Organizational knowledge is part of the fundamentals of leadership

Website design By BotEap.comIn the most basic terms, organizational intelligence is emotional intelligence at the organizational level. It is a deep understanding of how people, teams, and the organization work, and the ability to react appropriately to those factors. Some foundations of leadership can exist independently of one another, but an effective leader must have organizational knowledge to move the organization forward. Let us find out how to develop this knowledge, and in the process we will discover what it really is.

Website design By BotEap.comOne of the most prominent examples of organizational intelligence at work is the ability to develop give-and-take with others. The foundations of this go back to the kindergarten playground, where sharing and sharing is a daily rule. But this also means that you should expect to give back if someone in the organization helps you. Along with this goes an understanding of the agendas of others. An agenda is not necessarily hidden, but involves the motivation and inspiration of another person or team. Is the team moving quickly because your annual incentive is based on that, or do you have multiple projects that need immediate attention? Is the key person you’re developing a give-and-take with someone driven by personal recognition or a desire to see the entire organization succeed? As you become more emotionally intelligent as a leader, you will begin to understand the agendas of others.

Website design By BotEap.comAs we move into group dynamics, you must learn to be political. The word politics, even in its own world, sometimes brings an ugly image, but it doesn’t have to. In organizational politics, you need to be able to network, market yourself when appropriate, and build a fan base. Remember when we discussed influence and persuasion? This is where those skills will come in handy. But the main rule of being a politician is not to let it bother you. Sometimes one person’s politics can be dirty, while another’s can be beneficial to everyone involved. Becoming an expert in organization implies understanding this element and seeing politics as a fact of life and not necessarily as a good or bad element.

Website design By BotEap.comAnother great way to move into organizational intelligence is to learn how to approach several key people or teams appropriately. When you approach someone, it can be to ask for their help, to challenge them, or to congratulate them on a job well done. But you know that what works for you doesn’t work for the next person. For example, you may be the kind of person who gets embarrassed if you get a lot of praise in public, while one of your colleagues may gain energy from the praise. Some organizations even use testing methods like Myers-Briggs (MBTI) to determine personality types and develop communication and interaction plans. You don’t have to go that far, but it’s a good idea to keep track of which styles worked with which people.

Website design By BotEap.comNow that you’ve seen the good side of organizational intelligence, take a look at the not-so-good side. You may have to deal with disappointment: Not all motives are honorable, and some view organizational activity as a reality show competition. If you are disappointed, you have to try to find out the person’s motive, as well as what did or did not happen. Yet another point is that you must be able to leverage your influence when it’s the right thing to do: Leaders who consistently put their “two cents” in the ring at the wrong time are considered “braggarts.” Lastly, you must be patient. The process of developing organizational intelligence takes time and, as we said before, the process of influencing takes time.

Website design By BotEap.comHow can you gain organizational knowledge in various areas? Corporate knowledge requires your keen observation, your patience, and your ability to understand motivation. Many times in communities or community organizations, the smart “light bulb” can come on when you come to understand how the organization works, whether for better or worse. Knowing your own leadership style and trying to understand the styles, motivations, and inspirations of others will help you develop insight that comes from within. Remember to be patient, observe and keep track of what works in a particular group or team.