Don't be a caualty of political battle

Q: I'm a vice-president in a company that does corporate takeovers. My president and the other vice-president have chosen to make a battlefield out of one of the files I hold. Based on my analysis, we could go either way and both of them are pressuring me to pick a side. Have you got any advice for people caught in these kinds of political battles? S.M., Toronto

A: Political fights don't follow linear lines of logic. Just because you didn't pick the fight doesn't mean you aren't at risk of being implicated in the end. If you wind up on the losing side, your reputation may suffer. In tightly knit business communities such as yours, this can have devastating effects.

Given the risks of being pulled in anyway, why not become a king-maker? Putting someone in power can open up both the benefits of winning and the benefits of keeping all your bridges intact. Try to seek out individuals loyal to the person you choose to support; make sure they know your role in guaranteeing victory. Pick a side in this fight, but trade it for influence.

Have you considered making a grab for power yourself? Winning a corporate coup could be brilliant. Leave these two to duke it out in the weeds while you carefully craft a victory on your own. But you had better make sure it is worth the cost. When the other two realize what has happened, one or both may become your bitter enemies. If this is not for you, find an exit strategy.