Page 143 - The extraordinary leader

120 • The Extraordinary Leader

Organizational Profiles of Prized Competencies

Based on research on 22 different organizations, we found 13 profiles of com-
petencies that may be valued by an organization. In most instances, organi-
zations had two or three of the characteristics that described what the
organization valued, though one appeared to dominate. In an effort to help
readers assess what are their own organization values, here are some of the
more pronounced organizational characteristics. The opportunity here is to
judge the “goodness of fit” between what your organization truly values and
your own pattern of competencies.

Technology Emphasis
In the technology organization, leaders need to be highly knowledgeable and
viewed as having technical expertise in the core activity of the firm. Although
you would imagine that these firms were high-tech companies, we have found
this characteristic to be very strong in construction companies and natural
resources organizations as well. In a technology organization, people thrive
on technical knowledge and expertise. A frequent sign that you are in a tech-
nology company is that people often talk in code. New employees frequently
need a translator to understand what people are saying. At HP, the best tech-
nical experts were called “Graybeards.” These sages had spent their lives inside
HP, developing new and exciting technical innovations. They were looked
upon as heroes in the organization.
Working in a pharmaceutical company with a strong research emphasis
puts a high premium on understanding chemistry, molecular biology, and
pharmaceutical science. Those lacking that technology background were
perceived as “second-class citizens.”
Advantages. This organization runs on cutting-edge technology. Leaders
are expected to learn and stay abreast of the latest developments in their fields.
For people who enjoy technical challenges, this organization is extremely ful-
filling. As a leader, a person needs to understand the technology and then
combine that with other leadership competencies that make a difference.

Disadvantages. In this organization, the inherent belief is that you can solve
any problem with technology. Here linear thinking can be carried to an
extreme. A colleague worked for an oil company in Canada during the 1980s
oil crisis. As the price for crude went up, the company’s plan for exploration