Most professionals are taught to follow the org chart.
But many decisions are shaped somewhere else.
In pre-meetings.
In side conversations.
In relationships that aren’t formally documented.
Understanding who influences a decision often matters more than who approves it.
Example from my career
In one organization, I noticed that major decisions were consistently aligned before the formal meeting ever started.
The meeting itself was simply confirmation.
Once I recognized that pattern, I shifted from presenting in the meeting to aligning before the meeting.
The outcomes changed immediately.
Discussion
Have you ever realized that the real decision-maker wasn’t the one listed on the org chart?
What did you notice?
Relevant SHIELD Pillars
L – Listen Strategically
I – Initiate Interactions Intentionally