Then, it's all the other things that are important. First, stop curling your lip into a sneer at the mere mention of it. You can be politically savvy without being a backstabbing jerk. Here are some points to ponder. Determine the company's political style before you sign up.
Some companies are more political than others.
If you're not a politician, consider working for smaller business units. At the small, tightly-knit San Francisco unit Terry South manages for Showtime Networks, politics is minimized. . . . Early in his career, at another company, Mr. South was a political player. I was trying to get senior management and everybody else to like me, but in a highly competitive environment you can't please everyone. Build an unassailable base of allies.