Step into the light. (Bulletin Board).

Do you get a little timid, scared even, when you want to approach your boss about a new concept, never mind a raise? Do you coil up like a snail when a co-worker confronts you about a problem? If so, it's time for you to come out from the shadows and step into the light. Read Enlightened Office Politics: Understanding, Coping With, and Winning the Garne--Without Losing Your Soul by Michael S. Dobson & Deborah S. Dobson (AMACOM Books, $17.95).

It reads like other office politics books, but the interactive worksheets and charts propel you to the next chapter. The exercises cover the gamut of office politics, including goal setting; use of power, both ethical and unethical; the management pyramid (think hierarchy); a roster of the players--such as enemies, fellow travelers, and allies--and how to understand their needs, meet them, and still get what you want.

The authors note that doing a good job is not enough anymore, "and not playing politics in hopes that you will be magically singled out and rewarded ... is not a very reliable method." Therefore, it's important to study the battlefield, maximize your relationship power, and refer to the rules that the Dobsons offer "to focus your thinking [and] to give you a model to analyze your current situation."

The premise--how to be a player in the office without selling your soul--is one that carried throughout the book. According to the authors, it's certainly possible to get what you want at work and remain true to yourself.