An Important Aspect Of The Leadership Ecosystem

As a Leader, you oversee a group of people.

However, there is significantly more to Understand than simply, "there are other people."

When Leaders look at their teams as "just" People, they tend to see their teams as "Brains on a Stick".

But this isn't how Human Beings work.

Psychophysiology shows us that Humans are significantly more than just Brains.

As a Leader, to really help people, you have to consider "all" the aspects of Psychophysiology, and one of those aspects is the Ecosystem.

Now, in most contexts, you will also hear this as the "Environment".

But when you think of the Environment, what are your immediate thoughts?

The Computer Screen you are reading on?

Maybe a few objects around your desk?

If you think at a little higher level, you may think of the office layout.

However, this is a "very" limited Understanding of our Environment and Ecosystem.

In actuality, we have Multiple Types of Environments, most of which Leaders never even consider.

The things I mentioned before - the Computer, Objects, Desk, and Office Layout - are all parts of our Physical Environment.

This consists of all of the Physical aspects we directly interact with within our Environment.

These are Important for Leaders to take into account.

Can things be found Easily?

Does the Office Layout allow for Flow States, or does it actively Hinder Flow?

Are we offering Snack choices that help Employee's Energy (Mg-ATP) or directly make it worse?

However, there are other types of Environments we must take into account as well.

For instance, there is the Social Environment.

Is Communication Simple, Consistent, Efficient, and Effective?

If not, that will become a Gigantic Problem for you as a Leader.

Do people get along with each other, or is there Friction?

If there is Friction, then you need to step in and figure out how to eliminate it.

Another consideration is the Cultural Environment.

We have a Geographical Culture that exists due to where an organization physically exists, sure.

We also have an Organizational Culture in which Businesses at least "talk" about being Important (though Rarely is it Consistently Lived).

But each Individual is also bringing aspects of their Personal Culture with them.

I had a Client who was having issues with members of their Team.

As we dove into what was occurring, we discovered that members had different Personal Cultures that were causing issues.

With people from One Culture, it was seen as a sign of Friendship to give nicknames to others.

In a way, it was a badge of Honor to be given a nickname within that Culture.

However, people from the Second Culture felt that the nicknames were a sign of being Bullied and Outcasts.

Every time they heard a Nickname, they felt like they were being Isolated.

You can see how this is Problematic.

One person is genuinely trying to show a sign of friendship or a gift of caring, while the second person is receiving it as a personal attack.

When the second person becomes offended, the first person takes it as an insult that their sign of friendship and gift wasn't received well.

No one was happy, and it Impacted the Work Environment.

All because of differences in Personal Cultural Environments.

However, there is yet another type of Environment that Leaders must take into account.

The Intellectual Environment.

Are people free to ask questions?

What opportunities do people have to gain Knowledge that they need "Right Now"?

Do people get answers to questions that feel satisfying to them?

When people give their Ideas, do they feel like they are genuinely Heard and Considered, even if the answer is no or not right now?

Many Leaders are "Desperate" to get Innovation and Creative Problem-Solving from their Teams.

However, I also find that in most of these Organizations, the Intellectual Environment is Horrible.

People are "Not" free to ask Questions, even if they are "told" they are.

When they do ask, they are shut down immediately.

It is done in a way that makes them feel Ignored and Unvalued.

When they ask for Resources to Grow, they are denied.

Instead of finding what Teams need for their Current Problems, Leaders Dictate what they "think" their Teams need.

This makes the Teams despise their Leaders who clearly do not Understand them.

From here, the Problems increase.

I have worked with several Entrepreneurs who were being held back in Intellectual Environments like this.

They regularly tried to help the Business, only to be consistently denied.

Do you know what these types of people tend to do?

They end up leaving their Organizations, and starting their own Businesses.

I have watched these Individuals Thrive as soon as they left their former Employer's Toxic Intellectual Environment.

Perhaps more often than the other types of Environments, the Best Employees leave due to the Failing Intellectual Environment of Organizations.

If you Struggle to get Innovation and Creative Problem Solving from your Team, it is most likely because of your Intellectual Environment.

As a Leader, you need to Understand and Cultivate all of the Aspects of these Environments if you want Success with your Team(s).

Failure to see and Understand these Environments will Create a Broken Ecosystem.

An Organization cannot Flourish with a Broken Ecosystem.