Business Leaders in Glorious Transition
The entire world is in transition: Business must transition, too.
Here, you'll read contributions of my friends, other business professionals who are working to turn from their Mechanical Business Models to ever more profitable Organic Business Models.
You'll read their successes as well as their difficulties in making the transition from the hierarchical, control based practices characteristic of most of our years in business. You'll see how wonderfully profitable companies can be when they learn to tap the powerful creative energy of employees.
CJ Coolidge & Richard Squaredime - 2008
After reflecting on the positive impact Anne Mulcahy had on Xerox, I continued to explore new trends in succession planning. I found that most major corporations do a
decent job preparing a formal plan. It's a warm and fuzzy contingency plan that satisfies the appetites of board members, investors, regulators, and key clients. It serves its purpose and typically delivers in a time of need. Corporations and small businesses alike, continue to formally develop key Executives, grooming and shaping them for their role of legitimate and coercive power.
Every organization needs leaders. What about those leaders who have referent power and just enough data to be dangerous; The "mid-level" manager who answers the difficult questions for you in a time of crisis, the virtual deflector of executive decision-making? This silent force has spent a prolific amount time developing personal trust with their subordinates. They have the power to infectiously spread
their adaptation of company decisions based on their knowledge and attitude. You have empowered them, but do they have the acumen, network and alignment of
culture? What have you done to proactivly arm this force?
I just went to the local Cheddar's restaurant and encountered a typical mechanical business model full-force. My family had just sat down in our booth and we decided we wanted chips and salsa as an appetizer. So we told the waitress and she went to put in the order. While she was gone, we decided we wanted some queso, as well, and asked her to add that to our order. Her mechanical response was, "I just put your order in. I would have to go back and change it to get you the queso." We told her that is what we wanted and to please change it. She huffed off and reluctantly "allowed us" to pay the restaurant more money.
How frustrating the oppression of the mechanical business model is on line staff! Why did they instill in their customer service worker that when customers
ask to spend more money, it is a hassle because the system does not work with you easily on such a change? Please "Go Organic", Cheddar's!
