Tuesday 14 July 2020

Are we too focused on leadership?

There are a lot of good lists out there about the differences between management and leadership

For example...

9 Differences Between Being A Leader And A Manager

1. Leaders create a vision, managers create goals.
2. Leaders are change agents, managers maintain the status quo.
3. Leaders are unique, managers copy.
4. Leaders take risks, managers control risk .
5. Leaders are in it for the long haul, managers think short-term.
6. Leaders grow personally, managers rely on existing, proven skills.
7. Leaders build relationships, managers build systems and processes.
8. Leaders coach, managers direct.
9. Leaders create fans, managers have employees.


However I wonder if we are too focused on leadership? Among my family and friends we do not feel the need to elect a leader. We do not feel we need to follow someone but instead we collaborate, communicate and cooperate. Indeed this is how tribes work, and the concept of a village working together for the benefit of all.

Leadership and management is an interesting concept that we accept in work and in politics, but it does not really serve us as well as just getting along together. We often get disappointed and elect a new one. Or in some cases find ourselves subjugated by them and the power (wages, work, reputation, training, housing, food etc.) that they command.

Them and Us is about this division, whereas without it there is only Us. It is not that I disagree with leadership qualities, I just think we should all have them, and share them.

As a result of the book Humankind [by Rutger Bregman] I have discovered Jos de Blok and his model anchored on the self-management capacity.

Useful link about Jos de Blok https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeOrNjwHw58

FAVI, led by its former Director Jean-François Zobrist, developed in the 80’s a customer focused organization where the structure fades to assure full listening of the autonomous and responsible teams. An unusual management that promotes a constant search for customer love, trust in human being and innovation.


You may also have heard of Valve. Imagine a company where everyone is equal and managers don't exist. A place where employees sit where they want, choose what to work on and decide each other's pay. Then, once a year, everyone goes on holiday together. You have just imagined Valve.

Useful link about Valve: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-24205497

It is well known that money does not motivate and indeed may de-motivate if it makes noble effort or charitable support cheap and grubby.


For my own part I started as a waterfall PRINCE2 project guy commanding people, process and technology. I am now much more in favour of Scrum Agile approach which is more bottom-up collaborative and favour an ask better questions approach [Humble Inquiry: The Gentle Art of Asking Instead of Telling by Edgar H. Schein].

I would be interested to hear from anyone who has worked in these types of organisation.


TimHJRogers
Helping people and organisations get things done

Adapt Consulting Company
Consult CoCreate Deliver
@AdaptCCompany +447797762051

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