Remember how you felt the last time you started a new job or leadership position. Did you feel nervous, unprepared or worse did imposter syndrome creep in? Leading in a new position can be daunting. And these feelings can come up even if you are not in a new role but maybe have a new focus or work goal for your team.
The most effective way to move through this period of uncertainty is through building your foundational knowledge. Excellent leaders make sure their actions are built on a solid foundation so decisions and actions can be taken with confidence. There are four pillars of foundational knowledge to remember:
Four pillars of foundational knowledge
• Industry Knowledge: Staying informed about trends, technologies, and market dynamics ensures leaders can anticipate change, innovate, and, by staying informed, keep themselves and their organizations competitive.
• Organizational Understanding: Clear insight into an organization's structure, culture, and operations enables leaders to align efforts, streamline collaboration, and drive strategic outcomes.
• Stakeholder Alignment: Building trust and fostering alignment with customers, employees, shareholders, and the broader community strengthens relationships and ensures decisions create shared value.
• Business Model Acumen: Understanding how the organization generates revenue, manages costs, and sustains profitability equips leaders to make sound, strategic decisions.
We talked about these pillars in episode 76 of the Seasons Leadership Podcast, sharing personal stories and actionable advice on how you can build your foundation.
When new employees joined my organization at Boeing, I encouraged them to proactively educate themselves about the industry, company, our organization, stakeholders and the specific programs we supported. I urged everyone, even seasoned employees, to "deep dive" into the current environment and stakeholder landscape. Those who embraced this mindset excelled, contributing to the organization more quickly and with greater impact than those who overlooked the value of this extra effort.
I emphasized that while finding the time to learn can be challenging amidst conflicting demands, investing in understanding the organization is essential for making a meaningful difference. This approach helped employees build relationships, navigate complex systems, and drive success. I built time into our regular meetings to review industry trends and better understand the business. For example, quarterly I would invite a finance leader to join our team meeting to explain the information shared at the most recent earnings call. My team found these conversations pivotal to many business decisions we faced in our own organization.
Act today to build your foundational knowledge
Leadership begins with action. Reflect on the four pillars of business knowledge and identify where you can grow. Will you explore a new industry trend, connect with a colleague in another department to deepen organizational understanding, or initiate a stakeholder dialogue to strengthen alignment? Start small but intentional—every step builds your foundation.
Commit to one tangible action today. Whether setting up a news alert, scheduling time to review financial metrics, or seeking feedback from a mentor, the steps you take now will set the stage for your future success. Remember, leadership is also about serving others—consider how your actions can positively impact your team and stakeholders.
