One of the most difficult challenges companies face today is how to be more flexible and adaptive in a dynamic, volatile business environment. How do you build a company that can identify and capitalize on opportunities, navigate around risks and other challenges, and respond quickly to changes in the environment? How do you embed that kind of agility into the DNA of your company?
The answer is to distribute control in such a way that decisions can be made as quickly and as close to customers as possible. There is no way for people to respond and adapt quickly if they have to get permission before they can do anything.
If you want an adaptive company, you will need to unleash the creative forces in your organization, so people have the freedom to deliver value to customers and respond to their needs more dynamically. One way to do this is by enabling small, autonomous units that can act and react quickly and easily, without fear of disrupting other business activities – pods.
A pod is a small, autonomous unit that is enabled and empowered to deliver the things that customers value.
Read the rest of the post,The future is podular, on the Connected Company blog
dear Dave, i'll focus on distributing control the way you say in your article. the main problem and neuroreality of the 21st century is that you're looking for the person with the 5 names, Superman. it is proven that no matter how much a strategist you can be, you can't always look for a teacher, to become an editor, to become an employer, to become a friend and then to become literature because we'll become actors. although this is a main lesson in developing careers, we can't game nature and then blame the opposite side for all the inappropriate results. do you know what the practical conclusion is? you are commercial or you are not commercial because we hoped for the elegant behavior. today we can be many things and trully distribute control when we only know the truth, know before expecting someone else to know for you or talk on your behalf. impossible when you try to help, but its a tough world...i was motivated from the diagram connectivity!
ReplyDeleteI like this idea Dave and try to practice it where possible. However, where I get stuck is overcoming the immovable objects called managers!
ReplyDeleteYou see, for every good idea that our 'pods' start to nurture - many more descend and circle the sandpit eyeing that new shiny red truck - all claiming it to be theirs!
I think if organisations are serious about innovation and creativity - they have to do more than to trust and encourage their workforces. Managers need to 'let go' of this idea of credit to themselves and instead see themselves as also facilitating change.
I suppose in a round-about way - how do we show an old world management environment the benefits of letting go in the 21st century?
Innovation is the key to being successful and surviving as a company. It is sad to see that many companies think they can do things the "old fashioned way" and look to remain a leader.
ReplyDeleteActually this is the most old fashioned way of people management.
ReplyDeleteJesus Christ said twice He hated the works of the Nicolatians... top down authority that quenches creativity and personal responsibility. He taught to lead by serving in order to enable and send out to do the same elsewhere.
Rigid controls stifle all of this. Too afraid to make a mistake and get side-lined. Failure always precedes substantial and dynamic success. Got to have the guts to allow staff to fail as learn to succeed. Needs a gutsy business owner who actually believes in his staff. Choose well then choose to trust. I believe that the true wealth of any business is quality staff above all else.
But most business owners haven't the guts... or the foresight... believe total top-down control is the best way forward.
Guess why big govt never gets the job done!!! : )
Excellent post....
I think you have captured a very important point when talking about the need to give up some control and let people be creative. As a business professor, one of the challenges I see in my students is that they often need a lot of structure and are uncomfortable when they have to be creative, without many rules or boundaries. If organizations start to make this kind of cultural shift to encourage more creativity and innovative thinking, they might also have to do some training to help people get back in touch with their creative selves. I think your work on visual thinking and giving people permission to draw stick figures and other simple images is a great way to start making that shift. Thanks for your inspiring work! I can't wait to read your new book.
ReplyDeleteI think you have shared a great insight about managers letting go of control and getting out of the way of the creativity of their team members. One of the challenges I face as a management professor is helping my students trust their creative selves. It seems our educational system does a good job of creating young people who are afraid to run with their creativity - many of my students want structure and rules and examples to emulate - they have a hard time when they are in control. I think your work on visual thinking and the use of simple hand drawn pictures can help people let go of having to be in control and loosen up a bit to allow room and soace for creativity and risk taking to emerge. Thanks for your inspiring work - I can't wait for your new book!
ReplyDeleteI think you have shared a great insight about managers letting go of control and getting out of the way of the creativity of their team members. One of the challenges I face as a management professor is helping my students trust their creative selves. It seems our educational system does a good job of creating young people who are afraid to run with their creativity - many of my students want structure and rules and examples to emulate - they have a hard time when they are in control. I think your work on visual thinking and the use of simple hand drawn pictures can help people let go of having to be in control and loosen up a bit to allow room and soace for creativity and risk taking to emerge. Thanks for your inspiring work - I can't wait for your new book!
ReplyDeleteI think you have shared a great insight about managers letting go of control and getting out of the way of the creativity of their team members. One of the challenges I face as a management professor is helping my students trust their creative selves. It seems our educational system does a good job of creating young people who are afraid to run with their creativity - many of my students want structure and rules and examples to emulate - they have a hard time when they are in control. I think your work on visual thinking and the use of simple hand drawn pictures can help people let go of having to be in control and loosen up a bit to allow room and soace for creativity and risk taking to emerge. Thanks for your inspiring work - I can't wait for your new book!
ReplyDeleteI like your idea of making decisions as close to the customer as possible. While many businesses would like to empower (for example) their customer service officers/supervisors. There is a high chance that they will accede to every customer's request causing the company to lose out.
ReplyDeleteI feel the key is to communicate the company's strategy and direction as shared on leaderchat: http://leaderchat.org/2012/05/21/only-14-of-employees-understand-their-companys-strategy-and-direction/
If the strategy and direction is communicated properly with good communication skills, the pod idea is set to fly!