I often I see young leaders spending too much time on politics. That is a mistake, as political gain is often disconnected from strategic gain.

Politics is self-advancement, often at the expense of others. For example if a political opponent loses, that can been seen as win for your side. But if that person is in the same organisation as you, are you really winning if the organisation is being damaged and the odds of overall success are diminished?

Leadership on the other hand is about advancing others, often at one's own expense. Mentoring takes time and effort, it is hard work and the rewards are not always obvious. However, if you help grow new competent leaders in your organisation, that is a net gain for everyone, including you.

Politics and leadership are often miss-aligned, with different competing goals.

To any young managers reading this: focus your time on building core leadership skills, and avoid the politics as much as you can.