Can politically skilled employees get higher performance rating?

The study investigates the effect of an employee's political skill on the performance rated by his or her direct supervisor. The moderating role of political climate on the above effect is also examined. To test our research model, we collect data from 16 Chinese manufacturing firms. Regression analyses on matched data of 343 employees, 662 colleagues, and 343 direct supervisors working in these firms show that: political skill helps employees achieve better performance rating from their supervisors than others; political climate of the organization moderates the relationship between political skill and supervisor-rated performance in that politically skilled employees can get higher rating scores in less politicized organizations than in highly politicized organizations. Theoretical and managerial implications of these findings are offered.