One of my recent blogs was about why it’s important for government executives to develop organizational and motivational acumen. For some readers these may be unfamiliar terms, so I’ll explain in more detail.

People who have mastered organizational acumen exhibit an understanding of how their organizations work and how different elements influence or interact with one another. Organizational acumen includes knowledge of systems, people, structures, and processes that work together to make the enterprise healthy or unhealthy. In a leading edge workforce, organizationally masterful individuals talk matter-of-factly about the value chain including people, processes, inputs, suppliers, outputs, customers, outcomes, etc.

However, in many organizations we see people who only understand how the pieces of the organization work individually, and they fail to see the big picture or to drive change that could help improve the bigger system. On the other hand, individuals who are organizationally masterful see the big picture. They are total systems thinkers who realize that business systems are complex and that all elements are inextricably interwoven.

People with strong motivational acumen engage, elevate, and energize others.   Motivationally masterful leaders create an environment where people challenge themselves to be their best, do great things, have meaningful success, and make a difference. Leaders who have mastered motivational acumen promote sustainable achievement of individual and organizational goals.   And, they inspire people to soar to new heights of performance.

Critical skills, such as organizational and motivational acumen, must be learned, trained, and honed in order for leaders to progress to the next level of effectiveness and help their people to do the same. Only by building and constantly improving personal, interpersonal, organizational, and motivational acumen throughout the workforce can enterprises advance to the leading edge.