Situational Awareness - The #1 Skill to Career and Business Growth

Some professionals consistently miss out on promotions or fail to receive the recognition they deserve. In contrast, others seem to effortlessly navigate their way to advancement within their organisations. Let’s take a look at why this happens. 

Take for instance the case of Ruth who has been working in her organisation for 10 years now. Yet, despite her tenure, she has never received a promotion or recognition apart from a commendation for her "loyalty". She has been overtaken by her peers who had only been with the organisation for 3 years. 

Understandably, Ruth is perplexed.  

She has always been punctual and rarely absent. Although she has had several run-ins with HR over complaints about her attitude, such as insubordination, lack of flexibility, and indifference by her colleagues and supervisor, she believes these complaints stem from jealousy and attempts to undermine her. 

However, Ruth's colleagues and supervisor were neither jealous of her nor trying to bring her down. Ruth is simply difficult to work with. Management doesn't know how to deal with her and is merely tolerating her because of her long-term loyalty to the organisation. 

How about you? Do you know someone like Ruth or can you relate to her situation yourself? Have you been receiving similar feedback? 

You might be thinking, "No, you don't understand. People in my organisation are just competitive and keep finding fault with me, so I won't get promoted." 

I’m not saying you're wrong about that. It could be the case, but it would also be helpful for you to make sure that it is the reality. By reading this article, you will be able to determine if you need to develop a crucial skill that will help you to do so. 

Ruth's situation is not an isolated case. Many like her miss out on opportunities because they are unable to read the social and political currents in organisations, on teams, in their businesses, their communities, their schools, and their neighbourhoods. 

This skill is called Situational Awareness, and it is one of the competencies of Social and Emotional Intelligence. The good news is that anyone, including YOU, can develop it.  

Understanding Situational Awareness 

Situational Awareness is a powerful skill. People with it are usually well-liked and respected within their organisations and communities, have good relationships with others — their colleagues, supervisors, customers, and even family members. They inspire others with their understanding and empathy. Because of these great people skills, they build customer loyalty as they can anticipate and meet the needs of their customers. Consequently, they are easily promoted due to their positive influence and effective collaboration. 

Situational Awareness equips you with the ability to: 

• Accurately read key power relationships. 

• Detect crucial social networks. 

• Understand the political forces at work in an organisation and the forces that shape the views and actions of clients, customers, or competitors. 

• Accurately read the guiding values and unspoken rules that operate in an organisation. 

• Accurately read the external forces and realities operating on that organisation. 

• Be aware of power relationships and make use of both formal and informal power structures and dynamics. 

• Effectively influence organisational events without violating organisational norms. 

Overall, Situational Awareness equips you to navigate complexities and drive impactful outcomes, which are crucial in dynamic and competitive environments. 

On the other hand, people who lack this ability: 

• Find it difficult to get things done in the organisation. 

• Unwittingly offend organisational norms and individuals. 

• Are surprised by organisational events. 

• Make mistakes due to misunderstanding the organisational structure. 

• Act in ways that are not appropriate in the organisation, the community, the neighbourhood, the workplace, the family, etc. 

Like Ruth, because they lack the ability to read organisational norms and dynamics, they miss out on opportunities, rarely get promoted, and have problems with their relationships with other people. 

How to Develop Situational Awareness 

If you think you need to develop situational awareness, here are several proven ways to hone this competency: 

Pay attention to what's going on in your organisation. 

Doing this allows you to notice the subtle cues and dynamics that influence how decisions are made and how people interact. This awareness is the first step toward understanding the larger picture within your organisation. 

Identify the Influencers and Connect with them.  

Get to know the people who influence policies, decisions, and activities. These individuals may not always hold the highest titles but significantly impact the organisation's direction. Build relationships with these influencers, network with fast-risers, and learn from their experiences. Have informal conversations with them. Invite them for breakfasts or lunches to deepen your connections and gain insights into how they operate. 

Know Your Organisation's History and Dynamics.  

Familiarise yourself with the history of your organisation, department, or team. Understanding past successes, failures, and significant events provides context for current dynamics and helps you anticipate future trends. This knowledge will also help you avoid repeating past mistakes and leverage historical strengths. 

Listen and Learn from Colleagues.  

Pay attention to how your colleagues describe effective and ineffective people. This feedback reveals the traits and behaviours valued or discouraged within the organisation. Engage in casual talks with coworkers to gain their perspectives on how things get done, and debrief after meetings with a trusted colleague to understand different viewpoints and identify any nuances you might have missed. 

Study Successful Individuals.  

Identify the characteristics and behaviours of successful individuals in your organisation. Observe how they navigate challenges, build relationships, and do their tasks. Learning from their strategies will provide valuable lessons on how you can improve your situational awareness and overall effectiveness. 

Learn Unspoken Rules and Recognise Informal Structures. 

Understand the organisational constraints, actions, and behaviours that either support or hinder new initiatives. Recognise the informal procedures and practices that help get things done. By understanding these unspoken rules and informal structures, you can navigate the political landscape and avoid actions that might be counterproductive. 

Develop Self-Awareness.  

Reflect on your behaviours and attitudes to understand how they impact your interactions with others. Self-awareness helps you recognise areas for improvement and align your actions with organisational norms and expectations. Regular self-assessment and feedback from trusted colleagues can enhance your ability to read and respond to organisational dynamics effectively. 

Remember: this competency is empathy on an organisational scale. Truly listen to what goes on at the organisational level and demonstrate your commitment to organisational success. 

"Individual commitment to a group effort-that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilisation work." - Vince Lombardi 

Situational awareness is not just about understanding your immediate environment; it's about perceiving the broader dynamics at play and positioning yourself to navigate them effectively. By developing this skill, you can transform your professional journey, ensuring that you're not only a contributor but a committed and influential member of your organisation. Reflect on Ruth's story, and ask yourself if you're ready to take the steps needed to enhance your situational awareness and, ultimately, your growth.
  

We are Here to Help   

Has your life been challenging lately? Do you feel like it has something to do with your commitments or awareness of your surroundings? You may need to get to know yourself more deeply.  

At  People Builders, we have a team of expert trainers and coaches who will help you and your team develop Situational Awareness and many other Social and Emotional Intelligence competencies. Contact us today for a quick chat to see how we can partner with you to train and coach you and your team.