Meditation | Organization Awareness

“​Every organization has its own invisible nervous system of connection and influence. Some people are oblivious to this below-the-radar world, while others have it fully on their own screen. Skill at reading the currents that influence the real decision-makers depends on the ability to empathize on an organizational level, not just an interpersonal one.” - Daniel Goldman

One way to practice meditation is by concentrating on a specific topic. In this practice, we focus on building our organization awareness, which is a critical skill for us to navigate the organization and make an impact. 

1. Think of a difficult situation from your present or past, when there was conflict or disagreement, something tangible with meaning and potency for you.
2. Describe the situation as though you are 100 percent correct and reasonable. Do that either in writing or by talking about it in a monologue.
3. Now describe the situation as though the other person is (or the other people are)
4. One hundred percent correct and reasonable. Do that either in writing or by talking about it in a monologue.

Along with the Meditation practice, we explain how to move the organizational savvy. We have to maintain a rich personal network, be able to read the organization's current, and understand everybody's interests and our role in the group. 

1. Maintain rich personal networks within our organization, especially with allies, mentors, and groups who will support and challenge us. To do this, we would care about people, help people, and nurture relationships. Pay attention to one-on-one relationships and relationships with key groups--your team, other management teams, customers, stakeholders, etc.
2. Practice reading the underlying currents and power relationships of the organization.
3. Understand how decisions are made. Are decisions made by authority or consensus? Who are most influential in making them?
4. Distinguish between your self-interest, the interest of your team, and the organization's interest-everyone has all three of these interests. It is imperative to understand which is which.
5. Utilize self-awareness to understand better your role in the web of personalities and interactions. Make frequent use of empathic listening to know how people feel about situations and each other.