Time to take responsibility!

Author: Linnea Ericson

Most companies have already started with self-leadership, look at the e-commerce company Zappos, which several years ago abolished the management structures and software company Björn Lundén Information where employees also make democratic majority decisions and put salaries together. In general, it can be seen that organizational structures are flattened, official hierarchies disappear and individuals are given increased responsibility for controlling their own professional roles. But in order for us as self-governing organisations to lead ourselves and not fall flat when we flatten organisations, we must be inclusive. Organisations are nevertheless complex social organisms; network of people who together create something of value. And in order to manage to interact without any manager who governs and sets, everyone must have the same opportunity to make themselves heard and confirmed.

Although official hierarchies are blurred, unofficial hierarchies that are not as easy to decide exist. Companies and organizations are breeding grounds for both groupings and informal leaders, as the phenomenon of"hippo" visualizes. Hippo is an acronym for highest payed person's opinion and that means we have a tendency to listen more to those who earn more. Then imagine, when the labour market changes and everyone becomes leaders in their own organizations – we can then value people's opinions differently based on gut feeling and prejudice; Can we really afford the fact that some people's opinions are seen as less worthy?

It is incredibly important to actively work to make groupings and informal leaders visible and to actively work with inclusion, so that everyone within an organisation has the opportunity to have the same impact in their work. As a leader in an organization, regardless of the level of self-leadership, you have to take responsibility and work towards a positive culture where everyone is given the same space and opportunity. Moreover, it is on everyone's shoulders to take responsibility for the issue and not just settle for any inspiring and fun guest lecturer at the conference every two years. Instead, continuous action, a properly drawn-out action plan and the importance of inclusion is a priority at all stages and permeates the entire business. Hey, it's time to take responsibility for each other!