Category: Self-Management
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Leading with Love: A Better Path to Leadership
The word “love” in a business context often raises eyebrows. For some, it may feel like an overly soft, inappropriate, or even irrelevant concept in the hard-edged world of corporate leadership. But if we peel back the layers of what love really represents—vulnerability, compassion, empathy, trust—we realize these are the very qualities that define strong,…
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From Boss to Coach: Easing into Self-Management
In traditional, hierarchical organizations, leadership is often synonymous with control—leaders issue directives, make high-level decisions, and manage subordinates. However, in self-managed teams, leadership takes on an entirely new form. For those transitioning from hierarchical organizations to self-managed ones, this shift can feel daunting, even threatening. Many leaders, especially those with long-standing experience in executive roles,…
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Reimagining Work: Roles vs. Job Titles
One thing that has been consistent over my years managing technology teams is that people generally thrive when they have the chance to learn new things while contributing something of value. The routine of doing the same tasks every day can quickly become a grind, leading to boredom and disengagement. It’s especially frustrating when you…
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The Business Case for Treating People Well
In a recent conversation with a CEO friend, I found myself explaining some of the fundamental principles of self-management. We discussed the benefits of pushing decision-making down to the front lines, using role descriptions instead of rigid job titles, and creating space for continuous learning and reflection. As I laid out these ideas, my friend,…
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Distributing Decision-Making: The Road to True Empowerment
I was talking with a friend and former colleague recently who is in an executive role at a manufacturing company. I asked him what some of his biggest organizational challenges were, and he said he was having the most trouble with empowering people to make decisions. It wasn’t because he was unable or unwilling to…
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Embracing a Self-Management Mindset: Six Principles for Co-Leading
In my upcoming book, Organizing for Impact, I explore what I call the IMPACT mindset—essential principles for thriving in self-managed environments where co-leadership is key. Here’s a brief synopsis of these six principles and how they can be adopted individually to cultivate effective co-leadership: 1. Self-Awareness Over Ignorance Self-awareness involves understanding our own emotions, strengths,…
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Transforming Leadership: From Hierarchies to Self-Managing Organizations
In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, traditional hierarchical models are increasingly giving way to more dynamic and flexible structures. Among these, self-managing organizations stand out for their emphasis on autonomy, collaboration, and decentralized decision-making. However, the shift to self-management does not eliminate the need for leadership; instead, it redefines the role of leaders in fundamental…