Promoting career growth potential: political skill, the acquisition of social resources and ingratiation

Abstract Informed by social resources theory, we provide an explanation for how political skill enables employees' access to resources, notably expressive network and developmental feedback granted supervisors, thereby enhancing their potential career growth. Employees can further leverage the attained maximize chances growth exercising ingratiation toward supervisors. Data from 399 independently matched subordinate-supervisor dyads in Japan partially support our predictions. While supervisor-focused supervisor account mediating mechanisms through which could predict potential, use of these is rather deemed insignificant. Theoretical practical implications findings are discussed.