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Build "natural", flexible hierarchies

“We have to de-couple authority and influence from hierarchical position.”

As change accelerates, authoritarian power structures will become ever more untenable. In traditional hierarchies, power flows down from the top, rather than up from the bottom. This model has several unfortunate side effects. It tempts senior executives to hire in their own image, and thus reduces genetic diversity. It encourages managers to safeguard their careers by “managing up,” rather than by managing out and down. It produces frequent misalignments between positional power and leadership capability, and thereby undermines employee morale. To overcome these failings, the traditional top-down pyramid must be replaced by a “natural” hierarchy, where status and influence derive from the ability to lead rather than from the ability to accumulate positional power. In addition, hierarchies need to be dynamic, so that power flows rapidly toward those who are adding value and away from those who aren’t.

42 Stories
108 Hacks
6 Barriers

Build "natural", flexible hierarchies

“We have to de-couple authority and influence from hierarchical position.”

As change accelerates, authoritarian power structures will become ever more untenable. In traditional hierarchies, power flows down from the top, rather than up from the bottom. This model has several unfortunate side effects. It tempts senior executives to hire in their own image, and thus reduces genetic diversity. It encourages managers to safeguard their careers by “managing up,” rather than by managing out and down. It produces frequent misalignments between positional power and leadership capability, and thereby undermines employee morale. To overcome these failings, the traditional top-down pyramid must be replaced by a “natural” hierarchy, where status and influence derive from the ability to lead rather than from the ability to accumulate positional power. In addition, hierarchies need to be dynamic, so that power flows rapidly toward those who are adding value and away from those who aren’t.

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Don't have top-down capital via a holding company. Semi-franchise everything so businesses are cellular. Cells can succeed or fail. Capital can directly flow.
Hack by Damian Horton on September 13, 2012
As a child, did you read the book called the Famous One? Did you hear of the One Musketeer? What about Batman without Robin?
Hack by Peter Searle on December 30, 2010
I´ve just working like a business helper in a AntiConsultancy Firm, and reaseraching about the power of transparency, simply and auto self management.
Story by Daniel Suárez on October 4, 2011
Agency theory and the systemic nature of investor owned companies favour top down control, demand compliance and restrict the flow of information, creating disengaged employees.
Hack by Graham Ramsey on March 1, 2011
Where the employment game is played in the same way a computer game will be played. Challenges determine the skills set required to progress to the next level and not the job description.
Hack by Johan van Wyk on May 4, 2012
Strategic considerations of organizations today require a systemic approach to the environmental, social and economic dimensions of sustainability.
Hack by Heike Ulrich on May 11, 2011
One possible way to achieve a sucessfull DNA swap in an existing organisation, in order to switch from a personal power based hierarchy to a "natural" hierarchy, is what I call the "Ride the
Hack by Alberto da Silva on July 13, 2010
In a taxonomically organized world human resources are managed with structured approach: organizational graph, job role, job description, hierarchical or functional controls.In every day activity peop
Hack by Luca Grivet Foiaia on May 31, 2011
There are currently problems within large organizations in the world.   Mature companies carry legacy, with relation to technology and culture that creates a barrier for change.  Furthe
Hack by Chris Bos on January 17, 2011
Don’t hire people the usual (and expensive) way – let them volunteer for the job instead.

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