Many modern organisations are moving away from rigid hierarchies. Titles are less clear. Decision-making is more distributed. Influence flows through relationships, not just reporting lines.

2. Remote and hybrid work = visibility gaps

In a world of Zoom meetings and Slack threads, informal hallway conversations and visibility are harder to come by—and yet more important.

3. Inclusion efforts are under scrutiny

Organisations talk about equity, but progress is slow. Women—especially women of colour—still face the burden of navigating double standards. Political Intelligence offers a way to influence inclusion from the inside out.

Coach’s tip:
Ask clients how they are managing their visibility in hybrid settings. Are they present in the conversations that count? If not, why not?

Reframing the Narrative: Politics Without Games

When women hear “political,” they often imagine backstabbing, manipulation, or ego-driven power plays.

Let’s be clear: those behaviours are not Political Intelligence.

Political Intelligence—used ethically—is about:

• Making systems fairer
• Elevating diverse voices
• Building alliances for good
• Choosing when and how to act in ways that align with purpose

Thought-starter for clients:
“What if using Political Intelligence wasn’t about playing games, but about changing them?”

Five Coaching Areas to Develop Political Intelligence in Women Leaders

Here are five areas where you can support your clients in developing their political savvy—without losing themselves in the process:

1. Power Mapping

Help clients understand who holds influence in their organisation—both formally and informally.

Ask:

• Who gets listened to?
• Who influences key decisions, even if they’re not the most senior?
• Who are the connectors, the gatekeepers, the informal leaders?

Coaching Action:
Use a stakeholder mapping tool to identify allies, blockers, and potential sponsors. Then, build a relationship strategy.

2. Strategic Visibility

Many women leaders underestimate the importance of being seen in the right places, by the right people, doing the right work.

Ask:

• How are you currently showing up?
• Where are you known—and where are you invisible?
• Are your strengths and contributions being noticed by decision-makers?

Coaching Action:
Create a “visibility audit” with your client. Brainstorm three ways to be more strategically visible in the next 30 days.

3. Influence Without Authority

Women often need to influence outcomes without having formal authority. Political Intelligence helps them do this with intention.

Ask:

• What’s your current influencing style?
• Where are you getting traction—and where are you hitting resistance?
• How might you flex your approach for different stakeholders?

Coaching Action:
Introduce models like the Circle of Influence, or use roleplay to practise influencing across levels and styles.

4. Navigating Organisational Dynamics

Help clients see the broader system—not just their role within it.

Ask:

• What patterns are emerging in the organisation?
• Where is there alignment—or tension—between stated values and real behaviours?
• What are the levers of change available to you?

Coaching Action:
Encourage clients to journal or reflect on workplace dynamics weekly. Ask them to identify one shift they could make to improve alignment or impact.

5. Ethical Influence and Boundaries

This is where Political Intelligence aligns with integrity. Women need to know where they stand—and where they won’t compromise.

Ask:

• What values are non-negotiable for you?
• How do you want to be remembered as a leader?
• Where are you holding back, and why?

Coaching Action:
Create a values-based decision filter. Before any major move, ask: “Does this align with my values, my goals, and my integrity?”

Final Thought: Political Intelligence Is Feminine Leadership

Teaching Political Intelligence is not about making women “act like men.”

It’s about helping women:

• Claim power with integrity
• Influence systems that weren’t built for them
• Shift organisational cultures from within
• Stay true to themselves while leading others

As coaches, our job is not to hand them the rulebook. It’s to help them write their own—and walk alongside them as they play to change the game.

Imagine if…
More women saw Political Intelligence not as betrayal of values, but as an expression of them?

Let’s make that the norm—not the exception.

Want to Deepen Your Coaching Practice?

The Women’s Leader Archetypes Accreditation gives you the tools to coach women with greater depth, insight, and transformational impact. Explore how archetypes, shadow work, and Political Intelligence come together to help women lead powerfully—without losing themselves.

Learn more about the program here. Prefer a chat? Book here.