The political structure
Slowly build a picture of the political structure
- Who talks to whom, who socializes with whom?
- What are their interests, their problems?
- How did they get to where they are?
- In short, what kinds of people are they?
Where you stand
- Can you get their support? How?
- (If not, quit while you are still ahead!)
On those rare occasions
- When you get to have a "heart-to-heart"
- Ask specific questions about your own performance
- And, don't be defensive if you don't like the answer!