How to Know What’s Really Going on in Your Organization

Idea

It’s important to know what’s really going on, and to do that without gossiping or taking loads of time away from your work.

The best way is to connect with someone who is part of the proverbial grapevine and/or someone who you know well who is in a senior enough position to have an accurate view. You’re after data points, analysis, and interpretation, not office gossip.

If the winds are shifting in your business, it’s important for you to know so you can adjust your strategy and tactics.

Example

With my nose always to the grindstone, I was usually the last to know about things going on in the office.

It became a problem when I discovered I had bet a big part of my budget on a deal led by a colleague who had a reputation for being bad at closing deals. Everyone else seemed to know it but me, and in the end the association dented my own credibility internally when the deal fell through.

After that, I made it a point to stop by and chat regularly with at least one of the two office “tea leaf readers”. Actually, I alternated week to week. It didn’t take long and all it required was that I stop by their desk and ask, “so what’s going on?”. I think they rather enjoyed this status and welcomed the chance to expound.

Also, when I had travel time with senior management (usually on the way to a client meeting or conference), I would use that opportunity to ask for their read on things, or views on how the year was unfolding and what that meant for our division. Invariably, this would give me insight into strategic issues, and help me raise my game as well as navigate through potential obstacles.

Action

Identify someone you know who really has their finger on the pulse of what’s going on in your organization – that person who’s always the first to know about something and also has an accurate read on what it actually means.

Drop by and have a chat with them today, or see if they want to grab lunch. Ask them for their read on the area that you’re interested in, for example: “what do you think about XYZ new development that’s just been announced?” or “what are the prospects for the business this year?” or simply “what’s going on?”.

What did you learn, and what implications might this have for you, your team, your business?

You also may want to check in and triangulate with a couple of other sources to make sure you have the right read of the situation, but do that without revealing your sources.