Organizational Behavior Vocabulary

verb to secretly enter or gain access to a place or organization in order to gather information or cause damage

• The spy managed to infiltrate the enemy's headquarters without being detected.
• I heard that some kids tried to infiltrate the abandoned house last night.
• The hacker was able to infiltrate the company's database and steal sensitive information.
• Negative thoughts can easily infiltrate your mind if you're not careful.

noun a group or set of three people or things

adjective relating to or consisting of three

• In music theory, a triad is a set of three notes that are stacked in thirds.
• Let's play a triad of chords on the piano for our next song.
• The three of us make a great triad of friends.
• The triad of leadership, communication, and teamwork are essential for success in any organization.

noun A cog is a toothed wheel or bar that engages with another toothed part to transmit motion in a machine.

preposition In this phrase, 'in' is a preposition that shows the relationship between 'cog' and 'machine'.

article The articles 'a' and 'the' are used before 'cog' and 'machine' to indicate that they are singular nouns.

• As a low-level employee, I often feel like just a cog in the machine of this large corporation.
• At work, I sometimes feel like I'm just a cog in the machine, doing the same tasks every day.
• I hate feeling like I'm just a cog in the machine at my job, doing the same thing over and over.
• In the grand scheme of things, we are all just cogs in the machine of society, playing our roles.

noun a line of authority within an organization through which instructions are passed down and feedback is passed back up

• The reporting line in our organization is clearly defined, ensuring efficient communication and accountability.
• Just so you know, the reporting line here is pretty straightforward - you report to your manager and they report to theirs.
• I heard through the grapevine that the reporting line got all messed up after the reorganization.
• In this team, the reporting line is like a chain of command, with each link representing a different level of authority.

noun the state or position of being a follower, or the capacity or willingness to follow a leader

• Effective followership is essential for the success of any organization.
• Being a good follower is just as important as being a good leader.
• If you want to get ahead, you need to learn how to play the followership game.
• In the dance of leadership, followership is the partner that keeps the rhythm flowing smoothly.