When someone utters the words “office politics,” everyone shakes his or her head in dismay and comments that it sure would be great if there were no such thing. But the reality is, office politics are not going anywhere. So wouldn’t it be to our advantage to learn how to recognize and deal with them when they appear?

Des Moines-based author Timothy Johnson tackles the realities of office politics in his new book, “Gust, The ‘Tale’ Wind of Office Politics.” Written in an easy-flowing “business parable” style, the book introduces us to a team of professionals we’ll all recognize.

One of the greatest insights in the book is that office politics are not inherently bad. Every business is filled with human beings, and in some ways the book is as much a personality and psychological study as it is a business book. Being able to step back and objectively see the game being played is the first step to understanding what’s creating the problems at hand. The book also examines the power of influence within an organization and all the different ways people exercise that influence.

Practical, straightforward and easy-to-remember solutions are woven throughout the book. Included in the book’s resource section are surveys that both employees and managers can take to facilitate a discussion around office politics.

Why is this a book all marketers should read? When working with most companies, we rely on the cooperation of many departments and people. Without the ability to spot office politics and do the necessary analysis to identify the motives behind the behavior, we don’t stand a chance of being successful.

Drew McLellan is Top Dog at McLellan  Marketing Group and the  author of “99.3 Random Acts of  Marketing.” He can be reached at  Drew@MclellanMarketing.com.  © Drew McLellan