When corporations were developed, it was natural for the leaders to follow the pyramid organization structure, which was a standard of the social systems of the governments, church and military. To this day, the pyramid is pervasive as a paradigm. Even our supposedly modern computer software is set up to describe an organization's structure only in the form of a pyramid.
Our language has also evolved to reflect the pyramid paradigm: "Climbing up the ladder" only makes sense in the context of a pyramid structure. "Hitting the glass ceiling" presupposes a pyramid structure is in place.
We submit that this organizational approach is so well understood and pervasive in all types of organizations, that it is taken for granted in the broad majority of organizations. Bureaucracy, often extremely inefficient bureaucracy, is the result in the attempt to make sure the command and control concept is preserved.
In the 21st century, we need new thinking and new organizational concepts, and they are starting to be used by innovative organizations: Connect and Collaborate.
The concept of Connect and Collaborate will be the growing concept in the 21st century. It is based on the basic premises:
1. All humans have a desire to be part of a successful organization and to do their part to make it successful in achieving its goals.
2. Command and Control implies that the leader(s) can best prescribe the best organizational approaches and the rest of the organization should just follow orders precisely.
3. Connect and Collaborate implies that intelligence and creativity are dispersed broadly throughout an organization, and in many cases the best decisions are made by the associates who are closest to the situation to be resolved. Bureaucracy needs to be avoided in order to attract and keep clients. The "Client Empowerment Mindset" occurs when the Chief Empowerment Officer (new name for CEO), empowers the associates, who in turn empower the clients. The clients have the ultimate power.
4. Rather than a pyramid, a series of interlocking circles is a better paradigm for effective organizations, with the central circle being the Empowered Client. In the Pyramid Paradigm, the client is not in the organization structure. That is a big mistake in the thinking that is needed for the extremely competitive worldwide economy in which we are now involved. The Internet is controlled by no one. Think of it: Communications are going on between computers without constant human involvement and control. The CEO doesn't usually know how to program the computers. Knowledge workers have a huge amount of power compared to what might seem the case by looking at their position in a pyramid organization chart.5. "Connect" is an essential concept, to connect associates to clients and to anyone else in the organization without going through layers of management and huge bureaucracies. "Collaborate" means to solve problems with the rapidly available help of people who associates know can be of help to attract and keep clients, in the business model.
Organizations that will be most successful in the 21st century will be those that make the switch from Command and Control thinking and the pyramid paradigm to Connect and Collaborate thinking and "The client empowerment mindset."
That is the best way to use the fantastic skills of human beings.
