Lately, my thoughts have been focused on how we create spaces and structures for working, socializing, and learning. Most organizations have a dysfunctional air about them. Organizations do really silly things to prevent individuals from contributing most effectively to strategy achievement and personal growth. The role of leadership is about establishing a clear vision...and then creating an environment that allows individuals to excel. Too often, leadership is focused on arranging deck chairs, rather than clearing obstacles for individuals doing "the real work". A healthy organization is one where people are committed to making each other better. In ineffective organizations, people are concerned about making themselves better. I found this view of multiple metrics interesting:
Why Organizations Suffer from the Otis Redding Problem : "Leaders who lack such courage might recall the old Bill Cosby quote: “I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.” Otis Redding’s solution was to “remain the same” because he couldn’t please 10 different people. That is a rational response to a bad system."