Context matters. As much as we like to think we can take on the world, we must take into account the factors of that world or we risk indigestion. In this sense, Peter Drucker stated that “the greatest danger in times of turbulence is not the turbulence itself, but acting with yesterday’s logic.”
When we fail to take changing circumstances into account, we can become stuck in the past or myopically looking to the future, leaving our decisions and actions out of date. Contextual intelligence, on the other hand, is the ability that allows us to keep up with the times and act accordingly.
What is Contextual Intelligence?
Contextual intelligence is the ability to understand the limits of our knowledge in order to adapt it to an environment different from the one in which it was developed. In the late 1980s, Robert J. Sternberg mentioned it, equating it with his concept of practical intelligence. He described it as the ability to act intelligently considering social, cultural and historical background.
Basically, it is the ability to recognize the variables inherent to an event or circumstance, in order to be able to adjust our behavior to respond in the best possible way, either by taking advantage of or avoiding harm. Therefore, it involves being able to interpret what is happening, right when it occurs, before it is too late.
But it is not enough to recognize change; it is necessary to understand what has caused it in order to act with knowledge of the facts, instead of being carried away by impulsiveness or motivated solely by circumstances, without considering what is best for us. Therefore, it is a complex skill that integrates our past experience with the ability to take the temperature of the present and the possibility of seeking viable solutions for the future.
Being able to see and understand the context
We live in a fluid, dynamic and unpredictable world. Our reality is constantly changing. Unforeseen problems appear overnight, but so do unexpected opportunities. If we approach this ever-changing environment with yesterday’s mindset or obsess about the future we want, we are likely to waste a huge amount of energy in vain.
Intelligence is the ability to transform data and information from the environment or from ourselves into useful knowledge that allows us to find solutions or display adaptive behaviors. However, knowledge and experience are not enough; we must be able to adapt them to reality. How do we achieve this?
Thanks to the context.
Context encompasses the interactions between different dimensions: external, internal, inter- and intrapersonal (both of the person and the world around them). Contextual intelligence is what allows us to perceive all these factors and unite or interweave them to understand what is happening beyond what can be seen with the naked eye. It is what helps us fit all the pieces of a puzzle together so we can see it in all its magnitude.
The 3 key components of Contextual Intelligence
Among the different types of intelligence that exist, contextual intelligence allows us to detect and understand the changes that occur in our environment, but also in ourselves, in order to choose the shortest, most viable and most effective path possible.
To achieve this, it requires 3D thinking:
1. Intuitive understanding of relevant past events
Studies indicate that formalized and logical procedures often make decision-making difficult in times of rapid change. In contrast, intuition is especially useful in turbulent environments because our accuracy often decreases as things become more chaotic or we have less time to decide.
Contextual intelligence therefore includes the ability to understand how past changes are determining our present. It is intuition that guides us in making future decisions by pushing us in one direction or another based on what we have already lived and experienced.
2. Deep knowledge of the contextual variables present
To make good decisions, it is not enough to understand what happened in the past; it is also crucial to read the current situation accurately. This component of contextual intelligence involves the ability to identify and evaluate the present factors that affect us, from the significant people in our lives to constraints, opportunities and potential risks.
Interestingly, research suggests that our ability to process large amounts of contextual information, even if consciously limited, improves with practice. That is, the more details we analyze, the better we see the bigger picture. We thus develop a “holistic perception” that allows us to more efficiently navigate complex scenarios, especially when we are in changing environments.
3. Knowledge of the preferred future
Past and present are just two variables in the equation. We could not act intelligently if we were not able to project ourselves into the future. For this reason, the third component of contextual intelligence is the ability to project future scenarios and be clear about what the desirable outcomes are. This is a process closely linked to what is known as “future vision” or “anticipatory thinking.”
In this sense, neuroscientists have found that our brain is specially designed to predict what might happen. However, these predictions are often strongly influenced by our expectations. Contextual intelligence involves both being able to take note of our desires and designing an objective and viable plan that helps us safely reach the desired point.
The trick, therefore, is to be flexible enough to adjust our strategies and vision when circumstances change. In uncertain environments, contextual intelligence shines, ensuring that we maintain a balance between immediate reality and long-term aspiration, without losing sight of the present.
As we develop that skill, we must understand that finding the right answer cannot always be done in a linear process. In an uncertain and context-rich world, A+B does not always equal C. Today, what we know and how we have learned it is much less important than the ability to keep learning.
References:
Khanna, T. (2014) Contextual Intelligence. Harvard Business Review; 92(9): 58–68.
Kutz, M. (2011) Contextual intelligence: Overcoming hindrances to performing well in times of change. Development and Learning in Organizations; 25(3): 8-11.
Sternberg, R. J. (1985) Beyond IQ: A Triarchic Theory of Intelligence. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
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