Inner Game of Politics: 5 Obstacles

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In this podcast episode, I’m sharing 5 obstacles to winning the Inner Game of Politics.

Performance = Potential - Interference

In politics, we always play an outer game and an inner game.

The outer game is formulating good policy, forming coalitions, expressing your ideas convincingly etc.

The inner game is being aware of what really matters to you and others, managing your thoughts and emotions, staying grounded etc.

Playing the inner game effectively is less about adding than subtracting:

Reducing interference allows you to play fully to your potential.

What are the inner interferences / obstacles getting in the way in politics?

1. Lack of Focus

• Where to focus is about prioritising (via ‘the 1 thing’ or ‘impact-feasibility matrix’)

• What matters most is about knowing your criteria for prioritising, i.e. your values and those of your group; and ‘knowing’ this cognitively, emotionally, somatically

• How to keep focus is about selective attention and open monitoring; creating habits/systems against distraction to avoid ego depletion & Zeigarnik effect; saying ‘No’ to important things

2. Chronic Stress

Chronic stress interferes in three ways:

• Cognitive impairment, especially for those parts of the brain involved in executive functions like decision-making and planning

• Emotional dysregulation: long-term stress causes anxiety and it makes the brain's amygdala more sensitive to threat, feeling on edge

• Declining physical health: chronic stress weakens the immune system and can also increase the risk for cardiovascular diseases

3. Cognitive Bias

Brains evolved with several mental shortcuts that made sense over a long stretch of our specie's existence, but can and often get in the way of deliberate decision-making for a complex problem.

I collected 30 cognitive biases you fall for in politics.

4. ‘House Divided’

“A house divided against itself, cannot stand” - Abraham Lincoln

The inner ‘house divided’ is about parts of yourself sabotaging your efforts.

5. Feeling Powerful (unchecked)

Feeling powerful can make you …

• More aggressive

• More risk-taking

• Have a (false) sense of control

• More goal-focused, less vigilant

• More ego-centric and less empathetic

• Take action more boldly (as limitations on action are removed)

These effects can be helpful, but also become an obstacle if unchecked.