In recent years, a plethora of books, surveys, courses and workshops geared towards developing one’s emotional intelligence has become commonplace in the career and personal development space. And rightfully so, as emotional intelligence can play a key role in one’s success at work and in life in general.

According to Howard Gardner's "Intelligence Reframed", emotional intelligence is the capacity to understand one's self and to use that information in regulating one's own life, as well as the capacity to understand the emotions and intentions of other people and to use that information effectively to work with others.

Emotional intelligence is an essential component of the type of maturity and professionalism needed to advance within one's organization. However, really catapulting yourself to the top of your organization takes visionary insight, keen problem solving abilities and the capacity to identify new opportunities for the organization in addition to emotional intelligence. I call this unique set of abilities organizational intelligence, which can be defined as a combination of the characteristics of emotional intelligence and spatial intelligence.

Gardner defines spatial intelligence as having the "potential to recognize and manipulate
patterns of wide space, as well as patterns of more confined areas." In understanding organizational intelligence, it is important to remember that “intelligence” is not necessarily domain-specific. In other words, although spatial intelligence is usually used to describe the skill-set held by, for instance, pilots and engineers, spatial intelligence can also be applied to patterns, structures, and networks in the theoretical or interpersonal realms. What this means is that a keen understanding of the theoretical or human networks and structures within an organization as well as the competitive landscape it exists within can also demonstrate spatial intelligence.

Thus, organizational intelligence is the ability to 1) define and navigate both formal and informal structures, networks and environments (spatial intelligence) coupled with 2) the ability to manage one’s own attitude and emotions within and across those structures and networks (emotional intelligence). Organizational intelligence is a core component of success in any organization as this combination of intelligences is required to identify gaps, solutions and opportunities as well as have the successful interactions with others required to achieve positive results.

The heights of your professional growth can be improved by enhancing the qualities that contribute to your organizational intelligence…