Leaders, Harness “Collective Intelligence” to Navigate the Road Ahead

For most of us, it’s hard to feel certain about much of anything these days. If you’re a business leader, you’re not immune to thinking that the future, both short-term and long-term, looks pretty opaque. The good news is that you can get some clarity by creating a company culture that taps into and embraces the collective intelligence of your entire team. Collective intelligence may not give you 20/20 vision, but it will certainly help shine some light on the road ahead.

Don’t pretend to have all the answers

With so many unknowns right now, the best you can do as a business leader is to learn and adjust as you go. Those who admit they don’t have all the answers but want to figure out the best options remind us that humility is a strength. So is listening. Deep listening helps you understand both what’s being said and what may exist under the surface. When open-minded leaders pay close attention to what they’re hearing and observing, they tune into the needs of the least comfortable person in the room. That helps every person feel like they’re safe, seen, and heard—and that they’re all contributing to the collective intelligence of the company.

Create two-way communication systems

Realizing the benefits of collective intelligence means establishing channels for open, two-way dialogue. Honest, even courageous communication between individuals, teams, and leaders is the key to collecting, considering, and acting on your team’s best thinking.

Your job is to design opportunities for real conversations: Zoom calls (one-to-one meetings, small breakout groups, and all-hands gatherings); emails to submit suggestions (anonymously or otherwise); messaging/chat platforms like Slack for a real-time back-and-forth; and surveys or polls to quickly understand trends, preferences, and concerns. After setting up the structure for communications, be transparent about the steps you’ll take to review and respond to what you learn.

The bottom line, then, is that authentic communication is the key to harnessing collective intelligence. As always, the more you communicate, the better.

Find out what you don’t know

It’s worth remembering that tapping into the brainpower of the broader group does more than just show your people that you’re listening and that you care. Tuning into your teams’ concerns and ideas helps you discover blind spots in your own thinking, too.

In this time of uncertainty, here’s one thing that’s for sure: Forging ahead with a plan without getting input from those most affected by it is risky. It could jeopardize the health and safety of your people and erode their trust in you and the company.

Instead, create lots of opportunities to learn what your coworkers are thinking about and how they are feeling. Tap into your company’s collective intelligence so you can lead with 360-degree insight and awareness. Collective intelligence won’t allow you to predict the future, but it will help you make smart decisions during these precarious times.

Need culture guidance as you prepare for going back to work? Get in touch.