◆ Is it really that simple? Power?
I am currently conducting a series of interviews with friendly people who have volunteered to provide their perspectives on the state of organizations and how to improve. It is a bit of heuristic research around our upcoming book “Liberating Organizations”.
The jury is still out, but the early trend in the conversations is that the main root cause of unhealthy workplaces and ill-performing organizations is that it is all mostly a power game. People in power do not really want to push authority as far out as there are people who can carry it. Yes, they do want people to be engaged, to take responsibility, and to be innovative; but they don’t want to give up control. It is telling that often executives talk more about accountability than taking responsibility, putting more of a control spin on the subject. I guess most executives are quite comfortable where they are, there is no real urgency to change.
Our world certainly does display power struggles as the main drivers of events at the moment. But it does not have to be that way, if there are winners there do not have to be losers. We can create environments where there is freedom to engage, contribute, and flourish under the rule of law – not the law of the ruler.
We do not have to succumb to strong authoritarian leadership, whether of the strong-man or bureaucratic type, but we will have to actively choose freedom also in organizations, put up a fight for it, and engage in it. It is not for backseat drivers.
Let us know if you would like to participate in the interview session. You can also join us on Meetup for a session on
◆ The Intersection of Product and Customers ◆
a discussion of how to work at and change from the deep end of the organization, where the customers are. Find the link in the comments.
Do not capitulate, there is more to life – also in organizations – than the power game!
Game Changer
2moAs an unemployed writer/blogger/content creator, an entitled introduction, To Women Who Do, helps consistently value the individual that I hope and continue to become. Routinely working on myself as a job seeker and a committed community member, healthy collaborations suggests the prediction of a productive mission ahead.